Nice football is costing us, admits Curbs

Alan Curbishley has called for Charlton to get back to the basics of defending as a team in an attempt to turn around their alarming slump in form.

The Addicks looked to be cruising into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup as they lead Blackburn 2-0 with only 15 minutes left at The Valley last night.

However, not for the first time this season, Charlton then allowed their focus to slip as Rovers mounted a stirring fight-back and went on to level the tie through a brilliant 30-yard strike by substitute David Thompson.

Curbishley was then left seething after centre-back Talal El Karkouri was dispossessed in his own penalty area by Morten Gamst Pedersen, who delivered a low cross for on-loan Arsenal midfielder David Bentley to score a dramatic winner with two minutes left and leave Addicks faithful in stunned silence.

There was, though, plenty of noise from the beleaguered home support at the final whistle, with many opting to voice their disapproval following a fifth home defeat of the season.

Curbishley has not ruled out the possibility of further changes to the team ahead of Sunday's home Barclays Premiership clash with Manchester City, in which he will seek to arrest a run of five straight losses.

And he admits some of the things which made his side so effective earlier in the campaign - when they had boasted a 100% away record - are now starting to have an adverse affect.

"We have been caught between two stalls really," the Charlton boss reflected.

"Certainly at the start of the season, I asked them to pass it and play, to knock it about - and I think that has cost us.

"It is getting a fine line between when you can be positive, and when you have to be a bit defensive.

"The players who got us the results earlier in the season are probably costing us a little bit. But we have got to get it right.

"With 15 minutes to go, the game was over, but it has happened to us twice now, losing when we have been 2-0 up.

"We have to regroup and get on with it, and now I have to think about the weekend."

Curbishley had recalled veteran keeper Dean Kiely last night, as well as restoring Danny Murphy to midfield, but there was still no place in the squad for winger Dennis Rommedahl.

And the Charlton boss maintained: "If the team needs shaking up again on Sunday, I will do it.

"But I have to take it on the chin - and if they give me a result on Sunday, then I will feel a lot better."

While disappointed at not making it into the last eight of the League Cup in what would have been a first for the south-east London club, Curbishley knows it is their Premiership form which must always remain a priority.

"If I'm being honest I would have swapped a result against Blackburn for a win on Sunday," said the Charlton manager.

"Everyone talks about wanting a cup run, but I'm not sure how much the fans want it - it was a half-empty stadium out there.

"The league is what we're all about."