Ambrose believes charlton can still achieve promotion

By Rob Virtue on March 6, 2008 2:30 PM |

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DARREN Ambrose’s goal was not enough to give Charlton a much-needed win against Bristol City – but the midfielder believes the race for automatic promotion is not over yet.

The club are now six points behind second-place Watford and seemingly looking set for a play-off position.

But Ambrose believes that while making the top two positions is a tough ask, the Addicks’ dressing room feels anything is possible in an unpredictable league.

“It’s difficult, we’re six points off it now, but we will fight until the end,” said Ambrose, who scored early on in Charlton’s 1-1 draw on Tuesday night (March 4) at The Valley.

“At the very least we’ve got to get to the play-offs or there will be heartbreak for everyone. But automatic promotion is still in our minds; we need to push on and anything can happen in this league. Hopefully we can start by beating Preston at the weekend.”

Tuesday’s result sums up the frustration experienced by fans this season and Ambrose said it is the same for the players.

Many, including the goal-scoring midfielder, expected the team to put a run of victories together at some point but instead it’s been a campaign of scrapping for results.

“It’s never really happened for us this season,” said the 24-year-old. “Like tonight: we get back up there, get so close and then we have a downer again. Same as Blackpool. If we had won that we would have
been back in it but we lost again.

“That’s been our season; we get so close and then fall apart in the last minute, so if we can put a run together for the last 10 games and get eight or nine victories that would be fantastic.”

On a personal level, it was another goal from Ambrose, making it four in four games for the former Ipswich player. However, his recent goals against Blackpool, Watford and Bristol City have only brought the Addicks two points, leaving him disappointed.

“The goals have meant nothing, because they have only lead to draws,” said Ambrose. “I would feel a lot
better if I wasn’t scoring and we were winning games.”

- CHARLTON announced yesterday (Wednesday, March 5) that Reading striker Leroy Lita has signed on loan for a month and could extend the deal until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old had fallen out of favour with Reading manager Steve Coppell and will be available for Saturday’s visit by Preston.

rob.virtue@wharf.co.uk