BOSS HAS SPRING IN HIS STEP; ALL LAST NIGHT'S CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION Coca Cola CHAMPIONSHIP Charlton 1 Palace 0.

Byline: By IAN WINROW

PHIL PARKINSON insists he has no regrets about Matthew Spring's controversial FA Cup absence - as the midfielder ended Charlton's 16-week wait for a league win.

Spring will be at the centre of an FA investigation after Charlton struck a deal to leave the midfielder out against his former club, Sheffield United, at the weekend.

But the player shrugged off the controversy to volley home in the South London derby on 14 minutes - and give the Addicks three points for the first time since early October.

That disastrous run cost former boss Alan Pardew his job in November.

And Parkinson admitted the turnaround may well have been down to Spring's omission at Bramall Lane.

Parkinson said: "We had an agreement with Sheffield and it was a gentleman's agreement that we wouldn't play him if we met in the cup. But I see it as he was fresh for tonight."

Charlton remain a daunting eight points adrift of safety but Parkinson was adamant that this win could be the starting point for a survival bid.

He added: "The run had become a worry. We have played well at times at home recently and the longer it goes on, the harder it becomes.

"But we told the boys on Monday we have an 18-game road to survival. And tonight was that first step."

Palace boss Neil Warnock fumed: "Charlton's players should be disgusted with themselves to put in an effort like that. If they had done that all season for Alan Pardew they wouldn't be in that position.

"They should look at themselves in the mirror, because they don't play Crystal Palace every week."

CAPTION(S):

SPRINGBOARD Matthew Spring fires the winner