ALAN Curbishley seems to be having a few more problems than Brian Kidd in the matter of keeping spirits soaring in difficult times at The Valley.

For Charlton boss Curbishley made a plea to his players to sacrifice their personal feelings for the team cause.

Ashley Ward's former Barnsley team-mate Neil Redfearn, whose experience was expected to be a key factor, is just one of those who has not figured very prominently in recent weeks.

His family are unsettled and he was left out of the team but Curbishley said: "One or two of them are upset. But I've asked them to look at the overall picture rather than individually.

"Neil seems to court a bit of publicity now and then. But I've got 20-odd players who I've asked to put aside any individual disappointments and to make sure they are completely focused on our situation.

"That's what we need and I am sure they will be."

The mood at Ewood remains realistic but optimistic, summed up by skipper Jason Wilcox who said: "We are very positive. We know what we have to do. We are going to try to win the game.

"It's not the be all and end all because we have three other very important games as well, but it could go a long way towards us staying up.

"We don't want to be in this situation but we are and it's up to the senior players to help the younger ones along."

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