Pardew prepared for tough calls

Alan Pardew is prepared to do whatever it takes to give Charlton the edge in their battle for Barclays Premiership survival.

The Addicks host his old club Reading on Monday looking to keep themselves out of the bottom three after a five-game unbeaten run - yielded 11 points and - moved them above Sheffield United.

Pardew said: "My philosophy for winning is that the team comes first. The individual, I am afraid, comes second. That is how it is going to be."

In their last home game, Pardew made the unusual decision to replace substitute Darren Ambrose just moments after his side had taken an 86th-minute lead against Wigan.

For the Charlton boss, it was a tactic he would employ again should he feel it necessary.

Pardew revealed: "I subbed Darren to win the game. I apologised to him afterwards. I put him on as an offensive change and it was time after 85 minutes to make a defensive change.

"I had to do what was best for the team, but I do not think he had any problem with it. Darren had only been on about 15 minutes.

"The obvious sub would have probably been for ZZ (Zheng Zhi) to have come off, and left Darren on the right. I just felt that it would be stronger for us.

"I have got to do what is right for the club, and I know Darren did not have any problem with that. I guess it was unusual - even (assistant manager) Phil Parkinson said to me, 'Gaffer are you sure?'

"I have just got to do what is right - and if I had to drag myself away from the bench because I had lost my head, then I would do that as well."