Curbishley plays down Charlton feat

Charlton 4 Chelsea 2

A headed goal from Hermann Hreidarsson after just 42 seconds set Charlton on the way to a 4-2 victory in a compelling London derby.

Skipper Matt Holland, Jonatan Johansson and Jason Euell completed Charlton's scoring with John Terry and Eidur Gudjohnsen replying for Chelsea.

"It was a big game and a great performance and result but we won't get carried away," said Curbishley.

"I think Liverpool and Newcastle will make up the top five over the course of the full season.

"You'll see them come through but after that, this league is very tight. You can be sitting fourth now but with a bad run you could finish fourth from bottom. It's nice though to be in a decent position coming up to the half-way mark."

Curbishley revealed he had no money to spend in the January transfer window and any deals he might do would be for small fees or loan agreements.

"We have a squad strong enough for the top half of the league but I need the likes of Luke Young, Kevin Lisbie, Shaun Bartlett back from injury," said Curbishley.

The Charlton boss also admitted that the rise of midfielder Scott Parker had given the club a lift. Parker earned his first England cap in the friendly against Denmark and England assistant boss Tord Grip was in the stands to see him put in another rousing performance to eclipse the work of Chelsea's Joe Cole and Frank Lampard.

Ironically, Parker had been linked with Chelsea before the arrival of Roman Abramovich.

"It was significant for us that he decided to stay here," said Curbishley. "Not just because he got an England cap, that was big for him but it was even bigger for us. It showed Charlton players can get recognition."

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri was dismayed after his side's lacklustre display which showed up the defensive problems with England's John Terry in particular having a nightmare match.

"We created chances but they made it very difficult for us," said Ranieri.

"It was strange. In the second half we created the chances but Charlton deserved to win. Now we must react very quickly because we have Portsmouth on Sunday and that is another difficult match."

Ranieri insisted Charlton could spring a surprise to take that fourth spot if they continue to show the same enterprise.

"Everything is possible because they have good players and good organisation," said Ranieri.

"They ran the match and deserved to win."

Ranieri, who substituted captain Desailly for William Gallas with just four minutes remaining, would not be drawn on whether Roberto Ayala might be joining Chelsea from Valencia in the January transfer window.

"A lot of journalists have called me from Spain, and told me Ayala is staying," said Ranieri. "I don't want to think about whether Ayala comes or not."

CHARLTON: Kiely, Kishishev, Perry, Fortune, Hreidarsson, Holland, Parker, Euell, Stuart (Konhesky 77), Di Canio (Powell 87), Johansson.

CHELSEA: Cudicini, Johnson, Terry, Desailly, Bridge, Gronkjaer (Gudjohnsen 45), Lampard (Geremi 65), Makelele, Cole (Gallas 82), Hasselbaink, Mutu.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).