Pardew on pressure
Charlton chief Alan Pardew has given an insight into how he has dealt with the criticism that followed last week's defeat to rivals Crystal Palace.
The Addicks showed an abundance of character to bounce back from two defeats in four days, including that loss at Selhurst Park, to claim three points against Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Pardew picked a bold starting XI - just one of several teams he selected during the week, he revealed - and the decision paid dividends as he was rewarded with victory against the Suffolk side.
"I can't tell you I've had a good week,” he admitted to BBC LONDON 94.9 after the final whistle. "I've been hurting. I haven't had much sleep, there's been worry. I've picked a few teams, but luckily the players have responded.
"I'm going to come in for some criticism after the start we've had, I have to accept that. I've been a manger for eight or nine years and had that at different times.
"I've always reacted to pressure in the same way, though, and that's to be bold. If you start letting fear or other people affect your judgement, then you are in trouble."
Pardew's 'bold' team selection included first starts of the season for Svetoslav Todorov and Zheng Zhi in a bid to add technical quality to his side.
"I picked a bold team against Ipswich, and it paid off," he said. "People talk about pressure on managers, but it's never about the manager, it's always about the players who have to go on the pitch and deliver - under extreme pressure at times.
"In the first half the crowd was baying a little bit and you have to play under that. I've been there as a player, and I'd rather have that as a manager than a player.
"That feeling when that happened as a player was never good, so I always take my hat off to the players when they turn things around as they did against Ipswich."
Pardew was later grilled by the media about how he deals with criticism, particularly in the wake of Charlton's first league defeat in almost 12 years against the Eagles.
And he paid tribute to his friends within the game who contacted him with encouraging words before the fixture against the Tractor Boys.
He said: "Every manager has to have broad shoulders, and, as Joe Kinnear showed last week, you have to stand up and be counted, whatever way that is!
"You try and shield yourself from criticism a bit; I've been watching a lot of the news so if you want to ask me about the credit crisis I know everything about it...
"Family and friends get in touch and rally round a bit. Some try to give you a Churchillian speech down the phone. Keith Peacock put his head round the door before the game and wished us luck, Peter Grant phoned me during the week, so the friendships you have within the game keep you buoyed.
"I'm just pleased for the club; there are so many good people at the club, and they deserved the win."
The Addicks boss was also asked about his assistant Phil Parkinson, who was an animated pitchside presence alongside Pardew in the technical area.
"Phil's a little bit more inexperienced than me, and I thought he showed that," joked Alan. "We were all up for it and we showed it in different ways."
Reflecting on the game, Pardew paid tribute to his entire squad, highlighting the contribution of Luke Varney and Matt Holland in particular.
"I had a few words at half-time, not harsh words, but I was just trying to reinforce positive messages, that there was nothing to lose," he said. "I thought we were playing with a bit of fear.
"The players responded in the second half, and I thought we were the better team. We weren't brilliant. The players finished the game with hamstring injuries, calf injuries and are absolutely exhausted, but that's what it takes to win the Championship and you can't have less than that.
"I left out Matty Holland, and he had every right not to be thrilled with that decision, but he came on and gave a great performance. Varney was brilliant as well and gets better every game."
He added: "The international break comes at a good time for us, and will give a few payers some time to get over some niggles. It would be nice to see [Nicky] Bailey at Cardiff; he has a hamstring injury, but hopefully we will enter that game with everyone fit."
Pardew was also keen to praise the contribution of the Valley faithful throughout the match, despite the ebb and flow of the game.
"The spirit of the team enabled us to win the game, the spirit of the group that wanted to win for Charlton fans," he said.
"It was great to see so many fans at the game and to get the support we received, because we'd had a very tough week, so I thank them for that. I think there was honesty in our efforts, and I hope they saw that."
He added: "It's a very fine line between winning and losing in this division. We have no given right to be in the top six, we've got to earn that right, and we did that against Ipswich.
"Everyone needs to stay calm, from the fans to the players and myself. Form can be quickly turned on its head, as Wolves have found out in the last couple of games.
"We are still within touching distance, and hopefully the faith, integrity and honesty among the players and staff will come though, and we will be good enough to get in the play-offs or get promoted automatically."
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