Four games gone and four victories recorded before the visit of Chelsea, and a striker, in the form of Darren Bent, who has not only already notched five Premiership goals, but spent the last moments before the game collecting the Premiership Player of the Month award for August.
Minutes later, and it was the turn of manager Alan Curbishley to collect the spoils, presented with an award to mark his 600th League game in charge of the Addicks, recorded last weekend at Birmingham.
For the time being in SE7, the plaudits seem to just keep on coming. However, long before the end of a disappointing afternoon for the home fans, it was clear that these were the only prizes the day was likely to offer them.
Chelsea made their intent clear right from the off. Jose Mourinho's side have not, by common consent, and despite a perfect start to the season, yet found their stride.
Victories have been claimed, but performances have not impressed, yet the individual flair within their ranks can be impossible to resist. Inside five minutes Frank Lampard had sent an improbably well-struck left-footed volley an inch wide of the post, while a minute later, Stephan Andersen was diving to his right to parry a drive from Damien Duff.
Charlton created sporadic chances of their own - Jerome Thomas dragging a chance wide of the near post among the best - but had to survive the let-off of Hernan Crespo sliding the bal against the post when one on one with Andersen before properly finding a foothold in the game, midway through the first half.
Paradoxically, the more Chelsea were forced into playing the traditional 'away team' role, the more dangerous they looked on the break.
With the Charlton midfield however, starting to enjoy the better of the encounter, it was the home side who conjured the only other chance of merit of the half, as Danny Murphy spearheaded a counter-attack, found himself dragged back by Ricardo Carvalho, and saw Dennis Rommedahl fire narrowly wide from the ensuing attack.
Having started the half on the front foot, Chelsea ended it slightly on the back.
True to their position as Premiership champions however, Chelsea returned to action a gear ahead of anything they had managed in the first period, and within ten minutes of the re-start found themselves a goal to the good.
Radostin Kishishev surrendered the ball on the edge of the Charlton area, Michael Essien lofted a deft cross and Crespo powered home a header from six yards out, leaving Andersen's outstretched left hand clutching at thin air.
Five minutes later and the lead was doubled. Chris Powell appeared to have dealt with the danger, shepherding Lampard out of the area, only for Kishishev to push Arjen Robben onto his left foot, practically inviting the strike.
It duly arrived, curling around Andersen and skimming inside the far post. Having prospered for an hour, Charlton had made two mistakes, and twice paid the heaviest price for them.
Charlton battled away through the remaining half-an-hour, desperately hoping a pair of unlikely breaks may come their way, while knowing that the result had, barring miracles, already been settled.
Chris Perry thumped a header narrowly over the bar, but it was Chelsea who had all the attacking options, and all the aces up their expensive sleeves. Essien and Lampard began to dominate the midfield, the supply line to Bent was cut off, and with it any last hopes of a recovery.
For Charlton, the start to the season is still one they would have dreamed of before it began, despite today's defeat. For Chelsea, it marks the start of another, ominous march forwards. Whether English football has anyone to deny them remains to be seen, but the chances don't look good.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Arjen Robben (Chelsea) - The Dutchman was back to his tricky best and capped a fine individual display with a stunning strike that sealed another three points for the visitors.