PARDEW FEARED TIME WAS UP
Alan Pardew feared that his time as Charlton Athletic manager was up after a “bloody awful” 5-2 defeat to Sheffield United – and he was right.
Before he was shown the door following an emergency board meeting the former West Ham boss admitted that he had failed to stop the rot at the club he joined on Boxing Day two years ago.
Charlton were relegated from the Premier League in Pardew’s first season. And after finishing six points out of the play-off zone last season the club have sunk to deeper depths.
Pardew’s side – now 22nd in the Championship – had shipped 19 goals and gained only three points in their last eight matches.
Kevin Blackwell’s Blades cut Charlton to shreds on Saturday and were up 3-1 by the break with goals from James Beattie, Gary Speed and Matthew Kilgallon at the Valley.
Though Linvoy Primus nodded one back for Charlton his team were 5-1 down seven minutes into the second half. Kelly Youga netted an own goal before Stephen Quinn scored a left-foot screamer.
Hameur Bouazza’s goal was no consolation to Pardew, who won only 28 of his 90 games in charge of the Addicks.
And the directors listened to the hundreds of supporters who staged a “Pardew out” protest after the game.
“On reflection of results so far this season, and looking at the future challenges for the remainder of the campaign, it was agreed by both parties that Alan would leave the club with immediate effect,” said club chairman Richard Murray in a statement.
“It has been difficult here,” Pardew said. “It was a club on the slide when I arrived and I haven’t managed to stop that. The players’ confidence is so low – it’s difficult at the bottom of the league.”
Pardew, whose assistant Phil Parkinson will take charge as caretaker boss in Tuesday's game against QPR, blamed the club’s transfer dealings as the main reason why the results failed to come.
“The loss of [creative midfielder] Andy Reid in the middle of last year affected the group,” he continued.
“We missed out on the play-offs and this year we have not been able to strengthen the side as much as we would have liked.
“And we expected better form from the players that we bought in.”
Blackwell, whose team moved to fourth in the Championship, was delighted that United scored five away goals for the first time in six years. But the former Luton boss backed his opposite man to bounce back.
"When things go against you, they go against you,” said Blackwell, referring to the own goal. “Does that make Alan Pardew a bad manager? No it doesn't.
“Alan has been a good manager over his career. He has proved himself but when you are at the bottom if things can go wrong, they will.”
Man-of-the-match: Greg Halford. The 23-year-old on-loan from Sunderland proved a constant thorn in Charlton’s side. Set up the first goal and was unlucky not to score when his audacious 40-yard shot crashed off the crossbar.
Charlton: (4-5-1) Weaver 3; Moutaouakil 5, Primus 6, Hudson © 5, Youga 4; Sam 5, Semedo 5 (booked 28), Bailey 6, Holland 6, Bouazza 6; Gray 5
Subs: Elliot, Todorov 5 (on 62 for Gray), Varney, Racon, Waghorn 5 (on 51 for Youga)
Sheff Utd: (4-4-2) Kenny 6, Naughton 6, Morgan © 7, Kilgallon 7, Jihai 6; Halford 8, Speed 7, Howard 6, Quinn 7; Beattie 7, Sharp 7
Subs: Naysmith 5 (on 79 for Jihai), Henderson 6 (on 54 for Beattie), Webber 5 (on 62 for Sharp), Dyer, Spring
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset)
Alan Pardew feared that his time as Charlton Athletic manager was up after a “bloody awful” 5-2 defeat to Sheffield United – and he was right.
Before he was shown the door following an emergency board meeting the former West Ham boss admitted that he had failed to stop the rot at the club he joined on Boxing Day two years ago.
Charlton were relegated from the Premier League in Pardew’s first season. And after finishing six points out of the play-off zone last season the club have sunk to deeper depths.
Pardew’s side – now 22nd in the Championship – had shipped 19 goals and gained only three points in their last eight matches.
Kevin Blackwell’s Blades cut Charlton to shreds on Saturday and were up 3-1 by the break with goals from James Beattie, Gary Speed and Matthew Kilgallon at the Valley.
Though Linvoy Primus nodded one back for Charlton his team were 5-1 down seven minutes into the second half. Kelly Youga netted an own goal before Stephen Quinn scored a left-foot screamer.
Hameur Bouazza’s goal was no consolation to Pardew, who won only 28 of his 90 games in charge of the Addicks.
And the directors listened to the hundreds of supporters who staged a “Pardew out” protest after the game.
“On reflection of results so far this season, and looking at the future challenges for the remainder of the campaign, it was agreed by both parties that Alan would leave the club with immediate effect,” said club chairman Richard Murray in a statement.
“It has been difficult here,” Pardew said. “It was a club on the slide when I arrived and I haven’t managed to stop that. The players’ confidence is so low – it’s difficult at the bottom of the league.”
Pardew, whose assistant Phil Parkinson will take charge as caretaker boss in Tuesday's game against QPR, blamed the club’s transfer dealings as the main reason why the results failed to come.
“The loss of [creative midfielder] Andy Reid in the middle of last year affected the group,” he continued.
“We missed out on the play-offs and this year we have not been able to strengthen the side as much as we would have liked.
“And we expected better form from the players that we bought in.”
Blackwell, whose team moved to fourth in the Championship, was delighted that United scored five away goals for the first time in six years. But the former Luton boss backed his opposite man to bounce back.
"When things go against you, they go against you,” said Blackwell, referring to the own goal. “Does that make Alan Pardew a bad manager? No it doesn't.
“Alan has been a good manager over his career. He has proved himself but when you are at the bottom if things can go wrong, they will.”
Man-of-the-match: Greg Halford. The 23-year-old on-loan from Sunderland proved a constant thorn in Charlton’s side. Set up the first goal and was unlucky not to score when his audacious 40-yard shot crashed off the crossbar.
Charlton: (4-5-1) Weaver 3; Moutaouakil 5, Primus 6, Hudson © 5, Youga 4; Sam 5, Semedo 5 (booked 28), Bailey 6, Holland 6, Bouazza 6; Gray 5
Subs: Elliot, Todorov 5 (on 62 for Gray), Varney, Racon, Waghorn 5 (on 51 for Youga)
Sheff Utd: (4-4-2) Kenny 6, Naughton 6, Morgan © 7, Kilgallon 7, Jihai 6; Halford 8, Speed 7, Howard 6, Quinn 7; Beattie 7, Sharp 7
Subs: Naysmith 5 (on 79 for Jihai), Henderson 6 (on 54 for Beattie), Webber 5 (on 62 for Sharp), Dyer, Spring
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset)
