Charlton boss Chris Powell spoke to his club's official website ahead of his side's League One match against Carlisle at Brunton Park tomorrow afternoon, Powell saying all his players seem to have recovered after a busy Easter period :
“We had a few tired and battered bodies after the two games over Easter but they all seem to have recovered. Obviously, six points helps so we go to Carlisle with a fully fit squad and everyone is excited and ready to play their part against Carlisle. We have played them twice already this year, both at home, and we got two terrific results. But, Greg Abbott and his team have done exceptionally well, it is a tough place to go and get any sort of result.
“It is a long, long way from London and our fans will have a long journey, but they are a decent team. Their focal point has always been (Lee) Miller, but he is out for the season so I am sure they will adapt and work on things to make sure they are right for the game. But, they are a good team, more than individual players, especially at home they have got some good results and they do play on the fact that teams come a long way and some teams are beaten before they even kick a ball.
“So, we have got to be ready, they play decent football under Greg Abbott and Graham Kavanagh. We have just got to go there and focus on what we are about, carry on in the same vein we have done and look to get three points. But, I am under no illusions, it is a tough, tough game for us without a doubt, so while we have got four games and twelve points to play for I am just concentrating on Carlisle first.
“We are flying up because we have got some sponsors, I think we were looking at the coach or possibly the train, which we have done a few times this year. But, it is great that we can fly with it being such a long journey and I feel sorry for our fans but I know they will go up there excited by the prospect of what can happen. But, it is very thoughtful of the five sponsors that have laid on the plane, and we can go up there and hopefully be refreshed and relaxed and ready to play."
“Getting promoted on Saturday is dependent on a lot of things, that is dependent on first of all our result up there and what is going on elsewhere. We have got to really focus on us, end of story, if we get the results then other results still might not go for us. I know a lot can happen, there are still 12 points to play for, yes we are ahead by six from United and eight from Wednesday, but we have got to just try to keep that gap because the games are coming thick and fast. With four games remaining we are in the position everybody wants to be in and we have just got to do our best to remain there.
“I won’t be keeping my eye on Sheffield Wednesday at Colchester, that is for the last game of the season when you are worried about the other teams. So, I won’t be doing that because I know there are other games and more points to play for. I think if someone tells me right at the end if we have got a positive result and it goes right for us elsewhere then terrific. But, I won’t be having an earpiece to Colchester, I will let them get on with their game and we will we will focus on ours and try to keep the gap the same because the games will then run out for the others.
“Johnnie Jackson has been a great captain for me this year, numerous goals, a number of assists and we do miss him when he is not playing. But, when he was missing over the Christmas period I had Hogan Ephraim who came in and did a fantastic job for us. Then when Johnnie was fit he came in and carried on and scored crucial goals against the two Sheffields, but then he hasn’t been in the side for a number of weeks.
“So, again, I have had Danny N’Guessan on the left who has done a good job, Lee Cook has come in on loan and done a terrific job for us on the left. Then we had Johnnie back at the weekend, didn’t play against Oldham, on the bench, but started him against Walsall and he created the goal. So, he is a valuable player, there is no doubt about it, one that leads from the front with the way he plays, so he has been a good captain and a good player for us. It is vital that his leadership skills and qualities will come to the fore in the remaining four games."
“I always felt that we needed a game-changer like Danny in the run-in, because of course the players have pushed themselves and they have been involved in a lot of football and a lot of games. Sometimes that tiredness can kick in, it really does, and you just need someone to come in with a bit of freshness who wants to do well for a new manager and for his team-mates and the supporters, and I think Danny has done that, Cooky has done that, and other players we have had in on loan this year have done that as well.
“The amount of red cards we have had recently does worry me because it is trying to make out my team is ill-disciplined, and I have got to say that before we lost Ben Hamer against Orient our disciplinary record was very, very good. But, it happens, I mean sometimes it is fashionable that a tackle maybe a few months back is deemed fair, then because it has been highlighted all of a sudden now it is a dangerous tackle.
“I had no qualms about Darel Russell’s sending off against Huddersfield, the one against Sheffield United I thought he was very, very unfortunate but of course it was levelled out by their player being sent off. But, Scott Wagstaff’s was ridiculous, the one for Danny Hollands is a yellow card but I think the referee set a precedent in that game with yellow cards in the first five minutes, so you knew it was going to be a long 90 minutes.
“So, we have lost players through red cards, but it has shown the adaptability and the togetherness of the team that they can overcome these hurdles, and to overcome it on Saturday against Oldham I think is testament to any other team looking at what we had done there that you can have nine or ten players and come through a result and get three points like that. I think it shows wonders for my players and for me it was the best result of the season so far.“