Manchester City's Premiership wins at Eastlands are almost as rare as the sight of the sun in England this summer.
In the first season at their new City of Manchester Stadium they managed only five.
But there was no doubting the emphatic nature of this their first win of the campaign when they rolled Charlton over with the ease of a steamroller crushing an eggshell.
If City are going to confound the punters and avoid a regulation dogfight this time round, their winger Shaun Wright-Phillips and striker Nicolas Anelka's form will be the key.
Against a poor Charlton side. Wright-Phillips produced another magical display, weaving and turning the Addicks defenders as if they had lead in their boots.
Upfront, Anelka at his arrogant best with pace and precision, netted two goals for City and caused numerous headaches for the visitors.
City's defence will never be the most agile unit in the Premiership, but it resisted what little pressure Charlton could summon.
New £2.5millions signing from Liverpool Danny Murphy apart, Charlton looked like a side who will struggle this season.
The writing was on the wall for Charlton as early as 13th minute.
Wright-Phillips found Danny Mills on the right. His cross to the edge of the Charlton penalty area saw a neat step-over by Robbie Fowler which gave Anelka the opening to score with a low left-foot shot inside the left post.
Had Charlton taken a gilt-edged chance six minutes later it might have been a different story, but Murphy ballooned a shot from six yards high over the bar after being set up by Jon Fortune's back header.
It was a warning that City heeded in the 20th minute, Anelka went inches wide with a similar effort to the one that brought him his goal.
Fowler was as culpable for City as Murphy has been six minutes earlier for Charlton when he blazed the ball high over the bar after being set up by Anelka.
But the Blues had not long to wait before scoring a second goal and what a bizarre effort it turned out to be.
Fowler's clever ball found Wright-Phillips on the right.
His cross to the far post beat Charlton goalkeeper Dean Kiely and Fortune's attempted clearance saw him kick the ball against the oncoming Trevor Sinclair who bundled his shot over the line from close range.
City keeper David James was forced to make a fine save at the start of the second half when he dived across goal to turn behind Francis Jeffers' header from Murphy's cross.
It was a momentary break in City's domination and the Blues made it 3-0 on the hour. Wright-Phillips produced a glorious throughball to send Anelka racing clear of the flat-footed Charlton defence.
Kiely charged of his line to meet the Frenchman, but Anelka placed his low right-foot shot beyond the Charlton keeper and into the bottom left corner of the net.
It was fitting that Wright-Phillips should complete the rout 30 minutes from time - his goal a sublime snapped 35-yard right-foot shot into the top right corner of the net.