Sheffield Utd 0 Charlton 2

CHARLTON'S under-fire defence responded with a first clean sheet in three games to beat Sheffield United and win the admiration of manager Alan Pardew at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

Pardew, who pulled no punches in criticising the defence after last week's 5-3 defeat at Blackpool, wasted no time in heaping praise on them.

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He said: "I thought they were terrific on a difficult pitch and showed the kind of strength under pressure which we'll need between now and the end of the season.

"I couldn't be more pleased because we stuck at it, never lost concentration and deserved to win."

Pardew sprung a surprise by reverting to a 4-5-1 formation, which he discarded earlier in the season.

Chris Iwelumo scored his first goal since December and his 11th of the season when he prodded the ball home from close range in first half stoppage following Greg Halford's long throw.

Charlton defended in depth for much of the first half until the recalled Sam Sodje headed in Darren Ambrose's 82nd minute corner.

The win lifted the Addicks up to fifth place in the Championship.

On loan signing Scott Sinclair from Chelsea made his Charlton debut as a 70th minute substitute for Luke Varney.

United's misery was compounded in second half stoppage time when Stephen Quinn was sent off following a tackle from beind on Charlton substitute Jose Semedo.

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Charlton: Weaver, Halford, Sodje, McCarthy, Youga, Ambrose (Semedo 83mins), Holland, Zhi, Thomas, Varney (Sinclair 71mins), Iwelumo.

Subs Not Used: Elliot, Fortune, Cook.

Attendance: 23,180.
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