ALAN Pardew has criticised his defence after last night's victory against Stockport in the Carling Cup.

The Addicks appeared to be on their way to a comfortable win against the League Two outfit after Svetoslav Todorov's opener and a Zheng Zhi penalty put them 2-0 ahead at the break.

However, Stockport hit back after the restart and found themselves 3-2 ahead by the 69th minute thanks to goals from Adam Proudlock, Anthony Elding and Dominic Blizzard.

All of the Stockport goals were the result of poor defensive play by the home side and only Lloyd Sam's equaliser from a free-kick and Patrick McCarthy's dramatic last-minute winner secured Charlton's place in the next round.

Pardew said: "The two centre halves and the two full backs tonight have to accept a lot of responsibility for what went on.

"Chris Powell as captain and Jon Fortune, who has been here a number of years, I would have expected those two to have sorted it out.

"I'm disappointed with that, but I still know we will tighten up and bring in a defender and I might even bring in a second one if I feel we need to."

Charlton are being linked with a swoop for Celtic's Steven Pressley before the close of the transfer window on Friday, as well as Derby centre forward Robert Earnshaw.

Pardew is confident fresh faces will be installed before Saturday's derby meeting at Crystal Palace, but refused to be drawn when asked for identities.

He said: "I'm not going to say any names because it is unfair and nothing has been agreed, but we are very, very close on one particular player and before the window shuts, we might see movement between two or three maybe."

The manager also conceded his newly assembled squad may be lacking a leader out on the pitch as they struggle to adapt to life outside the Premiership.

He said: "I think it is a fair assessment. I've got two French guys in the centre of midfield and Amdy Faye's character is not the type to organise and talk.

"He is very much a singular character, so he needed a voice behind him and the two centre halves tonight should have led the team in a more purposeful manner.

"I do feel they are both excellent professionals and Paddy showed the determination he has in him to score the winning goal, but we want that at the other end."

The manager added: "Sometimes goals affect you a little bit and I think we've been affected by the events of the start of the season, in particular Scunthorpe and last Saturday.

"We just need to batten down the hatches a little bit and make sure we are a little bit more solid."