Nicolas Anelka showed France exactly the national side is missing with a scintillating display in Manchester City's 3-0 demolition of Charlton at The Valley.

Sun Jihai celebrates his goal at 86 minutes in a premiership match with Charlton. [photocom]

Anelka was the inspiration behind the visitors' first Premiership victory over the Addicks, blasting home a penalty after 12 minutes, setting up debutant Antoine Sibierski for the second and having a hand in Sun Jihai's third.

Sibierski - another of City's French recruits following his switch from Lens - was making his competitive debut for his new employers and he also impressed with some slick distribution from midfield.

In contrast, Robbie Fowler was anonymous as an attacking force as he struggled to match the brilliance shown by strike partner Anelka, although his 69th-minute dash into the penalty area resulted in the dismissal of Mark Fish, who pulled back the former Liverpool forward when he was clean through.

Charlton were somewhat unlucky to trail by two goals midway through the first half after starting brightly, putting the visitors onto the back foot with Jason Euell probing expertly at City's defence from midfield.

But they were caught on the counter for both goals as their rearguard struggled to realign in the face of the pace shown by Anelka and Shaun Wright-Phillips, who enjoyed an industrious afternoon.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley left new signing Paolo di Canio out of his squad but Matt Holland, a ￡750,000 capture from Ipswich, was handed his Addicks competitive debut and the captain's armband.

Jason Euell continued to cause problems on the edge of City's penalty area but in the 12th minute the visitors took the lead against the run of play.

A rare City attack saw Wright-Phillips brought down in the area by Fish and Anelka made no mistake with the spot-kick, coolly slotting it into the left corner.

Curbishley's men were caught on the break once again by a quickfire attack as City extended their lead. This time it was Anelka who did the damage, dashing down the right flank deep into Charlton's area before pulling the ball back to Sibierski whose 10-yard shot thundered into the back of the net.

Anelka was enjoying a magnificent afternoon, setting up a gilt-edged chance with a cheeky backheel to Wright-Phillips but the midfielder pulled his shot wide of the right post.

Euell was clean through on goal in the 49th minute but he blasted his shot straight at the onrushing Seaman when he should have done much better, while Royce was forced to save Wright-Phillips' curling effort moments later.

Charlton were then hit by the dismissal of Fish who, as the last line of defence, pulled back Fowler just outside the area when the he was clean through on goal.

Typically Anelka had a hand in the third, forcing Royce to palm away a powerful shot which rolled to Sun Jihai who netted from an acute angle.

Teams:

Charlton: Royce, Kishishev (Jensen 46), Fish, Rowett, Hreidarsson, Konchesky, Euell, Holland, Parker, Lisbie (Johansson 78), Bartlett (Young 46).

Subs Not Used: Leite, Fortune.

Sent Off: Fish (71).

Booked: Konchesky, Euell.

Man City: Seaman, Jihai, Sommeil, Distin, Tarnat, Wright-Phillips, Barton, Sibierski, Sinclair (Tiatto 90), Anelka, Fowler (Wanchope 77).

Subs Not Used: Weaver, Berkovic, Dunne.

Booked: Sibierski.

Goals: Anelka 13 pen, Sibierski 23, Jihai 83.

Att: 25,780

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