Zheng Zhi struck twice to reignite Charlton's Coca-Cola Championship promotion bid as Blackpool were swept aside at the Valley.

The China international midfielder took his tally for the season to an impressive nine goals as Alan Pardew's side cruised to a first league win in six attempts.

In a breathless opening, Madjid Bougherra headed the hosts into an early lead, Luke Varney doubled their advantage and Ben Burgess pulled one back for Blackpool in the first 12 minutes.

Zheng grabbed a third midway though the first half, and a fourth seven minutes into the second, as the Addicks bounced back from a rotten Christmas period which yielded just three points from five games.

Charlton were first on the attack in only the second minute when Varney sent Lloyd Sam scampering down the right, only for Izale McLeod to fluff two attempts at converting the winger's cross.

But they went ahead in the sixth minute when McLeod's mazy run into the penalty area resulted in a corner.

Darren Ambrose flighted over an inswinging cross which deceived Paul Rachubka and found the head of defender Bougherra underneath the crossbar.

Rachubka, a former Charlton reserve goalkeeper, claimed he was impeded but referee Jarnail Singh saw nothing wrong.

Varney doubled the Addicks' lead in the 10th minute when he collected the ball on the left-hand corner of Blackpool's penalty area, turned Kaspars Gorkss and drilled a low shot inside Rachubka's right-hand post.

Two minutes later the visitors pulled a goal back when Kelly Youga's headed clearance found Burgess, who superbly volleyed the ball back past a helpless Nicky Weaver from 25 yards.

But Zheng coolly fired Charlton back into a two-goal lead in the 24th minute after Varney's cross had been helped into his path by Ambrose.

The in-form midfielder, who last week became the first Chinese player ever to score in the FA Cup when he netted against West Brom, held his nerve to sidefoot the ball past Rachubka from 12 yards.

Charlton skipper Matt Holland nearly grabbed a fourth before half-time with a marauding run from midfield, only for Rachubka to pull off a fine save, diving to his right.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher tried a delicate chip which floated narrowly over as Blackpool looked for an early goal after the break.

But instead, they conceded a fourth after Rachubka had acrobatically kept out Ambrose's 25-yard free-kick.

From Ambrose's resulting corner, Bougherra crashed a header against the post and Zheng was first to react in a crowded goalmouth to prod the ball home.

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson sent on Stephen McPhee, who joined this week from Hull, and the forward showed some neat touches.

Wes Hoolahan volleyed wide as the visitors searched for a way back, while at the other end substitute Jerome Thomas missed a gilt-edged chance for number five when he blazed over an open goal.

Teams:

Charlton Weaver, Moutaouakil, McCarthy, Bougherra, Youga,Sam (Jerome Thomas 70), Holland, Zhi, Ambrose (Dickson 77),Varney, McLeod (Iwelumo 77).

Subs Not Used: Randolph, Semedo.

Goals: Bougherra 6, Varney 10, Zhi 24, 52.

Blackpool Rachubka, Barker, Jackson, Gorkss, Crainey,Taylor-Fletcher, Jorgensen (Fox 59), Flynn (Morrell 73),Hoolahan, Vernon (McPhee 59), Burgess.

Subs Not Used: Evatt, Welsh.

Booked: Hoolahan.

Goals: Burgess 12.

Att: 21,412

Ref: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex).