Premier League: Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers - Peter White's big match preview

GRAHAM Stuart has already been through the gut-wrenching drama of a last-day relegation battle with Everton - and survived.

Now he might face another with Charlton Athletic, after Alan Curbishley paid Sheffield United around £1 million for the attacking midfielder just before transfer deadline day.

Tomorrow's clash with Blackburn Rovers at The Valley could go a long way towards deciding the fate of both clubs in the Premiership struggle to stay up.

And Stuart is expected to play an important role, with two of his three goals so far having reaped a dividend of four points for Charlton's original investment.

Whatever the outcome tomorrow, it still looks odds-on the battle going to the final programme when Rovers travel to Newcastle and Charlton are at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

And Southampton could sneak through on the blindside to bury them both.

But the most recent Valley recruit, like everyone else in the scrap for survival, would prefer to pull clear before it comes down to the last day.

Stuart's two goals against Wimbledon in 1994 inspired Everton to retain Premiership status in such circumstances. But he acknowledges there are massive differences between that predicament at Goodison and his latest role as the Londoners' potential saviour. "The situation's different in that Everton were an established Premiership team and had been for an awful lot of years," he said.

"Whereas Charlton have just come up from the First Division and I think it's always the hardest in that first year to try and establish yourself.

"Once you get over that barrier then you can build and things can perhaps become a little easier.

"The problem we have had is that we can't string two consistently good performances together and we have got to do that to get ourselves out of trouble."

Stuart scored a dramatic winner at West Ham earlier this month to hand Charlton an unexpected victory and also their point-earner in the home match with Leeds a fortnight ago.

Memories of 1994 in a blue shirt must have returned when he scored a penalty at Goodison last Saturday.

But, this time, it was merely a consolation instead of a life saver as Curbishley's side slipped to their second successive 4-1 defeat. That scoreline virtually ensured safety for Everton.

The midfielder, however, recognises the faith that his new manager has in him and he is determined to do his best to repay it.

"I just want to go out and give everything I have got for Charlton," he said.

"I don't even want to entertain the thought of going down. I really hope we can stay up."

The similarity between Rovers' record and that of their rivals in distress is so close that there has even been speculation that a play-off might be needed to separate them at the end of the season.

Both clubs will also be keeping an eye on events at The Dell, where Southampton entertain Leicester.

If there is a Valley winner tomorrow, they might also believe that Coventry are still within reach.

Tomorrow's showdown, unlike that promotion clash between the clubs 41 years ago, will not finalise anything as far as the present relegation battle is concerned but it should be a vital pointer.

And you can bet the atmosphere will be . . . just like a play-off!

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