West Brom manager Tony Mowbray believes the intensity of the Championship means it is hard to maintain a high level of performance.Mowbray's men, who play Charlton at 4.45pm on Friday, have two matches in hand on leaders Stoke and second-placed Bristol City as a result of their FA Cup commitments.

Victory over Charlton at The Valley would put Albion within two points of the top of the table with a game still in hand on the top two.

There are 46 matches in a Championship season and Mowbray explained: "I think the number of games affects the quality that you can produce three days later sometimes.

"The intensity of the games, the fact the teams are so well matched physically, mean there are no easy games in this league.

"It's very difficult to get up to the intensity and reproduce the quality that you know you can do three or four days later - and then do it again and again and again.

"At the moment my only thoughts are of being positive and that we are going to finish in the top two. We have a fantastic opportunity to finish in the top two."

Charlton have slipped to 10th in the table after taking just one point from their last four games but Mowbray explained: "They have got a lot of good players.

"That is not intended to put extra pressure on them, that is just a fact when you look down their squad and the players not in their team."

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