Weaver targets Valley improvement

2:14pm Tuesday 19th August 2008

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CHARLTON goalkeeper Nicky Weaver believes the Addicks need to improve upon last season's home form if they want to stand a chance of gaining promotion.

Despite failing to add to their points tally at Watford, Weaver is confident Charlton have a squad capable of finishing at the top-end of the table, though admits it will be no easy feat.

He feels the Addicks are now better equipped to mount a successful challenge having found the right blend between youth and experience, combined with the lessons learnt from last year's disappointing campaign.

He said: "The problem last year was we didn't win enough home games, so this year we've got to make sure we win 60 to 80 percent of our home games and pick up a few points away.

"But from what I saw last week against Swansea and what I saw at Watford, we've certainly got enough to be up there.

"A lot of players haven't played in the Championship for a long time, but now everyone knows what the division is about.

"Sometimes last year we had such a big squad and such a wealth of experience it was quite easy for the manager to chop and change.

"This year we are going to have a much tighter unit, so we will probably stick with a more settled unit which I think will help us."

This Saturday Charlton host the recently relegated Reading, one of Alan Pardew's former clubs, in what is expected to be a difficult match against fellow promotion hopefuls.

Weaver said: "You can't say a match only three games into the season is a must-win game, but if you win your home games and pick up a little bit away then you are going to be right up there.

"It will be difficult and they are all difficult. Swansea came last week and played a lot of football and at times played better football than us, but we had two chances, scored two goals and won 2-0.

"Last season we beat all the top teams and lost to the bottom teams. It doesn't matter who comes, it's always going to be tough."

Weaver's pre-season had been hampered by injury, but Charlton's number one goalkeeper was in fine form on Saturday, making numerous saves to keep the visitors' hopes of stealing a point alive.

He made a spectacular double save towards the end, a stop which earned praise from the Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd, who claimed his side would have won by two or three but for the display of the former Manchester City keeper.

Weaver said: "I saved the first one with the inside of my thigh, got up and I saw Damien Francis volley towards the goal and I just stuck my hand out.

"It would have been nice if we could have nicked a point because it would have made it worthwhile.

"I only played two pre-season games because I got injured two weeks before the season started, so trained for just two days. I didn't feel 100 percent but I've played two league games now."

The goalkeeper felt defender Kelly Youga was unfortunate to see red at Vicarage Road and although the performance and end result may have been a disappointment, Weaver remained upbeat afterwards.

He explained: "We ended the game like we wished we had started it.

"We started off sloppy and gave them too much time on the ball.

"It all happened so quickly but from where I was, I don't think he was going to get a clear shot on goal.

"I think Mark Hudson was coming round and we feel a bit hard done by.

"But we came out fighting and at least there are a few positives we can take back with us.

"It's early days yet and in many ways it was a typical Championship game which hinged on one chance."

Meanwhile, Weaver echoed Pardew in suggesting Charlton need to bolster their ranks with a couple of new signings, but has accepted the constant departure and arrival of players is a feature of Charlton's predicament.

He said: "The longer the club stays out of the Premiership, it's always going to be the case.

"There are still a couple weeks of the window left and maybe we need one or two more."