CHARLTON keeper David Button is confident of retaining his place after finally being given his first team chance against Burnley on Saturday.

It took a wonder first half goal from Clarets striker Charlie Austin to beat Button on his league debut as the Addicks fell to a 1-0 defeat at The Valley.

But the 24-year-old insists he has what it takes to remain between the sticks after finally getting the nod ahead of regular number one Ben Hamer for the first time since his summer switch from Spurs.

He said: “At the end of the day it’s down to me.

“If I’m playing well and the team’s playing well, then I can’t give the gaffer any reason to drop me.

“I’m going to take each game as it comes and I know that with more games I’ll get better and better, so I’m confident of keeping my place.”

Button added: “I found out I was starting on Thursday.

“They wanted me to have a couple of days to prepare myself, which was good for me.

“I’m buzzing to be in the team and hopefully I can stay there now.

News Shopper: David Button

“I haven’t played a lot this season, so there’s a lot more to come.

“On the whole I thought I was fairly solid when called upon.”

Austin’s winner, a thunderbolt from 30 yards, came two minutes before half-time and Button admitted there was little he could do to prevent such a wonder-goal.

He said: “It was a great strike.

“I had a couple of people in front of me as well, so I saw it a little bit late.

“But you’ve just got to hold your hands up sometimes and when they go into the top corner like that, there’s not a lot you can do.”

Saturday’s defeat saw Charlton’s poor home form continue and with just four wins at The Valley so far this season, Button can’t put his finger on why the Addicks continue to struggle in front of their own fans: He explained: “In the dressing room everyone is confident.

“We’re coming into home games with the same intentions as we do away.

News Shopper: David Button

“Every game we play we want to get three points but it’s just not dropping for us at the moment.

“We seem to have those special moments away from home and we just need someone to create one at home.”

Button added: “I can feel the tension from the stands a little bit, but to be honest I think the fans here are great.

“I’ve been at clubs where the home fans get a lot more on the players’ backs.

News Shopper: David Button

“With the record, they’ve got every right to show their frustrations but on the whole they do try and support us and get behind us, so I’ve got no complaints there."

But despite his side’s recent poor form, the debutant keeper is certain Charlton will be safe from relegation come May.

He said: “With 11 games to go we’d like to say we’re confident of staying up, which we all are obviously.

“We don’t want to leave it to the last couple of games to get safe, we want to do that as quickly as possible and I’m sure we'll be fine.”

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