CHARLTON manager Chris Powell is fully focused on the visit of Peterborough on Tuesday night despite a weekend trip to Millwall on the horizon.
The Addicks travel to The Den for a south-east London derby against Kenny Jackett’s high-flying side but Powell believes three points against basement outfit Peterborough on Tuesday night must be the priority for now.
He said: “We can only think about Millwall after Tuesday night and then we have got three days to get ready for what is going to be a big game for Charlton Athletic.
“Peterborough are going to ask different questions of us and of course we have got to make sure we are right.
“It is always a tough game regardless of who you play, home or away, so we have got be guarded and make sure we are ready to get the three points.
“It would have taken a lot out of the players’ legs on Saturday (against Huddersfield), so I might freshen it up because we follow up with a local derby.”
Charlton slipped up at The Valley on Saturday as they conceded a late penalty to 10-man Huddersfield and had to settle for a draw.
Powell thought the late heartbreak was a tough pill to swallow for his side but he was keen to take the positives out of the 1-1 draw.
He said: “It was a real shame because after our last home win, 5-4, I was put on record saying a 1-0 win would be great for us.
“Really we could have made it two before the penalty incident.
“It knocked the stuffing out of everyone and it almost felt like a defeat, especially with the 10-men.
“The positive is it’s another point for us and 10 points out of the last 12 available with one defeat in the last seven.
“I’m quite happy with that after an indifferent start to the season, but it was a shame we couldn’t get another home win to build on.”
The Addicks currently sit 15th in the Championship, five points off sixth-placed Millwall and nine points clear of safety.
And Powell is happy with where his team are at this stage of the season.
He said: “I can always ask for more, which I will always do because I want to push them on and I want them to get better and us to be better.
“We have got to look at it positively and look at our performances and where we can improve.
“We can always say we should have got points here and there but that is how football is.
“We are in a decent place but we want to keep pushing on and we will be doing our utmost best to do that.”
The last time Charlton visited The Den in March 2010 they lost 4-0 under Phil Parkinson’s management, a result Addicks fans are all too aware of.
But Powell believes that result will have no bearing on their trip to Millwall this weekend.
He added: “We all know what is riding on it with regards to local pride.
“You talk about the games in previous but I always kind of put that to one side because it is a new game with new players in both sides and it is going to be a tough game, no doubt about it.
“I know our fans are looking towards that game but being manager I’m looking at Peterborough first.”
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