Charlton Must Enhance Home Performance to Avoid Relegation Battle

Charlton captain Greg Docherty is aware that his team faces a crucial period with three remaining games in their first season back in the Championship, as they strive to avoid immediate relegation to League One. Docherty stated, "We are aware of our position in the league table," in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of the midweek match against promotion-chasing Ipswich at The Valley. The Addicks have two consecutive home games, including one against Hull, Docherty's former team, before visiting Swansea on the final day. Charlton is currently six points above the bottom three, but their winless streak in six games has increased anxiety. However, Ipswich has the worst away record among the top ten Championship teams, and Charlton is the only team to have beaten them at Portman Road this season. Docherty expressed his confidence, saying, "We have plenty to play for, and we're not oblivious to the fact that they have something to play for as well." He reflected on the previous win against Ipswich, stating, "It was a huge confidence boost for us, and we demonstrated that we can compete against top teams." Despite their competitive performances, Charlton has struggled to score goals, particularly at home, and Docherty acknowledged that this has been a significant issue. The team captain emphasized the importance of spreading goals throughout the team, saying, "It's not for lack of trying or creativity, but we've been punished for our mistakes in the last six games." Docherty remains optimistic, citing the team's ability to take points from big teams, including Millwall and Coventry. He expressed his desire to improve Charlton's home record, which has been disappointing this season. As captain, Docherty has led by example, with the joint-highest number of assists and the highest number of tackles among his teammates. He aims to add more goals to his game, working with the manager to achieve this. Docherty concluded, "I'm happy with my personal performance, but I'll only be satisfied when the club is doing well, and we're winning games as a team."