Powell: Ipswich win proves we have mental stability to survive in the Championship

Charlton Athletic manager Chris Powell. Photo credit: Mike Egerton/EMPICS

By Matthew Stott at Portman Road
Saturday, September 22, 2012
7:31 PM

Charlton boss Chris Powell insists his side proved they have the mental stability to survive the rigours of the Championship after their win over Ipswich on Saturday ended a three-game losing streak.

Two early second-half goals from skipper Johnnie Jackson and clear man-of-the-match Ricardo Fuller gave Powell’s charges a deserved lead before Jason Scotland’s deflected effort pulled one back for the hosts.

The hard-fought victory lifted the Addicks out of the bottom three into 18th position, and Powell maintains his players have received a psychological boost after they fended off a late Ipswich onslaught to collect the three valuable away points at Portman Road.

“It was important for our mentality to know that we can take a lead and hold on to it,” he said.

“It has been a tough time for both ourselves and Ipswich recently. I am sure both [Ipswich manager Paul Jewell] and myself viewed this game as an opportunity to get back on track and I am very pleased to come out on top.

“I think we deserved the win over the ninety minutes. I thought all my players put in a sterling performance and they all showed the good side of their character.

“It has been hard mentally losing the last three games because I always felt we were close to getting something from them.

“You have to win games and get points and sadly we had not done that before today.

“The last thirty minutes against Derby we showed what we can do and I asked them to produce that kind of performance for a bit more than thirty minutes and I felt we did that today.”

Following a cagey first-half, with Fuller terrorising the Town defence throughout and Danny Green smashing the side-netting, the visitors bagged two goals inside the opening four minutes of the second period.

Jackson expertly turned home Salim Kerkar’s left-wing cut-back before Fuller steamrolled into the box and arrowed an unerring effort into the right-bottom corner.

Scotland halved the arrears in the 57th minute with a long-range effort which took a heavy deflection off Leon before both sides went close in the closing stages.

However, Powell believes the eventual winner of the game would be the side who broke the deficit and insists finally opening the scoring rather than playing catch-up bodes well ahead of their home clash with Blackburn on Saturday – who will be looking to bounce back from their home defeat to Middlesbrough on Friday night.

“We scored an important first goal which was key,” he added. “The first goal especially gave us a foothold in the game and the other team has to change their tactics as a result.

“We then hit them with the double whammy and doubled our lead very quickly. Jackson took it well and he is now up and running.

“I thought Fuller showed his class with a great individual effort which put us in a strong position. I was disappointed with the deflected goal because I wanted a clean sheet.

“But I felt our players had a real focus and determination today which was pleasing.

“I expected a response from Ipswich and we weathered the early storm and settled into the game.”

He added: “But in the Championship it is never a good time to play anyone because not many teams string two or three wins together – and that is very important to do in this league.

“Blackburn will be looking to respond to their defeat at home to Middlesbrough. But it is good for us that we are at home on the back of a solid performance and win.

“I am sure the players will be focused and ready to build on from today in front of our fans against Blackburn on Saturday.”