Charlton Athletic v Watford

CHARLTON’S Iain Dowie admits he is under pressure ahead of Saturday’s must-win game against fellow Barclays Premiership strugglers Watford at The Valley.

The Addicks have lost seven of their opening eight games in their worst start to a Premiership campaign and speculation is mounting that Dowie’s job is not only on the line but has one game to save it.

He said: "I know it’s not a bed of roses when you lose seven out of eight. There will be people at the game on Saturday with a Bowie knife and a pencil sharpener at the ready.

"It’s the nature of the job. You mustn’t be frightened of that and you must not expect it to happen. It’s for me to get the right results, then it will go away.

"Our problem at the moment is that we get on top in games and don’t score. We’ve had a very bad start and it’s up to me to put it right."

Dowie has an old score to settle with Watford manager Ady Boothroyd . Dowie was in charge of Crystal Palace when the Hornets beat them in last season’s play-off semi-final and he is keen to settle that old score.

The two were involved in a touchline flare-up in the second leg and Dowie joked: "Ady’s not in the same weight class as me. It was nothing.

"Football is competitive, it’s passionate and we should never overlook that."

Long-term injury casualty Jerome Thomas could return to Charlton’s midfield after breaking a foot in pre-season. He came on as a late substitute in Monday’s 2-0 defeat at Fulham and managed 45 minutes for the reserves on Tuesday.

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