Top-class Curbishley is happy at Charlton

If Graeme Souness really has slipped ahead of Alan Curbishley in the race to be Tottenham's next manager then it might be time for chairman Daniel Levy to have a little rethink.

Curbishley's side were tactically and technically superior to Blackburn last night and provided the best possible advertisement for their manager's credentials. No wonder he is in demand.

Curbishley can coax match-winning performances from players of limited ability but endless enthusiasm, though there is more to this team than honest endeavour. Hermann Hreidarsson's first goal for the club gave Charlton a third straight win that takes them up to seventh in the Premiership. Vertigo can never have seemed so appealing.

While Curbishley's stock continues to rise it is Souness who may be more readily available. The Scot has strongly denied that he wants to follow the Glenn Hoddle route and return to White Hart Lane as a manager, but Blackburn are in a sorry state, only beating Wolves and Portsmouth this season.

If Souness is offered an escape route he may be advised to take it. Curbishley certainly thinks so, if only to take the attention away from his own aspirations. He said: "I thought Graeme was going (to Tottenham!). I don't think there's too much in the speculation about me. I'm very happy at Charlton and want to stay. I run the club and never get any interference. I have a great relationship with the chairman and he lets me get on with it."

With David Pleat seemingly a permanent fixture Curbishley would not enjoy such freedom at Spurs, nor would he have such a spirited squad at his disposal. Charlton are proof that the sum can prove greater than the individual parts and, after surviving a difficult opening, thoroughly deserved the win.

Scott Parker and Claus Jensen outfought their more illustrious opponents in midfield, Dean Kiely was there when called upon in the visitors' goal but no one worked harder than Paolo Di Canio.

The Italian striker has discovered a new lease of life, not to mention an extra set of lungs, since signing in the summer and he ran his 35-year-old body into the ground. Di Canio made the long journey north worthwhile by creating the only goal from a corner in the 33rd minute.

Curbishley said: "I was especially pleased for Paolo. We played him up on his own and he did some fantastic things. We should have finished more of them off but it's still a fantastic result."

Di Canio could scarcely contain his delight and is aiming for more of the same against Arsenal on Sunday. He said: "I'm very happy for the fans and they will be looking forward to us playing Arsenal. It will be very difficult but we can play without pressure and take something from the game."