The Championship equivalent of the 40 point Premier League safety marker is 51 points.

The average required over recent season has been 48, though 44 was enough for survival one season, while, more recently, Peterborough were relegated after accruing 54 points.

The stats indicate that the Addicks will need 8-10 wins from their remaining 18 games to survive; a tall order when the first 28 games have yielded just 4 victories.

Whilst fans eagerly anticipate the opening games of a new campaign, those within the game always look at the run-in first.

Charlton’s last five games at The Valley will be against Middlesbrough, Birmingham, Derby, Brighton and Burnley. All of them in or around the promotion spots. The last two away games are at Bolton and Leeds, and Jose Riga will have them earmarked for wins.

The Addicks need an immediate points burst to build momentum going into the season’s denouement.
Much improved though the performance against Blackburn was, Charlton needed to take full advantage of an opponent, who on the day was poor.

The next two games are against fellow strugglers – at Rotherham on Saturday, and Bristol City at The Valley a week later – and are must win encounters. Riga’s side need to lay a marker down, and the next few weeks will be vital.

As well as Bristol City, Cardiff, Reading and Milton Keynes Dons will visit The Valley before the horrific run-in. The Addicks will be looking to take maximum points from all four games.

After Rotherham, Fulham and Preston are next up for Charlton on their travels. Again, these are games that will be targeted for maximum points.

The first two matches in March see the Addicks travel to Brentford, before a midweek Valley clash with MK Dons.

Like the Rotherham and Bristol City games, MK Dons is another that comes under the ‘must win’ category.

In a nutshell, Riga needs a rich harvest of points in the next seven games to have a realistic chance of escaping the drop.

Charlton Under-21’s had a comfortable passage into the last four of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday evening.

They beat Bromley 2-0 at Hayes Lane, thanks to goals from Joe Aribo and Josh Umerah.

Charlton: Pope; Dijksteel, Obileye, Thomas, Edwards (Bowry 64); Charles-Cook, Aribo, Kennedy; Hanlan, Pigott (Moore 71), Umerah.

Subs (not used): Beeney, Bangura-Williams, Kelly.

Goals: Aribo 12, Umerah 20.

Bromley: Julian; Udoji, Fuseini, Swaine, Tumwa; Prestedge (Cunnington 84), Goldberg, Rodgers (Minshull 46), Wall; Francis, Coombes.

Subs (not used): Holland, Anderson, Higgs.

Joe Pigott is attracting attention from a number of League Two sides. Bristol Rovers, Luton, Oxford and Stevenage all want to take the striker on loan.

Pigott’s contract is up in the summer, so the Addicks would be receptive for Pigott to move on a permanent basis.

Ademola Lookman has been offered a new four year deal, and the club will be hopeful of securing his long term future in the next few days.