KEY POINTS:
Charlton poked their heads up and were blinking in the unaccustomed light of being out of the Premeiership relegation zone after grinding out a 0-0 draw at Manchester City yesterday.
Down and virtually out when Alan Pardew became the Addicks' third manager of the season 13 games ago,
Charlton have transformed themselves into a dogged, fighting force as they climbed out of the bottom three for the first time since September.
The seven-point bridge to safety Pardew had to negotiate has now been reached after a five-match unbeaten run, with the Londoners moving above Sheffield United - who hosted Newcastle overnight - on goals scored.
The advantage may be slender but if the battling qualities on display at Eastlands are any guide, Charlton will collect enough points from their final six games to secure survival by the middle of May.
Certainly they were hardly ever an attacking threat to City. But Stuart Pearce's men were not so much better despite their dominance of possession.
Successive wins at Middlesbrough and Newcastle may have virtually ended any fears City had of falling into the Championship but this was the 10th time in the Premiership this season Pearce's men had failed to score at home.
It is five games since Georgios Samaras scored their last home goal - against Everton on New Year's Day - and with five goalless draws among their home Premiership results as well, it is little wonder the entertainment value is being questioned.
Nedum Onuoha wasted City's best chance, nodding wide from seven metres when unmarked just after the hour mark. Once that opportunity had been missed, the deadlock never really looked like being broken and in the end, Charlton were happy to let the clock tick down to move that precious place higher in the table.
Although 10 points from four games was confirmation of Charlton's current momentum, City made a fast start.
Emile Mpenza may be only six games into his City career following the cancellation of a deal that saw him start the season in Qatar, yet already he is proving of far greater value than fellow strikers Samaras and Bernardo Corradi.
The burly Belgian gave Charlton's defence plenty of early headaches and his ability to retain possession - a trait which eludes Samaras and Corradi - buys time for supporting team-mates.
"The momentum is with us now," said Pardew. "We have just got a point away from home, which we have not done many times this year, so that has to be a good result for us.
"A few teams around us will be starting to feel a bit nervous now. Our destiny is in our own hands because we still have Sheffield United to play at home. I don't think we could have asked for any more than that two months ago."
Victory against Neil Warnock's men in a fortnight should ensure Charlton's survival.
