Making a point

That may sound strange when the Addicks have finally lifted themselves out of the drop zone but Sheffield United remain just one point behind with a game in hand while West Ham's unlikely victory at Arsenal has lifted them to within three points of Charlton, although Pardew's men have a superior goal difference.
The best hope for the Addicks lies in hauling more of the sides above them into the sticky stuff, with Wigan Athletic and Fulham the most likely targets. But to do that requires claiming vital victories, and therein lies another problem. For many weeks Charlton's run-in has appeared favourable, and it's no coincidence that the club's fortunes have turned around in a period when they have played sides in the lower half of the table.
But with really tricky ties away such as this weekend's trip to Everton, another visit to the north-west to meet Blackburn Rovers two weeks later before a journey to Anfield on the final day of the season, their final few games suddenly appear rather daunting.
Sheffield United's run-in, meanwhile, sees them play Watford, Aston Villa and Wigan in the final three games while
Wigan also play West Ham and Middlesbrough.
Pardew remained defiant after the Easter programme that his side can get out of trouble but he knows they will need to take all six points in their remaining home games against Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as producing some unlikely results on the road, to have any chance of beating the drop.
"We've had two tough games and I would have liked us to have had more offensive promise in both games but sometimes it's not to be," he said. "But we're on a terrific run, we haven't been beaten again and if we keep getting clean sheets, Darren Bent's going to produce for us.
"We've had a great run at home but we're not going to have it all our own way," he added. "If we were going to draw one of the remaining home games I would rather it be Reading than the two we now have left.
"West Ham play Sheffield United [next Saturday] and the outcome of that game could be a big one, but United also have to come here. I think those two games could go a long way to deciding how it all unfolds."
The Easter campaign may yet prove to be two more vital points on the road to survival and Charlton still remain unbeaten in six matches. Their recent record of 12 points from 18 games is far removed from the dreadful results the side achieved before Pardew took over but the damage that was done during the Iain Dowie and Les Reed eras may finally prove too great for even as talented a motivator as him.
The odds are certainly stacked against Pardew's men for Saturday's clash with Everton. David Moyes' side have lost just three games on their own turf all season while Charlton have won away just once, although previous form and statistics count for little at this stage of the season.
"I don't think we're the favourites to stay up," admitted Pardew. "But I certainly think we've got a great chance if we can play and raise the intensity from now to the end of the season. There's no reason why we can't keep going unbeaten until the end of the season and see what points total we end up with." 
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