Curbishley wants to avoid uphill struggle

Alan Curbishley has warned his players that they must maintain their high standards if they are to sustain their European charge.

Charlton have cemented their position in fourth after an unbeaten run of five league games but Curbishley knows that the smallest slip-up would see his side fall down a congested Premiership table.

Charlton play bottom-club Wolves at The Valley tomorrow and Curbishley believes that home results will decide their season.

He said: "It's funny because before the Chelsea game we hadn't won for five games but now we're on a great unbeaten run again. It's very easy to slip into a poor run of games so we must keep performing.

"We have played all the top sides at home and must play against them on their own grounds, so it becomes very important to start picking up points at home. We've struggled to break teams down at times at The Valley and may have to change the way we play."

Curbishley is expected to make changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Manchester City on Wednesday. Carlton Cole is pushing for another start after scoring twice in as many games over Christmas, while Luke Young could replace Radostin Kishishev at right-back after shaking off a troublesome ankle injury.