Charlton v Ipswich

Under-fire Charlton manager Alan Pardew confessed that the pressure is on to end a bleak week on a high and beat Ipswich at The Valley on Saturday.

Successive defeats in four days against Sheffield Wednesday and Tuesday’s derby despair against local rivals Crystal Palace consigned the Addicks to 17th in the Coca-Cola Championship and brought the manager a dreaded vote of confidence from Derek Chappell, chairman of the club’s parent company Charlton plc.

Pardew, desperate for the return of the feelgood factor to the club, spoke candidly about the most difficult week since taking charge 20 months ago and predicted that the side were good enough to make the promotion play-offs.

Accepting the criticism aimed at him, he said: "It’s understandable because I’ve lost a home game and I’ve lost to local rivals.

"What I have to do now is look at solutions rather than the problems. I accept that our form so far in this campaign should have been a lot better than it has.

"I know we can get it right and turn things around. I have confidence in the players because we have enough ability here to get ourselves into the play-offs.

"As a group we must win. That will address a lot of ills and we are ready to meet that challenge head on."

Zheng Zhi looks certain to make his first start of the season in midfield while central defender Linvoy Primus has recovered from the back injury sustained late in Tuesday’s match at Selhurst Park.