Unfortuantely, I don't have the time to do a full preview today so please make this thread your own like always. With the ups and down of the previous weeks it could be a case that automatic promotion is back in our hands or alternatively we could still be waiting for that elusive point to guarantee a playoff spot. Who knows?
It will be interesting to see whether Burton/Reid/Shelvey starts but I really don't care at the moment - I just want to win.
Happy St. Georges Day and Come On You Reds!
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Last weekend's defeat at Prenton Park ended a run of 9 games without defeat during which they had only conceded 5 goals.
Outside the top 10 only Oldham have a better defensive record.
But there's always hope since they let in a fifth of their goals in the last 5 minutes.
We should have enough to win, but it'll be a hard game and I'm pretty sure if we do win it won't be by more than 1 or 2 goals. If Exeter attack us hopefully that'll give Burton, Sam etc that bit of room to create some good chances. Or will Exeter look to sit back and crowd us out like Norwich ended up doing?
As usual the first goal will be vital and change how the game plays out.
And there have only been 6 first-half goals in Exeter's last 15 games.
I fear their desire on the day will prove greater than ours and enable them to sneak a narrow win.
I really hope to be proved wrong though as I consider that our only realistic hope of promotion is automatically which means 3 wins from 3 games and even that may still be insufficient!
Exeter play some nice football and I expect an open game which should benefit us. If Burton starts then I'd expect more goals from us, especially if Jonjo has any involvement. I would consider starting Bailey on the bench as he just looks knackered at the moment, but Parkinson may be forced to start with him if we have other injuries. Racon and Semedo are a must in the midfield whatever team Parky decides to pick.
We seem to be getting better every week at the moment and I think one of our opponents is going to get a real beating soon (hopefully Leeds next week!).
Unfortunately I'm not going to this game so I'll have to make do with all 20 seconds of the highlights on the BBC with some expert Steve Claridge analysis.
Anything less than a win and our hopes of automatic promotion are over but lets not end on a negative, a Charlton victory for me!
Norwich City 1-1
Swindon Town 1-1
Swindon Town (JPT) 1-1 (lost 3-4 on Pens)
Millwall 1-1
Leeds United 2-0
Southampton 1-1
Colchester 2-0
They have not lost a single game against the top teams in the division if we use Mourinho's rule that penalty shoot outs do not count.
(They play Huddersfield at home on the last day)
Burton to start alongside Forster, rest Bailey and bring Jonjo in either nominally on the right or left, but roaming a bit to get on the ball. Push the fullback's up to compensate for the lack of width Jonjo will bring with him and get at em!
Not going to predict a result as I'm crap at it and often a jinx, but we can defintely beat this lot if we keep up the energy levels we showed against Norwich - out work them and our better quality should show through. Fail to match them and we'll come unstuck like Leeds did.
Seeing as we have nothing to lose I hope we go for the win and get it
This is the way we need to look at it, if we really attack these last three games, we'll surely pick up at least the 1 point we need to be absolutely certain of the play-offs so we should go in with no fear and the pressure off - at least until the last day when it may be back in our hands in which case the pressure would be right on us.
I have a suspicion Parky the Pragmatist will go the Exeter with the old safety first mentality though and go looking harder for the point that gurantees the play-offs than the 3 that might get us up automatically.
COYR!
He has no reason to change the team. We're playing better every week and are producing good results and performances against the top sides and but for their goalkeeper we would have won the Norwich game.
This shows how sensible Parkinson's three deadline signings were to beef up the squad.
Is that in your opinion or fact?
If that's for real, superb, but I'm amazed Exeter game gets a live airing
3 points for the Addicks.
COYR