HOGAN Ephraim believes Charlton are halfway to promotion after beating League One title rivals Huddersfield 2-0 at The Valley on Monday night.

The winger, who recently arrived in SE7 on loan from Premier League QPR, scored on his home debut as the Addicks ended the Terriers’ 43-match unbeaten run to move seven points clear at the top of the table.

Ephraim said: “We’ve got 46 points but we know we will need 86 or 90 to go up.

“Some of the boys haven’t been in this position before, so it is just about getting your head round it, staying concentrated and not letting the pressure get to you.

“We’ve been leading the whole way so far and showed no signs of cracking.”

Ephraim experienced promotion last season as the Hoops won the Championship and the former England U19 international turned down a number of Championship sides in favour of Chris Powell’s League One promotion chasers.

He explained: “There were a couple of clubs interested but some of them weren’t the right ones.

“I sat down with my agent in a coffee shop and he named some clubs in the Championship but there are only a few clubs in the Championship I would want to go to.

“It wasn’t a case of just going anywhere. I was prepared to stay at QPR until January and wait for the right club to come along.

“I told my agent to speak to assistant-manager Alex Dyer and Chris Powell to see if they were interested, so I kind of made the first move and I’m not regretting the move at all.

“It is a young team and easy to fit into and today made it even easier.”

Ephraim added: “I introduced myself to the fans and there is a great team spirit. I knew the manager and assistant manager from my time at West Ham which helped me settle in.

“I played in four or five reserve games for QPR and the last reserve game I didn’t feel myself physically, so I wanted to come somewhere where I knew the staff would get the best out of me and get me working.

“I needed training which was more intense than I had at QPR and I knew Alex was very good.”

Ephraim slotted home Charlton’s second goal after Ian Bennett kept out the first attempt from Bradley Wright-Phillips.

But the home side were made to work to hold onto their lead as Huddersfield compiled attack after attack in the second half.

Ephiram admitted: “It looked like the clock wasn’t ticking down.

“It was constant pressure but we defended for our lives, chased everything down and thoroughly deserved it.

“We showed a different side to us tonight and that side will get you through and win you games.

“It was nice to get a first start and it is always nice to score and get a win, especially as that was a big game.

“We showed great guts and determination.”

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