Charlton Athletic Football Club

• Nickname:The Addicks
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Chris Powell

• Ground:The Valley
• Capacity:27111

Solidity pleases Dowie

03 Nov 2006 - 14:17:48

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Charlton Athletic manager Iain Dowie believes a defensive improvement has been behind the Addicks' recent mini-revival.

Dowie's side remain bottom of the Premiership table, but three consecutive clean sheets, including one in the Carling Cup win against Bolton, have lifted spirits at The Valley.

Charlton face Manchester City this weekend and the former Oldham Athletic and Crystal Palace manager told the club's official website: "It's very important that we now put some points on the board.

"It's been a difficult time and it's about what character you show. We believe that if we get this right, this can be a very successful club.

"The partnership between Talal El Karkouri and Souleymane Diawara at the back gives us a good balance, they're both good footballers on the ball.

"Talal's very composed. I've worked with him on making good defensive decisions and he's taken that on board and in the last four or five weeks he's been very good.

"He and Diawara have been a real platform. Souleymane's coming on with his English, he's got a good humour about him. The lads have taken to him, he's got a little sparkle in his eye and he's got a good man alongside him in Talal, who's a consummate professional.

"I thought Luke Young was excellent last week. Hermann Hreidarsson has gone in at left-back, which for me is a little unorthodox. There have been some solid performances, and add Scott Carson to that, we've got a unit that's working for us."