Thatcher to toughen up Addicks

Alan Pardew feels the addition of Ben Thatcher can help give Charlton a "harder edge" as they battle for Barclays Premiership survival.

The Addicks have completed a £500,000 swoop for the 31-year-old former Wales defender, while also offloading summer arrival Djimi Traore to Portsmouth - taking a loss of £1million in the process. Pardew maintained he had to "shake up" his back four, which has conceded 40 goals in the Premiership so far.

Pardew said: "I feel we are going to need a tougher, harder edge if we are going to get out of this - and I do not mean that in an undisciplined way. I looked at Ben, saw he was available and that he would improve us."

The Charlton boss is troubled by the damning statistics of Charlton's season so far.

"We have conceded more goals than anybody else, and I feel we need a bit more dialogue in the back four," he said.

"Ben Thatcher brings great experience and spirit to the team, and strength. He is going to be the sort of character we are going to need.

"I just feel we need to strengthen up a bit and need a bit more experience of what the Premiership is about.

"We do not need wholesale changes, just a few players to freshen things up and kickstart our season."