CHRIS Powell was again delighted to see his side keep another clean sheet in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Exeter on Saturday.

The Addicks have now gone seven hours of League One football without conceding a goal and the Charlton manager was quick to heap praise on his back-line.

He said: “My back four has hardly changed this year and for a reason, because they’ve been outstanding as a unit.

“They haven’t conceded a league goal in 2012 and that’s something for them to keep doing.

“Any team which achieves success is normally defensively very sound, that was one thing that was in my mind this year.

“I know in midfield we will create, we will get balls in from wide areas and we will try and slide our strikers in.

“We’ve got strikers that will score goals but obviously if they have to come from other areas like they have recently, then so be it.”

The Charlton boss also saluted the attitude of his players against a resolute Exeter side, having come into the game off the back of victories over both Sheffield clubs.

He said: “After the two Sheffield games people are expecting us to ease to wins against sides in the lower reaches, but it’s still important that we set up right.

“I knew the atmosphere wouldn’t be how it has been in the previous two games so it was up to us to manage that.

“It was up to myself, and my staff, and the players themselves to gee one another up.

“I felt if we did that we could get the goals and result that we wanted and that’s what happened.”

Powell added: “The first half was very flat there was no real threat from either team.

“I asked the boys just to lift that and better our attacking play because I felt at the back we were fairly comfortable.

“It was just a case of giving a bit more in the second period.

“We got the goal whether it was fortunate or not and it’s another win.”

Saturday’s game also saw striker Bradley Wright-Phillips go another match without finding the net, meaning it’s now no goals in 10 for the Addicks front man.

But Powell explained why he has no fears about his star forward and also why he was delighted to see Dale Stephens make his return with a 10-minute cameo from the bench, his first involvement since October.

The boss said: “Strikers are obviously judged on their goals and not on anything else, but you know managers and coaches will look at what they’re contributing, movement and support play.

“But he’s scored a lot of goals for us this year, 14 in the league, but a lot of those were in the early part of the season.

“He’ll be back.

“I know Brad, I see him in training, and he’ll be back amongst the goals sooner rather than later.”

On Stephens, Powell added: “Dale’s good player, without doubt.

“I didn’t want to rush him straight back in because he’s been out for a long while.

“He adds quality, he adds forward passing and he adds composure and he always seems to do the right thing when he on the ball, so I’m glad to get him back in and hopefully that will bring him back up to speed for the rest of the campaign.”

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