Middlesbrough produced a stellar performance at The Valley in the Championship this afternoon, sweeping aside Charlton Athletic 4-1.

© PA Photos

The hosts had a great chance to open the scoring early on when Bradley Pritchard was gifted a free header by Bradley Wright-Phillips, but could only put it over.

Chris Powell's men didn't have to wait long for their opener. Pritchard won the ball in midfield and played it to Rob Hulse, who lashed home from outside the area.

The home side's advantage lasted until just before the half-hour mark. Grant Leadbitter whipped an inviting cross into the box and Jonathan Woodgate found the net with a diving header.

Hulse could have restored Charlton's lead shortly before the half-time whistle, but he missed the target with a free header.

Boro snatched a lead early in the second half, when Josh McEachran lined up Scott McDonald in the box for the striker to find the bottom corner.

Charlton almost hit back through Wright-Phillips on the hour mark, but Boro extended their lead moments later through a superb Emmanuel Ledesma effort.

The Argentine caught Ben Hamer off his line and lobbed him with a pinpoint chip from just outside the area to put the game beyond their opponents.

Boro added a fourth late on through substitute Richard Smallwood to cap off an impressive win that puts them joint-top of the Championship.