With Johnnie Jackson being on the periphery of the team this season, and Chris Solly missing a number of games through injury, a number of players have worn the captain’s armband.

Patrick Bauer, Jake Forster-Caskey and Ahmed Kashi have all led the team out, and recently it has been Jason Pearce who has had the honour.

‎It is a role the Hillingdon born 30-year-old relishes as he explained to the club site:

“I’ve said before I’ve been captain at my other clubs, I love being captain of the side but like I’ve said, I respect the players that are here, Chris Solly and Jacko, who are the club captains.

“I’ve loved it, I’ve really enjoyed it and hopefully that has shown in my performances,” said Pearce.

Pearce is a warrior on the pitch, a natural leader, who is always talking to his colleagues. He can even be heard barking out orders when the back four are put through their warm up routine by Grant Basey:
‎”We’re really positive at the moment. Since the managerial change we’ve got some really positive results. The lads are happy.

“Today (against Rotherham) probably wasn’t our best performance but we got the job done and I think that goes to show what sort of side we are at the moment. We can mix it up at the minute and we can play real good football, so we’re delighted.

“We’re really positive, we feel the way we are playing and the squad we’ve got we can win every game. Lee Bowyer has come in and has given us that belief, so we’re really positive.

“Teams looking down are on a good run at the moment, so we just want to keep taking every game as it comes and keep getting positive results.”

In some ways Monday’s performance was the best‎ since Lee Bowyer took charge. The side were gritty, determined and did not allow themselves to be bullied by a big, physical outfit. Earlier in the season, Charlton may well have lost this type of game.

At the forefront was Pearce, stamping his authority on the match.‎ He and Patuck Bauer dominated Ryan Williams and Michael Smith all afternoon.

But it was two-goal Joe Aribo who stole the show against the Millers. Pearce has been impressed with the quality of the team’s youngster’s and paid them this tribute:
“When I first joined I said that the young players we’ve got here are so talented and the best I’ve seen of a club I’ve ever been involved in, so it doesn’t surprise me that they are doing well.

“Joe (Aribo) is a great young talent and I’m sure he’ll go on to play a lot higher and hopefully he’ll do it with us.‎”

Good sides have partnerships through the spine of the team. Michal Zyro and Nicky Ajose have gelled well up front under Bowyer’s tenure.

But central defence is the rock on which a team is built. Pearce and Bauer present a formidable barrier, and Addicks fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that the duo have an injury free run to the end of the season.

If everything goes to plan, leading the team out at Wembley would be the pinnacle of Pearce’s career.