Steve Brown praises Jason Pearce and Charlton Athletic for clinching pressure points at Wigan Athletic

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Steve Brown picked out Jason Pearce as Charlton’s star man at Wigan – and reckons their 1-0 win keeps alive their slim League One play-off hopes.

Chuks Aneke’s first-half goal clinched maximum points for the Addicks, who had been woeful in a 3-0 reverse to Blackpool last weekend.

Former Valley fans’ favourite Brown was on co-commentary duty for Valley Pass in midweek at the DW Stadium.

He told the South London Press: “The first half was excellent for a team that’s under pressure. – and it is under pressure. You can skirt around it all you like, but the team had not been performing very well.

“It needed a bounceback performance and three points if there are any aspirations to catch the team in sixth. Tuesday’s game was absolutely must-win.

“I’ve got to give Lee [Bowyer, manager] an enormous amount of credit. He made seven changes, which is a lot to make from a Saturday-Tuesday schedule, and he got the response – particularly in the first half.

“They started very well and were high tempo. They got the first goal and if you look at Charlton’s statistics then getting that – particularly away – has been vital.

“The second half was a slightly different pattern. Wigan have got absolutely nothing to lose. The players are all on short-term contracts and in the shop window. Their expectations are lower – they can go gung-ho.

“They put Charlton under a lot of pressure. Pearce, at the centre of the defence, was a rock. He put in a captain’s performance. You could see he was organised and up for it. His body language was superb. I’d say he won 90 per cent of his first headers and made a couple of great blocks.

“Wigan could huff and puff all night but I couldn’t see a way they would score a goal with him in the middle of that backline.”

Charlton have been excellent on their travels this season but head to an in-form Oxford United tomorrow. The U’s, under former Addicks boss Karl Robinson, have taken 18 points in their last 10 matches, a total only bettered by league leaders Peterborough (23) and Sunderland (21).

Charlton are ninth in the table but have played three matches more than sixth-placed Doncaster, who already have a five-point advantage.

Asked about their play-off chances, Brown said: “It’s unlikely. But if they can get four or five results on the bounce then they will be in contention – if not actually being in the play-off places.

“It is whether peoples’ glasses are half-full or half-empty. The half-empty will say it is over. If you view it as half-full then, even as much as they have been out of form, they can still do it. The result on Tuesday at least goes some way towards changing the mood in the camp.

“The performance Saturday would’ve surprised Lee. He wouldn’t have seen them putting in a performance like that under his stewardship. You can’t give up on sixth spot until it is no longer possible. The next four or five after Oxford are all realistically winnable – Northampton, Shrewsbury and Bristol Rovers. But then you would’ve said Burton was winnable – and Gillingham.

“The result against Wigan should give the team a little bit of confidence. They can bounce into the training ground. If it gives them a little lift it can help to start building momentum.”

PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS