Pardew: 'Charlton must blunt Blades'

Alan Pardew believes Charlton Athletic must win their relegation six-pointer against Sheffield United at The Valley next weekend if they are to beat the drop.

The Addicks, who are 18th in the table, find themselves two points adrift of the relative safety of the 17th-placed Blades ahead of their crunch meeting following their 2-1 defeat at Europe-chasing Everton.

Darren Bent thought he had earned a point for the south Londoners at Goodison Park after he cancelled out Joleon Lescott's opener late on only for substitute James McFadden to snatch all three points for David Moyes' men with a spectacular last-gasp finish.

And Pardew, whose men are now a further point behind Wigan following Paul Jewell's men's 3-3 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur, reflected: "Our next game is a must-win match, it is as simple as that.

"The way the results have gone for us this weekend with Sheffield United winning and Wigan getting a point means that our next match could decide our fate. It's obviously about results, but you must take positives from the performance as a team and individually.

"Everton are aiming for Europe and I do not think there was anything between us. We can still survive and we will take a lot of strength from this. We still have tough games at Liverpool and Blackburn, we need to take this performance into those games."

He continued ahead of the visit of Sheffield United: "I am proud of the players and we will take that into the game with Sheffield United. There is still a lot to happen yet at the bottom of the table."

Charlton, who have played one game more than Sheffield United, are now three points clear of 19th-placed West Ham United, whom Neil Warnock's men beat 3-0 at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

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