REPORT | Leeds United 4 Charlton 0

The season ended in heartbreak for Charlton as a 4-0 defeat at Elland Road coupled with results elsewhere means the Addicks have been relegated to League One.

Lee Bowyer made just one change from Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Wigan as Aiden McGeady replaced the injured Jake Forster-Caskey in midfield for Charlton’s final match of the season.

Sticking with a 5-3-2 formation, Tom Lockyer, Jason Pearce, and Naby Sarr retained their places in the middle of the Addicks defence with Alfie Doughty on the left and Adam Matthews on the right.

Josh Cullen and Sam Field joined McGeady in midfield while up front there was a second consecutive start for 20-year old striker Josh Davison, partnered by Macauley Bonne.

Leeds, playing a strong side despite already being crowned champions, started on the front foot and Jack Harrison curled an early effort wide of the target.

The hosts early dominance was rewarded in the 13th minute when Ben White gave his side the lead in spectacular fashion, taking the ball down on his chest before volleying into the top corner from 20 yards out. 

Leeds should have made it 2-0 in the 21st minute when a cross broke to Alioski, but the midfielder blasted over the bar from close range.

Pablo Hernandez and Leeds showed why they are going up as champions just before the half hour mark as the midfielder played a brilliant ball through to Stuart Dallas to toe-poke home.

It took recently crowned Charlton player of the season, Dillon Phillips, to stop the first half from getting out of hand with the keeper making a number of good saves, notably getting fingertips to a rasping Luke Ayling strike from distance.

Charlton finally created something of note in the 37th minute, but Doughty put his shot wide of the target when through on goal. 

Bowyer made three changes at the break, Albie Morgan, Jonny Williams, and Chuks Aneke replacing Pearce, McGeady, and Davison. The substitutions nearly paid dividends immediately when Aneke turned in the box and fired low only for Ilan Meslier to save with his feet.

The victory for Leeds was all-but confirmed six minutes after the restart when Tyler Roberts headed home the simplest of headers from a corner.

Charlton nearly hit back immediately with a free-kick from the edge of the box but Sarr couldn’t keep his header down.

Leeds made it 4-0 in the 65th with a destructive counter-attack that ended with Ian Poveda laying off for Jamie Shackleton to stroke home.

Aneke went close to grabbing a late consolation but Meslier managed to palm his header clear of goal.

It ended 4-0 at Elland Road as results elsewhere meant Charlton suffered relegation back to the Championship.

Charlton: Phillips; Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce (C) (Morgan 46), Sarr, Doughty; Cullen, Field, McGeady (McGeady 46); Davison (Aneke 46), Bonne (Green 78)

Subs (not used): Amos, Purrington, Oshilaja, Lapslie, Hemed

Leeds United: Meslier, Cooper, Ayling, White, Struijk, Hernandez (Shackleton 61), Dallas, Harrison (Stevens 72), Alioski (Poveda 61), Klich (Bogusz 72), Bamford (Roberts 46)

Subs (not used): Miazek, Douglas, Davis, Casey

Goals: White, 14, Dallas 28, Roberts 51, Shackleton 66

Booked: Struijk (87’ foul on Cullen)

Referee: Geoff Eltringham

Attendance: 0 (Behind Closed Doors)

Report by Benjy Nurick

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