Addicks show their mettle in away clash

"We've had two tough trips and we did look a little bit tired," admitted Pardew.
"Technically there's no doubt about us being good but we stood up and were counted so we've showed we've got that side of our game as well.
"I'll be honest: that's not the sort of game I want to watch every week. It was a game on the edge; that's the only way I can describe it."
In fact, the match against Hull City was almost totally overshadowed by an incident that saw young Addicks star Lloyd Sam dismissed along with the home side's Ian Ashbee just before half-time, in an incident that sparked an 18-man brawl.
Sam is not the kind of player to get involved in unnecessary controversy but was harshly shown a straight red card for his reaction to a late tackle by Ashbee.
The Addicks winger will now miss three league games, although Pardew announced that he intends to appeal against the referee's decision.
"I've seen the sending off again on the video and I don't really know what else Lloyd Sam is supposed to do," he said.
"Ashbee's tackle is late, then he kicked him twice and grabbed him around the throat.
"And then for the referee to take the course of action whereby he sent Lloyd Sam off as the aggressor by showing him the red card first, I have a bit of an issue with that.
"He's not that type of character, he's a smiley boy."
That unsavoury incident hid a gritty Charlton performance, with captain Andy Reid once again the Addicks' inspiration.
A goal after 41 minutes from Luke Varney - who prodded home after Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill spilt Reid's free kick - gave the visitors a nervy lead before fellow striker Chris Iwelumo made sure of the win with just two minutes left on the clock. Hull's Steve McPhee pulled one back in the last minute.
"The sending offs changed the game slightly, and I think the incident perhaps affected them more than it affected us," said Pardew.
"In the second half we stepped up a gear. With the 10 men we used the ball really well and showed our professionalism.
"We got the second goal after they started to commit people forward and that should have been game over, but we had a last period of the game where we struggled."
The dogged nature of Charlton's away performances is in marked contrast to the attacking brand of football that has come to characterise their home displays.
But going to places like Hull and Crystal Palace and winning - on top of such strong form in front of their own fans - is the mark of a side that should be pushing for the top spots come the end of the season.
Pardew's men were unlucky not to take all three points against Coventry last weekend - when Sam grabbed an early goal and Varney was controversially denied a penalty - but there's no doubt that Charlton's form on the road makes them genuine promotion contenders.
Pardew will be mildly concerned with the run of league leaders Watford - who beat Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday - but his main focus now will be Saturday's home clash against fourth-placed Barnsley.
That game is followed by a two-week break due to international fixtures so if the Addicks can sign off with a win, he can be very pleased with the season so far. 
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