Charlton win at last as Chris Powell shines

The late appearance of substitute Chris Powell – in an unorthodox central midfield role – brought about the end of his third spell as a Charlton player, and Alan Pardew revealed after the game this was likely to be the end of his current stint at the club.

“The reception Chris got was not just because he’s a great player; it’s because of his character,” he said. “There’s a real love for the guy.

“The reason he’s had that cameo appearance is because, in all honesty, I can’t afford to keep him on. I’d love to keep him in a coaching capacity but I haven’t really got any funds for that.”

He added: “This is a new start for Chris and he might have another year playing. I think he’ll bring something to any team but coaching is where his future lies. He will come back to this club at some point in some capacity, but he’s still got playing days left.”

After a total of 256 appearances for the club, Powell is rightly viewed as an Addicks legend and will be long remembered for his surges from the tunnel after a home win, as well as helping to establish Charlton as a Premier League club at the start of the decade.

Fittingly, Powell even grabbed the fourth goal – only his third for the club – before receiving a standing ovation from the Valley crowd that moved the former England international to tears.

But while he rightly took the limelight, this match was also significant for underlining the potential of the next generation.

Grant Basey impressed in a left midfield role – one Pardew hinted he could retain for next season – and also helped himself to a goal, while Jonjo Shelvey, Scott Wagstaff and Kelly Youga provided evidence as to why they are so highly regarded by the club’s staff.

Yet there can be no denying this season has been a huge disappointment for all connected with the club, and opponents Coventry City – who only avoided relegation to League One by one point – provided a reminder as to just what can happen to clubs that fall out of the top flight and fail to bounce back straight away.

Pardew highlighted a lack of mental toughness and an inability to cope with pressure as the primary factor behind his side’s decline this season and pledged to complement the young talent at his disposal by bringing in experienced campaigners who can take the heat of a promotion battle.

“I felt we played with freedom as there was no pressure on us,” he said. “It’s that mentality – to be able to cope with the pressure and expectation – that has cost us this year. If they had played and coped better with the pressure, we’d be in the playoffs and possibly even promoted.

“When the big games came, we got too tight. The big games aren’t just about West Bromwich Albion; they’re also about Scunthorpe United and Blackpool and games we’re expected to win. I certainly need to bring in three or four strong mental characters into this group.”

This display against Coventry showed just what Charlton are capable of when they play without fear. Strikers Andy Hunt and Luke Varney showed signs of forging a partnership that could bear fruit next season, sharing a goal apiece as the home side raced into a 2-0 lead.

The problem is that such displays have been few and far between and, for all the obstacles that an away game on a rainy Tuesday night throws up, it was home form that cost the Addicks any realistic hope of promotion.

Having identified the issue, the challenge for Pardew this summer is to try to work out how to fix it. After this season, failure simply is not an option.