Addicks boss willing to take draw when needs be
4:01pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Championship By Paul Green
Chris Powell
CHARLTON manager Chris Powell admits his title-chasing side will have to adjust their targets during individual games between now and the end of the season.
Powell explained after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Bury his belief that more teams will come to SE7 hoping to frustrate the League One leaders.
Bury came within two minutes of inflicting Charlton’s first home league defeat of the campaign until Dale Stephens’ stunning equaliser in the third of five minutes of stoppage time rescued a share of the spoils.
Stephens revealed afterwards he felt it was a case of two points dropped but his manager preferred to look at it the other way when asked today.
Powell said: “I think it was a point gained with us scoring in the 93rd minute but of course we like to win our games, especially at home.
“I did say about the frustration sometimes of teams coming here looking to get a point, defending in numbers and when they nick a goal they are a definitely going to defend in numbers, which Bury did.
“But there was a lot of character and resolve shown.
“In the end we could have lost the game and when you look at it in that way, especially with the results elsewhere, it could be a very valuable point and a good point, because all points we earn I welcome them.
“Obviously I want us to get three but as games go by and as the minutes go by in certain games you’ve just got to look and adjust to what is happening.
“Of course we were losing but an outstanding goal earned is a point and brings us to 64.
“That’s a good position to be in.”
The 64 point tally means Charlton are now 10 points clear at the top of League One, although Powell isn’t getting carried away just because the advantage is into double figures.
“We’ve just got to carry on with our own plan and aim about this year,” the Valley chief said.
“It is a fantastic margin to have at any level of football, but it is about us maintaining that because the games will eventually run out, so you’ve got to do your best to keep that gap.
“If you can extend it, then even better.
“Of course if it gets pegged back here and there then you adjust. It wasn’t so long ago it was four or five points but we’ve had a very good January.”
Powell added: “Mentally now the boys have just got to regroup and stay calm and they have done. We always reflect and debrief the games before and we’ve looked at all the positives.
“I felt we passed the ball a lot better against Bury than we have done for a while.
“Dale Stephens came back and he always looks for the ball and to create. Leon Clarke got his first start, Danny Haynes came on and made a bit of an impact.
“It was the first goal conceded in over seven hours of football.
“There were a lot of good things for us to fall back on but also to look for in the rest of the season.
“It is a run in now. We’ve got 18 games and it is up to us to approach those games in the same manner and look to just get those wins and get the results we all crave.”
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