Charlton 3 Aston Villa 0

FRANCIS JEFFERS, the self-styled "Fox-in-the-Box", rediscovered his old predatory instincts as Charlton went fourth in the Barclays Premier League amid a cracking atmosphere at The Valley on Wednesday night.

If the former Everton, Arsenal and England striker was looking to make a point to his new manager Alan Curbishley then he could not have underlined more succinctly with a two-goal salvo on his full debut for the club.

Disappointed to be passed over for the opening day selection at Bolton, Jeffers made no secret of his discontent at failing to make Saturday's starting line-up against Portsmouth.

He was finally handed his chance after Shaun Bartlett failed a fitness test on an ankle problem - and promptly seized it with distinction.

Never one to mince words, Jeffers was surprisingly circumspect after helping deflate a once buoyant Villa who surrendered their unbeaten record.

"It's great to score twice on your full debut for a new club, but I'm not getting carried away after just one game," he declared.

Curbishley confirmed afterwards that Jeffers would have been kept waiting on the substitutes' bench had Bartlett been passed fit following Saturday's ankle injury, but was nonetheless pleased for his £2.6m signing.

"I had intended waiting a little while longer before giving Frannie his full debut because I wanted him to know the first names of all his new team-mates," he explained.

"But when Shaun cried off I put him in and he let nobody down. I thought his first goal was excellent and his second even better, though he was unhappy that I took him off because he wanted his hat-trick."

Jeffers opened his account for Charlton in the 29th minute and made it 2-0 in the 34th before Luke Young celebrated his 100th appearance for the club with a first goal in the 58th minute after skipper Mark Fish's pass had deflected off Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Attendance: 26,190.