Carson certain of great escape

Charlton Athletic march into the final eight matches of the season as the form side at the bottom end of the Premiership, with two wins and a draw before the international break.

With the deficit now down to just four points on 17th-placed Sheffield United – who have yet to come to The Valley – there is genuine hope of securing top-flight status for next season.

Charlton host Wigan on Saturday, with the visitors not yet clear of danger themselves.

Alan Pardew, appointed on December 24 having been axed by struggling West Ham earlier that month, has targeted four more wins to keep our side up.

England goalkeeper Carson, on loan from Liverpool, feels the confidence is there to achieve just that.

‘The mood is spot on. Everyone has got belief that we can get ourselves out of this,’ said the 21-year-old, who will return to the training ground from the national team after the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra.

‘There is no point believing that you can not get out of it. Everyone in our changing room believes that we can do it.

‘I just hope we can get out of the bottom three as soon as possible.’

Carson admits the international break came at just the wrong time as Charlton looked to build momentum.

He said: ‘We have been stop and start for the last couple of weeks now, what with the FA Cup and the European qualifiers.

‘Everyone at the club would prefer to just get on with the Premiership games thick and fast and try to get on a good run.

‘Hopefully everyone can stay fit when they come back from international duty and we will be at it again for the Wigan match.’

Pardew feels home form will be the key to Charlton’s survival bid, with Reading and Tottenham also set to come to south-east London.

There is a visit to Manchester City on Good Friday which looks another crucial fixture.

And winger Jerome Thomas insists it is all about what the Addicks do between now and May 13, rather than goings on around them in the table.

‘It does not matter who we are playing or whether we are home or away – we are going into every game trying to win. That is our mentality,’ said Thomas.

‘I have said from day one that relegation is not an option.

‘As the season is winding down every game is like a cup final – but if we keep performing like we have been, we will not have a problem.’

This really is it now we have got just 8 more games to save our Bacon. Can we do it? Will we do it? Add your comments now.