CHARLTON will have 57 points if they beat Barnsley on Saturday at Oakwell, but boss Chris Powell believes even this tally might still not be enough to guarantee Championship safety.

The Valley chief says he never set a points target before the start of the season, with this weekend’sopponents Barnsley surviving with 48 points last year.

Because of this Powell is not taking anything for granted in what he believes will be a record breaking season at both ends of the Championship table.

“Come May 4, we will only know then exactly what we need,” said the manager.

“I think we are looking at the highest points total ever with regards to staying up, and the lowest to be in the top six because it is so even.

“You really can’t say what it is, but it is wise for us to keep pushing on and look to carry on the decent form that we are in.

“It has been a long time coming the home wins, which were very important for us.

“And then the point at Brighton was almost as big, if not bigger than the home wins, because it keeps us edging forward and it’s a point more than what we had before kick-off.

“With the way the Leeds game went Jon Obika’s goal was massive for us, one of our most important goals, if not the most important goals so far for us this season.”

Powell added: “If you look at points and set targets, once you get there then you have done it.

“If I had said to my players ‘50 points’ then now it would not be enough.

“We had a general position in mind where we would like to finish and I’m sure everyone could work out where that would be.

“With regards to what we wanted to do, it was just to push on and not look any further than the game in front of you and that is the way that it should be.

“Whether you are high up or in the lower reaches, every point is valuable, as we have seen in the last week.”

Hosts Barnsley will come into the game with six home victories from their last seven Oakwell encounters, a run which has seen them steer clear of the drop zone.

Powell is not expecting an easy ride in Yorkshire but will be looking for his Charlton team to continue their impressive away form.

He said of Barnsley: “A tough team, they have hit form just at the right time, especially when you are down there.

“They’ll be buoyant from their last minute equaliser in Cardiff and also their 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, albeit in the wrong kit.

“I went to watch Cardiff v Barnsley on Tuesday, they are our next two opponents and I left before they got their goal.

“I just feel that they will be a bit more open at home.

“We have been decent away from home.”

Powell added: “We still need some more points, for me.

“I want us to carry on what we have done over the last three games.

“We owe it to ourselves and to our fans home and away to really be positive in all that we do.

“It’s going to be a tough game for us.

“We’re not going to underestimate them, because since David Flitcroft and Micky Mellon have gone in they have got exactly what they wanted.

“They haven’t completed the job yet, they know that and they’ll be looking to try and carry on the way that they have gone.

“For them they will be looking at the home games and trying to picking up the wins there and if they can pick up points on the road then it is the perfect formula.”

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