Strikers win games but defenders win promotions

That, as the title suggested, is what goes on in Chris Powell's mind.

Perhaps the fact that he is a former defender sways his thinking but his reasoning does have some logic to it: 'clean sheets are the key and being an ex-defender myself I wanted us to be right.

'Strikers win games but defenders win promotions and championships. It's usually the case that teams with the best defensive records are in the top places. It's a mantra we have, we don't want to be beaten and we don't want to concede goals.'

The Charlton manager was speaking after the 4-0 win over Chesterfield that consolidated his sides tight grip on promotion as probably league one champions.

Powell was happy with the goals scored but fears that Bradley Wright-Phillips might not be able to keep the hat-trick that was attributed to him: 'I would love him to be given all three. I think a weight was lifted off him on Saturday and he's been bouncing around. He's kept his own counsel and we have kept believing in him.'

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