Playing With Intent – Charlton 4, Blackpool 1

Well, it looks like Pardew's got it right – yesterday's match was one of the best Charlton performances I've seen in a long time, and the 4-1 scoreline barely underlined the superiority of the home side.

Sticking with the 4-4-2 that showed promise the previous week against West Brom, Blackpool couldn't cope with the constant waves of Charlton attacks. I lost count of the efforts on goal by the end of the match, which will hopefully raise the confidence levels of a team so bereft of creativity after the continued absence of Andy Reid.

Bougherra headed home the first as Blackpool gifted a free header in the box. Only minutes later, a great run from Varney saw him slip his shot between the Seasider's defenders and past ex-Addick Rachubka. 2-0 After 10 minutes, and Charlton were flying.

Blackpool threatened to make a game of it just 2 minutes later as Ben Burgess hit a cracking volley past a helpless Weaver, but Zheng Zhi restored the 2-goal cushion with a cool finish after more tireless work from Varney.

For once we were a team playing with intent, and we threatened to score even more. Youga and Viewtoakill were fantastic in pushing forward to pressure the Blackpool defence, and there were many times that Mou was playing ahead of Lloyd Sam to support the attack.

Youga was particularly impressive, playing with an air of nonchalance yet always being in the right place to challenge, and distributing the ball effectively. Other bloggers have noticed a similarity to Alex Song, and I'd echo that sentiment. A real find at left back, and he was under our noses all the chuffing time!

The star of the game for me though was the hardworking Zhi, and his tireless effort was rewarded with his second of the game in the 52nd minute. In a defensive lapse all too similar to the first goal, Bougherra crashed a header against the post and Zhi duly smashed home the rebound.

You really did get the feeling that we were capable of scoring on every attack, and it should have been 5 when substitute Thomas somehow blazed over an open goal from 6 yards after yet another great run from Varney.

Iwelumo and Dickson came on for the final 10 minutes, and I hope the starting line-up from now will be Varney +1 on the basis of this display. McLeod again disappointed and failed to threaten with 80 minutes on the pitch, and I think he has to get out on loan quick.

Iwelumo would be a great partner to Varney, but only if the team can stop the temptation to launch the ball to him at every opportunity. I'm sure Pards has made it clear to Big Chris that he's been out of the side purely on a team basis, and that it's always the intention for him to return when we start playing football again.

I think the corner could have been turned though after two good displays, and a lot of it is due to the nature and intent of the two wing-backs.

If you have players who want to keep the ball at their feet, it will stay there.