The Lowdown

The Sky Blues finish their 2007/08 campaign with a dramatic afternoon in prospect this Sunday against Charlton Athletic.

For the first time in 11 years, City go into the final day needing a result to guarantee safety. Not since they beat Tottenham in sensational style at White Hart Lane in 1997 to avoid the drop from the Premier League have the Sky Blues faced last day drama of this kind.

The simple facts are that a point at the Valley will see the Sky Blues remain in the Championship. Worst case scenario would be a defeat, with Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester and Southampton winning their respective games, which would result in City dropping to the third tier of English football for the first time in 44 years.

Chris Coleman's men can afford to lose the tie should either the Owls, the Foxes or the Saints fail to win. We have a two point advantage over Leicester and Southampton meaning they have to win to stand any chance of leapfrogging us, while Wednesday sit just one point adrift, with a preferential goal difference so a point could be enough for them to go above us.

The Game

The bad news for City is that all the pressure is on them on Saturday, although if you interpret this in a more positive fashion, Charlton have nothing to play for except pride.

It's been a disappointing first season back in the Championship for the Addicks following their relegation from the top flight last term, as they've perfectly proved the old adage that it's not how you start but how you finish.

Under the guidance of Alan Pardew - who took over as Charlton boss in January 2007 after the ill-fated short spells of Les Reed and Iain Dowie - the East London outfit lost only once in their opening ten fixtures to establish themselves amongst the early pace setters.

And they remained in the chase until relatively recently, although having won only once in their last ten matches - six of which have ended in defeat - they have fallen short of the top six, which was Pardew's aim at least this season.

When Charlton visited the Ricoh Arena at the end of September they were second in the league and Pardew was adamant that's where his side deserved to be and should finish.

"We're second and that's where I expect us to be, there or thereabouts," he said.

"We've got 14 points from seven games - that's the standard we've set - and we need to carry that on.

"This is probably the best start I have had as a manager. This is a new team with a lot of new players and the spirit between them is good."

Unfortunately spirit can only take you so far and the Addicks will have to wait until next season to stake a claim for a place back in the top flight. All they can do this term is try to end on a high - something the Sky Blues will be desperate to prevent.

Current Form

Charlton have not won at home in their last six meetings, drawing four and losing two of those games. You have to go back to the start of February for the last time they recorded a victory at the Valley, when they beat Crystal Palace 2-0.

In fact, the Addicks have enjoyed no real home advantage this season, having won as many home games as they have away ones - eight apiece.

The Gaffer

Alan Pardew's appointment as Addicks manager made big news at Christmas 2006 when he was named as Les Reed's successor after the head coach left by mutual consent on December 24.

It was Pardew's second arrival at The Valley, having proved to be a key signing as a player for the dual management team of Alan Curbishley and Steve Gritt in November 1991.

His first official appointment as a coach came at Reading in June 1997 when he worked under Terry Bullivant and Tommy Burns. He acted as caretaker boss when both men were sacked and was eventually handed the Royals job on a permanent basis in 1999.

He was successful in taking the club to the Championship in 2002, leading them to an outstanding first season at that level as Reading finished fourth and lost in the play-offs to Wolves.

Soon West Ham came calling and he was confirmed as boss at Upton Park in September 2003, helping the Hammers reach the First Division play-off final in his first season in charge, where they were beaten by Iain Dowie's Crystal Palace.

Play-off success followed a year later against Preston North End - and West Ham finished ninth in the Premiership in 2005/06 as they also reached the FA Cup final.

Pardew was moments away from getting his hands on the famous trophy until Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored a last-minute equaliser to force extra-time and the Anfield giants cruelly won on penalties.

He is no stranger to Chris Coleman, having played with the Sky Blues boss at Crystal Place in the early 1990s for a few months.