CHARLTON defender Mark Bowen is getting ready for war in tonight's play-off second leg against Ipswich Town at The Valley. The South London side hold a slim 1-0 advantage after Sunday's fiery first leg, their ninth win in ten matches and, remarkably, their eighth clean sheet on the bounce. But Welsh international Bowen is taking nothing for granted. ''The job is only half done and there's no point cheering anything at the moment, he warned. We have another game to go. We have to be positive going into the game but we also have to be very cautious. If Ipswich score in the first minute, the lead doesn't mean anything. They aren't going to come here with their heads down, they'll think they can still get to Wembley.'' Bowen got a kick on the ankle during Sunday's niggle-fest but will play through the pain because Charlton's defence seems sure to be without Danny Mills, controversially sent off on Sunday for bringing down Ipswich's Mauricio Taricco. The visitors have no major injury worries striker David Johnson missed training on Monday with a sore throat but both he and Mick Stockwell (ankle) are expected to be fit. Ipswich lost out on away goals to Sheffield United at this stage last year, but manager George Burley is still confident his side can get the result they need: In the second half on Sunday we had a few opportunities and it's still all to play for. If you look at our away form since Christmas, it's been excellent.'' GOALKEEPER Sasa Ilic wants £325,000 up front to sign a two-year contract with Charlton, writes Harry Pratt The 6-foot-4 Serbian giant has been outstanding since arriving at The Valley on trial from non-league St Leonards, keeping eight successive clean sheets to put the South London side within 90 minutes of the play-off final at Wembley. But unless he gets the money he wants, the 23-year-old may well walk out on the club at the end of their play-off run and straight into a deal with a major club after impressing with his string of outstanding performances. I have never enjoyed a run quite like this, said Ilic, but it's not only me, it's down to the whole defence and the organisation. We have a solid unit and that makes my job much easier. It's incredible to think it was not long ago that I wondered if I would ever get a professional contract in this country. Now I'm only 90 minutes from playing at Wembley and another 90 short of the Premiership.

REID CALLING FOR PREMIER PASSION   SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid is asking a 40,000 full house at The Stadium Of Light to roar his team to Wembley. Sheffield United take a 2-1 lead into tonight's First Division semi-final second leg, but Kevin Ball's away goal means a 1-0 win will be good enough to take the home side to the play-off final. ''We know what we have to do and we will be positive, promised Reid. We are confident we can do the job at our stadium and with a superb crowd behind us. It's a massive game. I know there is a European final on the same night but there won't be half the atmosphere there that there'll beat our stadium.'' Sunderland full back Michael Gray returns from a three-match ban and striker Niall Quinn (hamstring) and Darren Holloway (knee) could both figure although Chris Makin (neck) is struggling. Graham Stuart could play for the Blades even though he has a broken hand but striker Gareth Taylor, who went off after just eight minutes of the first leg with serious knee ligament damage, is definitely out. Marcelo came on for Taylor and got one of the goals as United fought back from 0-1 down, and the Brazilian-born Portuguese striker looks likely to start tonight. I was only used a substitute because I had missed a few games with an injury, he said. I wasn't 100% fit and I felt the injury a bit through the game but the main thing was I got through it scoring a goal keeps you going and helps you forget about fitness problems. It was a very important goal we were losing and it got us right back into contention. Sunderland, who finished third in the First Division to United's sixth place, were the hot tip to reach Wembley but Reid and Co know there is a real possibility that their fine season could end in crushing anti-climax. Marcelo certainly believes Steve Thompson's outsiders are in the driving seat: Sunday was a very positive result and gives us a good chance of making Wembley even though Sunderland began the tie as the favourites. I love life in England but I would like it even more if I was playing in the Premiership that's one of my ambitions.

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