ASHLEY Ward breathed a huge sigh of relief last night after ending a goal-drought stretching back to September.

The former Barnsley hit-man hadn't scored since Rovers' 2-0 win over Walsall at Ewood.

But he doubled his tally for the season in the space of 37 minutes at The Valley and he now hopes it will ease the pressure.

"I'm just delighted to get back on the scoresheet," said Ward.

"Things haven't been dropping for me of late

"But you go through these barren spells and it's just nice to come out of it with two goals against one of the top teams.

"It does worry you as a striker but you've got to take your lead from other people and better players than me have been through worse spells.

"Every striker in the world goes through it at some point but you've just got to keep working hard and try and contribute in other areas." Ward's last visit to The Valley wasn't quite as sweet because he was denied a blatant penalty which cost Rovers two vital points.

But he insists that didn't make him more fired up than usual last night.

"People have been mentioning it and if we had won that game it could have had a big bearing on the table.

"It certainly would have given us the lift we needed at the time.

"But you can't carry things on from past experiences.

"I give 100 per cent every week no matter who we are playing. "And we shouldn't need things like that to motivate us. This was a good gauge to see if we had turned the corner or whether it was a false dawn.

"But we did terrifically well to go there and come out on top."

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley had a different view, however, and claimed Rovers controversial opener should never have stood.

"I thought it was miles offside. The players are obviously complaining about it but I won't know properly until I see it," said Curbishley.

"We created enough chances to have won the points.

"Their keeper was outstanding, they took their chances when they came along, and I'm sure they are delighted with the points.

"I'm used to keeper's coming here and having to do well because we get on top of teams. And Kelly made some great saves - or were they bad misses?"

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