Ipswich v Charlton

Under-fire Luke Varney leads Charlton's attack at Ipswich tonight backed by a ringing endorsement from Alan Pardew, despite supporters venting their anger after he missed a last minute sitter that would have won Saturday's home game against Burnley.

Between them, Varney and fellow striker Andy Gray have managed four goals between them so far this season, which has placed added pressure on the pair. Gray paid for the goal drought with his place in the side held 1-1 by Burnley. But Varney, who publicly thanked the manager a month ago for sticking by him, has been given the nod again tonight.

"Like with all strikers, a manager must show faith," said Pardew. "I spoke with Luke at the end of the game and stressed that he's a very important player for us.

"At times last year I left him out and feel that knocked his confidence. This year I'm trying to stay as faithful as I can with him and hopefully he will repay me with a burst of goals. I had this before at West Ham with players like Bobby Zamora and Dean Ashton when I learned that you must show faith in individuals.

"Luke does carry the burden of that miss but, as I explained to him, on another day he will have a half-chance that he will smash it into the top corner and not know how he's done it. And that will win us the game.

"He does take misses to heart but I have to say that his team-mates love him because he puts in a good shift, be it in training or on a match-day. In terms of his confidence he is someone we have to protect and keep boosting."

He added: "I have told Luke, as I've told all the players, to have a cast-iron belief in their own abilities."

Former Ipswich players Matt Holland and Luke Varney will be hoping to start tonight at Portman Road where Charlton produced one of their worst performances of last season in a 2-0 defeat.