Survival instinct: Pardew and Warnock vow to beat the drop

Instead, both managers yesterday promised an attacking feast based on the reward for victory. As positive thinkers go, Alan Pardew and Neil Warnock are shaped by the same brand of optimism.

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Fear was banished from their thoughts as they spoke only of the opportunity that beckons. If Pardew's Charlton win, they will move out of the bottom three at the expense of their visitors.

Three points for Warnock's men, on the other hand, would pad their cushion over Charlton to five points with just three games left.

Warnock said: "It's an intriguing game. Everybody is nervous and excited about it. But we have to play to win. I don't think we can go for a draw.

"The good thing is that I can see us scoring in away games now. We've got to go for it in every one of our last four matches."

While United will carry the memory of the weekend's conclusive 3-0 win over another of the struggling sides, West Ham, when they run out at The Valley, Charlton have to forget the agony of losing to a last-minute James McFadden goal at Everton on Sunday.

Pardew is not a man to dwell on negativity, however.

Thrust into a relegation battle for the first time in his managerial career, the Charlton boss insists that his approach is no different to those he adopted at Reading and West Ham where the emphasis at the end of seasons was on going up, not down.

Pardew said: "Since I have been here, the results have felt like a promotion push so I have tried to stay on that line.

"I am trying to stress to the players that we are trying to win something here.

"Staying in the Premiership is a major trophy. I t's more important than the trophy Manchester United and Chelsea are going for in terms of finance. Let's win it.

"We have come from a long way back and clawed in three or four teams that were way past us — 10 or 12 points away — and got it down to three points. We have done terrifically well.

"If we are going to get out of it, this is a must-win game. If we lose, the chance of us staying up will be much smaller and more difficult. That focuses the mind, which can't be a bad thing.

"There are still others involved besides ourselves and Sheffield United and we are all playing under the same pressure and intensity.

"It's just that for us, we are playing from two points behind, which is why this weekend is important."

Across London, West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green believes his side have to pick up all three points against Everton at Upton Park tomorrow if they are to stand any chance of beating the drop.

He said: "It's crunch time and we have to go out and give everything against Everton. It is a do-or-die game."

Tension, it appears, is all around, but there were smiles on faces at Charlton's sunkissed training ground yesterday.

Pardew sees no reason for any other facial expressions given his team's upsurge in form.

He added: "I don't stress about relegation or fret about it. Two or three months ago we would have jumped off buildings to be in this position.

"Let's be thankful for what we have got in terms of where we are. We still have a great chance. Let's try and seize it."