Charlton 2 Blackpool 1

A strangely untroubled match for the Addicks yeterday, which was odd given that Charlton hardly touched the ball in the first twenty minutes. Other than Taylor's clearance off the line from a Phillips header, the Charlton goal wasn't really threatened despite the neat passing play of the Seasiders in the first period. We got lucky with Jackson's goal, coming as it did from a deflected Solly pass, and a scuffed shot from the captain that managed to squeeze inside the keepers right hand post, but hey, thems the breaks.

Powell set the team out to match Blackpool, so a fluid 4-5-1 saw Wagstaff playing in the hole behind Kermorgant for the most part, and Charlton's forgotten man duly put himself in the right place at the right time to fire home the second before the break. It was a goal that Wilson played no small part in, and for me he was the man of the match yesterday, not just for his precision cross, but his support of Solly who was in danger of being pulled apart by Delfouneso in the early part of the first half.

It was obvious that Solly was being targerted, and Delfouneso turned out to be the tormentor in chief, gaining advantage over Solly more often than not, until Wilson started to drop back and help him out. As soon as that started to happen Delfouneso went quiet, and didn't really threaten again. With that threat nullified, Wilson started to forage forward, and the just reward was an exquisite cross that Kermorgant headed with full power, and which their keeper could only parry into the path of the onrushing Wagstaff.

Elsewhere Taylor had a solid game, gaining confidence from his vital line clearance two minutes in, and putting his head where it hurts, collecting a comic looking bandage hat that would not stay on for his pains. His presence was a timely reminder that at this level you really do need four good centre halves. Whilst I can believe that Green, Wagstaff, Wright-Phillips, Hollands, and Sullivan, would all be available to leave should anybody be interested, I would be dissapointed if Taylor was also on that list.

So, back to back league wins set Charlton off on a sound start to 2013, and it could get even better if Powell is allowed to wheel and deal in this transfer window. It is difficult to say where he will strengthen, however, as much will depend on who can be moved on, and where the resultant gaps are. I still hope a first choice central midfielder is the number one priority, although it would be fair to say that the centre of the pitch more than held its own yesterday, as did every other area on the park.

Blackpoo

.......or so the scoreboard told us, managed to score two unlikely goals, given their performance for most of the afternoon. I had been heartened by the solidity of the Charlton performance against Birmingham, and the 0-0 result had flattered them, and it was more of the same yesterday.

If I was a cynic, I could argue that the relative upturn in our fortunes in the last five games is as much down to players putting themselves in the shop window, as any skill by Parkinson at getting a group of misfiring individuals to behave like a team. As Colin W said after we beat Palace, if the players can put in a performance like that against Palace, then what the hell were they doing at the wrong end of the table?

If we accept that 10,000 season ticket holders will pay for Charlton in the third division, other than player salaries, and that £2m is the self imposed wage cap next season, then that money can only be found one way, and because of that, it will be goodbye to Shelvey, Racon, and Bailey. I would like to think that one might stay, but any semi sensible offer is not not likely to be turned down. If we manage to get £5m for the three, then the Board will have done well.

Quiet Desperation

Well, we took a point that could have been three. Two points lost in the blink of a prematurely celebrating eye. I think most of us would have taken a point before the game began, and it does take us out of the bottom three, but once again, it feels like underachievement. On to Birmingham, a game where I suspect expectations of a favourable Charlton outcome will be minimal.

As has been reported elsewhere, Pardew will almost certainly not be with us come Christmas, unless there is a marked upturn in Charlton fortunes, and I am interested in what criteria the board will be using to define "upturn". League position whilst important, is too nebulous, unless we are in the bottom three, so I assume that points will indeed make prizes. For me, the logical decision point would be mid December, as by that stage, we will have played exactly half the season, once the Derby County game has been played. The telling games between now and then, are the three games immediately preceding the Derby game, against Southampton, Blackpool, and Coventry. All of these should be winnable, and a decent haul of points from them would probably save Pardew's job until the summer at least.

Over the past ten seasons, the range of points for the team finishing third bottom, has ranged from 42 - 52. Indeed, Leicester's relegation last season, saw them go down with the highest points total in that ten year period. So, using that as the worst case scenario, means that we should really be sitting at a minimum 26 points at the halfway stage. We currently have 16 points, so three wins and a draw in our next seven games is required. I am assuming here, that the board are accepting survival as a positive result.

Pardew has been oft quoted, regarding his dislike of using loan players, and yet, it would appear that we are about to juggle the books, and bring more of them in. Much will depend on Ambrose going out on loan, as I suspect he still retains a Premier League salary level, but does anybody else on a high salary need to go out? As to who comes in, I think this highlights the poor position we are in, as essentially we are looking for a spine to the team, comprising a central defender, central midfielder, and a striker. Quietly desperate times indeed.