Charlton manager Chris Powell is thrilled with how his high-flying side are tearing up League One.

The manager was more than pleased with the seven point haul from a busy week. Here are his thoughts:

“I would have taken two draws, from these two games, to be honest with you. These are two tough places to go.

“At the end of a week that tested my players, their resilience, their resources and energy they have come up trumps.

“It was an outstanding result for us today. Seven points from three games in seven days, could I have asked for more? You could say I would want nine, but for me to have seven and the unbeaten run remains it’s a great achievement by everyone connected with Charlton,” said Chris.

Powell made a substitution that changed the course of the game when Yann Kermorgant scored within seconds of replacing Paul Hayes. Here’s Chris’ view of the event:

“I’ve not seen anything like that since I’ve been managing, it happened once or twice in my playing career but Yann has made a mark for me today and in his three cameos that he’s had.

“He’s a player I know well from Leicester. He had a tough time but that doesn’t mean he will have a tough time elsewhere.

“What it means is you get another chance to do what you are good at and he has good attributes. He never really got a chance there.

“It’s well documented what happened but I just felt he would add to our squad and add something different.”He was involved in third goal last week, came on with the equaliser on Tuesday and made his mark straight away today. So I’m very pleased for him,” said Powell.

It is always risky to make a substitution when defending a corner but as Kermorgant’s introduction proved, it can be a useful ploy when a team is taking one. Powell was asked if he had considered delaying the Frenchman’s introduction until after the corner had been taken:

“No, we had a few corners and never really attacked them.

“I just feel knowing Yann, the sort of character he is, he will want to make that ball his, wherever it is in the box he seems to read it very well.

“It was a great goal for him, a great goal for us and a great impact. It doesn’t happen often but when it does when I’ve sent him on for it, it was a good feeling but we are under no illusion, there is a long, long way to go. There is a quarter of the season gone and for us to have the points return is great for us,” said the boss before adding that he believes the result will further boost his team’s high confidence level, “It will be a boost. It will add to their belief and confidence.

“This was a tough game. I did say to them that in the first 15-20 minutes it would be tough and they were going to put us on the back foot. They demand it here and they have been doing well this season.

“They’ve got some good players and they had one chance cleared one off the line. They are the small margins that when you come to a Sheffield United or a team in the top six, you are going to have to do things like that to win your team points, and we did that.

“My back four have been immense, Michael Morrison and Matt Taylor have put their head in when they have to and my full- backs again showed their determination.

“We have been playing some good stuff this year but you can’t always do that.

“Looking at the game overall I just felt we grew into the game, especially in the second half and when we managed to pass the ball like we have done we fashioned some chances.

“You take them when they come, whether it’s a set play as we did with the corner and the first goal, or whether you can get Bradley Wright-Phillips away one-on-one, which is what we want and more often than not he will take them.

“It’s the mark of a good striker and his work rate was high and also he followed in after a good save to score his goal, so I’m ever so pleased for him and Yann.

“I’m delighted with getting the clean sheet with the shot hitting the post at the end.

“I’ve been desperate for us to get a clean sheet. We’ve been beaten by two penalties in the last two games and they could have been two clean sheets.

“To get a clean sheet and score two goals – and we could have scored more – away at Sheffield United, is no small achievement. I’m really proud for all my players and all my fans today,” concluded Chris.

Powell called an impromptu huddle at the end of the game to thank his players for their efforts. He also thanked the fans by responding to their calls for his famed tunnel jump.

The spirit in the camp, and the harmony between the team and their fans, is a huge plus for the club. For the first time in several seasons, Charlton are looking like a team rather than just a collection of individuals.

That unity is a vital component for a successful side.