Charlton feel like they can beat anyone this season, says first-team skipper Chris Solly.

Solly featured in the Addicks’ opening day win over Bristol Rovers on Saturday. But it wasn’t easy for Karl Robinson’s side, who played with ten men for 84 minutes after Lee Novak’s red card.

Referee Christopher Sarginson gave Novak his marching orders after a late, two-footed challenge on Stuart Sinclair.

Charlton showed fight and resilience, something that has been missing over the past two seasons, to see off Rovers.

Solly said: “The biggest thing we’ve got this year, we feel we can beat any type of team.

“We haven’t had that the last couple of years. Maybe we didn’t have it last season.

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Chris Solly in the aftermath of Lee Novak’s red card | Picture: Benjamin Peters Photography

“If anyone wants a football game, we’ll play anyone off the park, if they want to have a battle, we’ve got the players and mentality in the squad to battle and stand up and be counted.

“I think that’s the biggest difference. We’ve got enough leaders now, even the boys that were on the bench, there is experience and quality there. So I’m confident [the season] will go well.”

Solly, 26, played a key role in the Addicks team which won promotion to the Championship in the 2011/12 campaign.

Charlton suffered just two home defeats in that season, and the right-back wants the Valley to be a fortress again.

He added: “The first game is all about getting the three points and building momentum and it’s always nice to play at home in the first game.

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“The fans were huge and they got behind us and that was nice to see.

“Hopefully that continues and we’ll keep picking up results here and make this the fortress it used to be and get it back to those days when we went up.

“That season, it felt like no one was going to beat us and that’s what we’ve got to create this season.”