The dream's not over - Pards

"It's not over.” That was the defiant war cry from Charlton boss Alan Pardew after the Addicks went down 4-1 at Ewood Park on Saturday.

A sea of red at Ewood Park

Addressing the nation's press after a roller-coaster game that saw the Addicks go a goal down and a man down when Ben Thatcher was sent off, Pardew watched his never-say-die side draw level when Darren Bent dived to head home 19 minutes from time.

And although three further Rovers goals in the closing 12 minutes still failed to dampen the spirits of the amazing away support in the Darwen End, Pardew admitted he too had gone through a barrage of emotions on the touchline.

He said: "I thought the final scoreline flattered them but events somewhat conspired against us today.

"I thought in the first half Blackburn without a doubt edged the game and they looked the good side that they are.

"But we hung in there and the second half was a much more even contest up until the mistake really."

That mistake came from the club's most reliable campaigner this season, Scott Carson, when the on-loan Liverpool man allowed a shot from Jason Roberts to squirm through his grasp.

And Pardew sympathised with his keeper, adding: "Scott Carson will probably win our player of the season tomorrow so it was unfortunate he made an error at that point.

"But the spirit of the team would not lie down. We got a goal back and at that point I genuinely felt the players sensed we could win the game.

"I was trying to stop our enthusiasm, in terms of getting too stretched as we did at times, and that cost us the second goal.

Events somewhat conspired against us today with the sending off and then Talal [El Karkouri] got injured after we made three subs trying to get back in the game."

And the Valley boss refused to throw in the towel, insisting there is still plenty to play for in the final fortnight of the season.

He added: "The result for West Ham against Wigan has almost helped us, I would think, so we have to be thankful for that - we've still got a chance to get out of it."

And when asked if the dream was over he responded: "No it isn't. Even before today four points might be enough.

"I genuinely don't know and I'm not going to bother to work it out. It's obvious that when we play on Monday night we will be playing after everybody has played on Saturday, and we will have good idea by then I should think.

He added: "Even today this game was a difficult game to manage as it ebbed and flowed, especially in the second half.

"There were a lot of things going on in terms of what we needed to take from the game today. And as I say I can't be disappointed of the effort of my players.

"The goals we let in today were more consistent with the goals conceded earlier in the season. Recently we have not conceded those types of goals, so that was disappointing."

And he also praised the team's 12th man on the day, the marvellous fans behind the goal who were still singing well after the final whistle.

He continued: "I felt for them today; they came here and couldn't have been more supportive for us but unfortunately the result will not send them home in greatest of humour. It was only my right to go over there and thank them after the game."

Read the Blackburn match report here.