Saturday’s disappointing display has left Charlton in fifteenth place in the table, five points above the drop zone.

The Addicks have eight games to go, four at home against Bolton, Leeds, Wolves and Bristol City, with trips to Brighton, Barnsley, Cardiff and Middlesbrough to negotiate. 52 points is the accepted safety target, Charlton currently have 47.

The home form is what has let the team down this season of course, so is that likely to change in the last few weeks of the season? Bolton have put together a good run and are just outside the play-off zone. To break into the end of season lottery however, the Trotters will need to win most of their remaining fixtures. Dougie Freedman and Lennie Lawrence have already won at The Valley with Palace this season so will be confident that they can do it again.

Leeds are a couple of places behind Bolton and possibly have too much to do to be involved in the promotion scrap.This game might be Charlton’s best chance of achieving a rare home win.

Wolves are currently in the bottom three but have recently shown a glimmer of form. Come what may, they will still be desperate for points when they visit The Valley.

Bristol City are also in the drop zone and everyone will be hoping that the Addicks do not go into that last game of the season in a sudden death shoot-out situation.

Charlton’s counter attacking style has been more suited to away games but they have some tough matches coming up. Brighton are formidable foes at the Amex and are running into form again now. The Addicks would be delighted to take something from this game.

Should Chris Powell’s team falter against Bolton and at the Amex, the following game at Oakwell would take on huge significance. Barnsley are perennial relegation battlers, a Championship equivalent of Wigan in many ways. The Tykes always seem to put a good late run together and the Addicks will have a real fight on their hands.

After Barnsley, the next away trip will be to Cardiff. The Bluebirds look like joining bitter rivals, Swansea, in the Premier League next season. They are very strong at home, winning thirteen and drawing three of their eighteen matches at their new stadium.

Middlesbrough will be the final trip of the season at the end of April. Boro have faltered recently and are in the same situation as Bolton. Their fate may be sealed by the time Charlton arrive at the Riverside but equally, they could be in desperate need of points to clinch a play-off spot.

A couple of wins in the next two games to banish any relegation thoughts would be the ideal, if unlikely, scenario for the Addicks. If that does not happen, the games against the Yorkshire duo of Barnsley and Leeds may be the ones targetted to banish any thoughts of a return to League One.