Ben Hamer told the South London Press that the state of the pitch at The Valley has been a major factor in the team’s poor home form this season.

Here are Hamer’s thoughts:

“Our pitch this season has been in absolutely awful shape and we’ve not been able to play our football game.

“Apart from against Cardiff they have not been free-flowing matches – they’ve been nothing short of poor. The pitch has been a big part of that.

“We need to get that rectified. It was a lot better last season. Lawrie Wilson had the ball on the byline (against Sheffield Wednesday) and when he was just about to play his pass it was all bobbly and horrible.

“I’m confident in our ability but I don’t feel confident of the pitch. You don’t know what it is going to do, because it is boggy one week and then hard and bobbly the next.

“I know it’s easy to say that is the excuse for not being good at home but it is a really major factor.

“God knows why it is so poor – all I do know is that it is not in good nick. It is not conducive to what we’re trying to do. For Sheffield Wednesday it didn’t matter because their strength is launching the ball into the box and winning the aerial challenges.

“We’ve been playing on some really decent surfaces away from home and have been able to exploit that. Burnley was very good, so was Derby.

“Watford was exceptional – especially considering they play rugby and football on it. It makes you wonder why ours is so terrible when it only has one game on it every two weeks.

“Our groundsman won’t be too happy with what I’ve said – but it is something that needs to be addressed.

“Our downfall has been our home form – we haven’t been good enough and have lost too many by the odd goal. We play with more freedom away and have got one of the best away records in the league,” said Hamer.

The pitch has not been at its best this season and is certain to be relaid in the summer. The weather has taken its toll but as the old adage goes, it’s the same for both teams.

Hamer mentions Sheffield Wednesday’s long ball game but the Addicks were in front until six minutes from time. Reda Johnson scored from a corner and a piece of trickery from Leroy Lita brought the Owls the winner, neither goal was because of long ball tactics. Many will feel that Charlton’s poor use of substitutes was a bigger factor in the defeat.

Watford, Middlesbrough and Ipswich are among the sides that have won at The Valley without playing a direct game.

A Charlton development squad team including Rhoys Wiggins, Danny Green, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Danny Haynes and Salim Kerkar drew 0-0 in a friendly with Millwall at Sparrows Lane on Tuesday afternoon. The Addicks were skippered by Andy Hughes, playing his first game of the season follwing an achilles problem.

Tickets for the games at Huddersfield and Peterborough are now on general sale from the club.