Charlton booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in six seasons with a comfortable 3-1 win over Coca-Cola League One Brentford at The Valley.

Martin Allen's promotion chasers had knocked out Sunderland in the last round. There was, though, to be no repeat of those heroics as an early strike from England squad man Darren Bent put the Barclays Premiership club in command, with Jay Bothroyd's effort on the stroke of half-time all but ending the tie.

To their credit the Bees continued to fight for every ball, but when Bryan Hughes rolled in a third goal just after the hour, pride was the only thing left to play for - and substitute Isaiah Rankin netted a deserved consolation goal with seven minutes left.

Charlton, however, will now have renewed hoped they could go all the way to the final of a competition they won back in 1947.

Some 6,000 Brentford fans had made the journey across from west London, perhaps travelling more in hope than expectation.

And after just three minutes, those dreams of another cup upset suffered a blow when Charlton raced into the lead.

Radostin Kishishev's instinctive flick-on released Bent behind the defence.

And the England squad man did not spurn the early opportunity, beating Stuart Nelson with a low strike into the left corner for his 17th goal of the season.

To their credit, Allen's side immediately looked to get themselves back into the tie, although Charlton managed to comfortably cancel out what threat they produced.

However, the visitors soon started to find their own rhythm and caused the home side some concern in and around the penalty area.

Then, with 20 minutes of the first half remaining, the safety stewards entered the stand behind the Charlton goal as several Brentford supporters were ejected and escorted out by the police.

There was a half-chance for the visitors on 35 minutes when Darren Pratley crossed from the right, and veteran former Wimbledon striker Marcus Gayle guided a header wide from 12 yards.

As half-time loomed, Brentford skipper Ricky Newman was penalised for pushing Bryan Hughes on the edge of the area.

From the resulting free-kick, the ball was rolled back to Bothroyd.

The Charlton striker drilled in a trademark low strike which Nelson got a hand to, but could not keep out.

The hosts created the first chance following the restart when Jerome Thomas' free-kick from the right found Chris Perry in the six-yard box - and his header was well saved by Nelson at point-blank range.

Addicks keeper Thomas Myhre was finally called into action in the 53rd minute when he palmed away Lloyd Owusu's angled drive.

A good move down the right involving Bent and Alexei Smertin set up skipper Luke Young for a strike from 20 yards. But the England full-back could only drive his shot over the crossbar.

Newman was then replaced by former Bradford striker Rankin, once on the books at Arsenal, as Allen went for broke.

It was, however, Charlton who looked more likely to further extend their lead.

Shaun Bartlett was sent on for Bothroyd after 62 minutes - and the South African had an instant impact.

His slide-rule pass inside the defence allowed Hughes to run into the area down the right, before clipping a low strike back under the advancing keeper to all but secure Charlton's quarter-final place.

With their cup dreams fading fast, Brentford had little option but to throw everything at Charlton.

That, though, left the Bees exposed on the counter attack as the tie entered the closing stages.

Kishishev blasted over with 15 minutes left, before Brentford got a deserved consolation goal.

A throw-in from the left was not cleared, and as the ball bounced back into the six-yard box, Rankin turned to send a low strike into the far corner. And the massed-ranks of visiting supporters at the far end could have had even more to cheer, but Sam Sodje's header hit the post in stoppage time.

Teams

Charlton Myhre, Young, Perry, Hreidarsson, Powell, Thomas,Kishishev (Ambrose 74), Smertin, Hughes (Holland 82),Darren Bent, Bothroyd (Bartlett 62).

Subs Not Used: Andersen, Spector.

Booked: Bothroyd, Thomas.

Goals: Darren Bent 3, Bothroyd 45, Hughes 62.

Brentford Nelson, O'Connor, Sodje, Turner, Frampton, Tabb,Newman (Rankin 56), Pratley, Tillen (Brooker 45), Owusu,Gayle (Peters 73).

Subs Not Used: Bankole, Mousinho.

Goals: Rankin 83.

Att: 22,098

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).