CHARLTON boss Alan Curbishley believes a change in formation away from home has brought the best out of midfielders Danny Murphy, Radostin Kishishev and Jerome Thomas.

The new 4-2-3-1 formation, which deploys Matt Holland and Kishishev in front of the back four behind Murphy, Thomas and Dennis Rommedahl, has coincided with three wins from the last four away matches.

The Addicks have won their last two away games 1-0 against Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion.

Curbishley said: “I changed the formation at Tottenham and I believe it’s brought the best out of Murphy, Kishishev and Thomas. We now have a settled side and consistent team selection, but I have unhappy players who cannot get into the side.

“I’ve got a bench that has Jeffers on it, Euell on it, Koncheskey on it. Three experienced Premiership players who are desperate to be in the side. That’s part and parcel of being a Premiership club.”

Murphy, a £2.5m signing from Liverpool in the summer, endorsed his manager’s decision to switch systems.

The 27-year-old said: “It just gives us that little bit of a more defensive look but also, with the players we have in the team, we can break and cause teams problems. If you keep getting results with that system, then why not keep it?”

Meanwhile, Charlton chief executive Peter Varney has confirmed Curbishley will have £3m to spend when the transfer window opens next month.