Powell power lifts Addicks

EIGHT points clear at the top of npower League One and with little real sign of letting their grip on the title loosen . . . by any standards, it has been quite a season for Charlton.

Manager Chris Powell has had the benefit of a large budget and turned over a huge number of players in a short space of time during the summer in building a new squad.

But after finishing 13th last term – losing more games than they won – to be on the cusp of promotion back to the npower Championship is nonetheless a major feat.

It isn’t as if the success has been based predominantly on the scoring feats of a star striker, either.

Bradley Wright-Phillips has netted 21 goals this term, but before regaining his scoring form recently he went 14 matches without finding the net in mid-season.

It didn’t matter too much; Charlton only lost once in the league during that sequence.

Two setbacks have occurred recently. Colchester claimed a 2-0 win at The Valley, while in-form Notts County were victorious 4-2 at the same ground four days later – scoring all their goals inside 40 first-half minutes.
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