Leicester City away. What was the score? Drew 1-1 Unless you were sat on Ide Hill with a DAB radio then most Addicks not at the Walkers Stadium were in the same boat as overseas Addicks yesterday, i.e. without any clue what was happening at the game. It is was so dull Sky went to the ground twice and the reporter was napping so deeply that he even named Varney as our goalscorer.

From what I could make out the game didn't sound very exciting but after reading some reviews, particulary Leicester ones, it did seem we were the better side in a poor game affected by blustery conditions.

I am pleased for McCarthy. He came with a high profile for this division and has had a miserable time but we need effort, leadership and fighting qualities at the back and the odd goal would be nice from a defender. This is why he was bought. You don't get booed by your old club's supporters unless you made an impression. Let's hope by the end of the season he has on us.

Three draws in our three Christmas matches on the face of it is crap, although it could have easily have been a fat zero points. As if we needed more evidence though the fact that we are still in 5th, four points behind an automatic spot shows how bad this division really is. Blimey last time I looked Palarse were down, they are now just 3 points behind us. Gulp.

Our form is glaringly not good enough, but how much better do we need to be? 10% would probably be enough to beat most teams in this division. I, you, Pards wants a lot more from our performances because despite the candour, we have really only played great football in patches this season.

I think we are still missing real belief that we can get in the top two, Watford are obviously having the same symptons. We need to believe we can score, that we can out-pass teams, that we are good enough. I still think Pards will tinker heavily with the squad in January, that will give everyone a lift.

Who was at The Walkers Stadium: Addicks Championship Diary.
Reports: Independent; Sporting Life; Daily Mail; cafc.co.uk; The Blue Army.
What Pards' said: "I am concerned about the lack of technical ability that we should have but haven't got available and when the window opens I may have to bring in a player to improve us in that area."
A bottle of fizzy pop for: Paddy McCarthy. Well, well, what a nice surprise. A defender appears just when we needed one, and a goalscorer to boot!  ¶ 10:40