Match Report

Although he still has 18 months of his contract remaining, the future of Charlton Athletic manager Alan Pardew is hanging in the balance after his side were thrashed 5-2 by Sheffield United to drop into the relegation zone.

Unhappy supporters demonstrated outside the boardroom chanting for Pardew's dismissal after his team gave another abject display and slumped to their fifth defeat in nine home matches.

They've won only one of their last 12 games and have failed to keep a clean sheet in the last 11.

Despite desperately needing a victory, Pardew played the first half with only one striker Andy Gray on the field but three on the bench.

The Londoners look prime candidates for relegation even at this early stage of the season and the Yorkshiremen, who are in a play-off position, have been beaten just twice in 11 games and won't get an easier three points.

Charlton's problems started as early as the seventh minute when defender Greg Halford played in James Beattie for his eighth goal of the season.

Halford then hit the bar with a 40-yard lob after Charlton goalkeeper Nicky Weaver was miles out of his goal.

The home side levelled matters on 16 minutes when defender Linvoy Primus unmarked headed home Nicky Bailey's free-kick

But United regained the lead themselves from a free-kick with Brian Howard's long ball into the area being headed home by Gary Speed.

Right on half-time another long ball into the Charlton box was poorly cleared by goalkeeper Nicky Weaver and Matthew Kilgallon had an easy chance to knock the ball into the net.

Immediately after half-time it got much worse for the home side as United hit two more goals in the space of six minutes.

Their fourth came when Kelly Youga defected Halford's long throw into his own goal and Stephen Quinn then volleyed home Howard's cross to make it five.

Hameur Bouazza pulled a goal back for Charlton but they could have been punished even more as United substitute Darius Henderson missed two good chances for the visitors.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides