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"Carlisle beat Southend and I've seen that game on DVD. It was a big game for them because they hadn't won for a while and they started the game really quickly and put in a good performance, so we know it's going to be a difficult game. From our point of view, we go into a period where we've got a break from league football after this, so it's important we go into that period with another result.
While Parkinson also commented to the News Shopper on 17-year old star midfielder Jonjo Shelvey being relegated to the Addicks bench in three of their last four matches :
"Jonjo has been superb in training. He had 12 games but teams started coming in and making it very difficult for him and I just felt it was time to take a step back, which he's done and he's getting close to coming back in the team. He's a difficult player not to have in the team because he's so good."
And on the one-month loan signing this week of Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, who had a calamitous game for Stockport at Brunton Park four years ago, Parkinson said :
"Rob (Elliot) has done well, but you just move on. You've got to have contingency plans ready for moments like this. Most clubs will probably have three keepers, we've only got the two and we're pleased with who we've got in. I've seen Carl play, he's a big physical presence in goal and I'm pleased to have him and he's in the squad.
"The problem we've got is we could have gone for a younger keeper to sit on the bench, but if Darren (Randolph) then got injured would we be confident with a younger one in the first team? So we had to get someone we were confident could play at this level and obviously he's come in as a serious contender to play.
"Obviously Wolves want him to play, but there's nothing written in the contract and I don't want to reveal my team to you today. We've brought a keeper in, we think he's a very good keeper and we'll make a decision before the weekend. Carl can't play in the Cup next week. Darren is going to play live on ITV, a big game for himself and for us. Darren understands the situation and we'll just make a decision tomorrow after we've looked at both keepers in training."
Ikeme isn't the only loan signing Charlton have made this week either as today they signed right-back Elliot Omozusi from Fulham for a month, Parkinson explaining to the official Addicks website the slightly complicated situation with the out of contract Omosuzi :
"We've signed Elliot for an initial month because we were left without a recognised right-back. Elliot is a good young player, and he has impressed us this week, in training and in the reserve game against Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday. The situation is a bit complicated because Fulham still hold his registration, so it's not a normal loan. We've had to take him on a month contract, but we also have the option to make it permanent in January."
The last person to sign up at The Valley this week being Parkinson himself, the 41-year old boss penning a one-year extension to his current contract, which will now run out in June 2011, Parkinson commenting to his club's official website :
"I'm obviously very pleased. It's good news, and I suppose it can be taken as a sign that the club is progressing, but above all else I'm concentrating on continuing our good start to the season. I'm ambitious and driven to keep improving things at the club. We've done well so far, but we want to keep driving forward."
In team news for Charlton the signing of Carl Ikeme was prompted by fellow goalkeeper Rob Elliot suffering a torn abductor muscle in the 1-1 draw at Gillingham last weekend. The other new player, in Elliot Omozusi, coming in with regular right-backs Frazer Richardson and Chris Solly sidelined due to respective thigh and knee injuries. Two other players missing out for the Addicks tomorrow being midfielder Dean Sinclair (knee) and striker Leon McKenzie (thigh).
While in news off the field at The Valley a reported £30 million takeover from a consortium fronted by Dennis Wise has apparently fallen through. The bid withdrawal, by a group of Middle Eastern businessmen, seemingly paving the way for former Birmingham City owners David Sullivan and David Gold to have a go at taking over Charlton, although the pair are also being linked with other London clubs in Crystal Palace and West Ham.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Mark Haywood from Wakefield in West Yorkshire, and he will be assisted down the lines by Jonathan Hunt from County Durham and Kevin Mattocks from Chorley. Meanwhile the fourth official is Stephen Smith from Middleton St. George in County Durham.