What a difference a month makes.

This time last month Blackburn were in desperate trouble and Kevin Davies had not scored for almost a year.

He was depressed, his young brother was suffering taunts at school and there was no sign of the nightmare ending.

Enter Brian Kidd at Ewood Park and suddenly Davies, the £7m flop, can't do anything wrong.

He scored in the first match of Kidd's new reign against Charlton in December - and this afternoon he knocked the Londoners out of the FA Cup with a bustling display of old-fashioned striking skills.

It culminated in an unstoppable left-foot volley just before half-time which rocketed past Charlton goalkeeper Sasa Ilic to put Blackburn into the fourth round.

Jason Wilcox added the second two minutes from time when the madcap Ilic was caught stranded out of his goal after racing the length of the field for a Charlton corner.

But spare a thought for Charlton who hit the woodwork twice and who, for long periods, played the better football.

When you are in the seemingly out of control slide that Charlton are in, however, everything seems to go against you.

Defeat allows them to concentrate on their perilous Premiership position but that will have been little consolation for manager Alan Curbishley.

For Kidd, however, the honeymoon goes on. Just five weeks ago Blackburn looked like a team teetering on the Premiership abyss, with the depressing prospect of a relegation dogfight and a long winter of discontent.

Now, after six games unbeaten and a win over Premiership leaders Aston Villa under the inspirational leadership Kidd, there is fresh hope and a real belief that this could yet be season of celebration.

They were without the injured Chris Sutton and Nathan Blake and new signing Ashley Ward was ineligible.

And for much of this depressingly poor Cup-tie they looked bereft of the talent and firepower to progress.

Indeed, poor old Charlton dominated a first half which was notable for its sheer mediocrity. Striker Andy Hunt, in fact, could have had a hat-trick as Chris Powell caused chaos with some surging runs down Blackburn's right.

One glancing header from Hunt thumped against the Blackburn post as for long periods Charlton were the livelier team.

Neil Redfearn, the midfielder in the Patrick Vieira sending-off controversy last week, was also unlucky not to score when his left-foot shot was pushed aside brilliantly by Blackburn goalkeeper John Filan.

But, having squandered such gilt-edged chances, it was always likely that Blackburn would make them pay - and so it proved.

And it was Davies, easily Blackburn's most lively and dangerous attacker, who provided the firepower as they caught Charlton cold just before the break.

Davies found himself in acres of space on the edge of the Charlton penalty area and when the ball looped over to him, he coolly let it bounce and then crashed it left-footed past Ilic.

It was a more confident Rovers side who emerged after the interval and Davies really should have put the game beyond doubt in the 47th minute when he was clear on goal but dragged his shot inches past the post.

Dario Marcolin had a powerful 20-yard drive saved by Ilic and Wilcox steered a curling drive just wide.

Though Rovers dominated the latter stages Charlton could easily have equalised when striker John Robinson struck a post with a left-foot prod following a goalmouth scramble.

But Rovers put the game beyond doubt in the 88th minute following that moment of madness from Ilic.

The Charlton keeper sprinted into the Blackburn penalty area Peter Schmeichel-style for a Charlton corner - only to be caught stranded when the ball was cleared.

Keith Gillespie raced upfield with Ilic desperately trying to retrieve his ground but when the ball was crossed to Wilcox he blasted the ball home from 18 yards.

There was just one booking - Charlton's Scott Parker for a crunching tackle on Marcolin.

For Charlton the depressing slide goes on. They continue to play fluent football but there is a lack of firepower and a frailty about their defence.

For Blackburn the rejuvenation gathers pace. They continue to climb the Premiership table and the Cup is a realistic counter-attraction. So far the life of Brian is indeed happy.

Blackburn: Filan, Henchoz, Gallacher (Duff 63), Davies, Wilcox, Perez, Broomes, McKinlay, Marcolin (Dunn 68), Croft, Gillespie.

Subs Not Used: Konde, Taylor, Fettis.

Goals: Davies 45, Wilcox 88.

Charlton: Ilic, Mills (Newton 77), Powell, Redfearn, Rufus, Youds, Kinsella, Hunt, Robinson, Tiler (Holmes 68), Parker (Bright 68).

Subs Not Used: Konchesky, Royce.

Booked: Parker.

Att: 16,631

Ref: K Burge (Tonypandy).