Introduction
Saturday sees the 2011/12 League One Runners Up in the form of Sheffield Wednesday visit The Valley. Saturday’s opponents’ recent history and respective league positions means that many of their fans will be pleased to be currently punching above their weight in the Championship. For a club Wednesday’s size, sitting outside the relegation spots in 21st place is probably the best they could’ve hoped for at this stage of the season.
An effort to clear snow from The Valley pitch looks to have ensured the match will go ahead and Charlton will be hoping to carry on their excellent league form of 2013 by notching up a fourth win on the trot and a second consecutive victory at home.
The Team
A 4-5-1 formation has reaped rewards for Chris Powell in recent weeks and although it seems more suited when the Addicks are on their travels expect a similar set-up when Saturday comes. The introduction of Scott Wagstaff into the team ensures bundles of energy on both flanks and a solid midfield foundation allowing Dale Stephens’ form to flourish.
With Danny Haynes and Leon Cort back in training this week, Chris Powell may be tempted to mix things up but I fully expect an unchanged line-up once again. The starting XI has earned the right to keep their shirt following the recent performances against Blackpool and Blackburn and they’ll be hoping to turn it on once again to be in contention for the small matter of Crystal Palace away the week after.
The Opposition
Sheffield Wednesday’s problem is scoring goals and this is highlighted by the fact that former Addick, Miguel Llera is their joint second highest goalscorer with four goals. Michael Antonio leads the way with five. Many teams of Sheffield Wednesday’s size and stature who have hung about the lower reaches of the league pyramid can often struggle to stay up without a recognised goalscorer. If we compare Sheffield to Doncaster Rovers who survived for a while on Billy Sharp’s goals, some of their fans may be worried of their league status come May if they don’t find a genuine goal threat in this transfer window.
But this will be a tough game. Yes we’ve probably had more success in terms of playing in the top flight more recently and yes we have passed on some of our underperformers to them but we’re very similar clubs. We've both spent eight years in the Premier League; both have decent stadiums (although The Valley is probably a bit more up-to-date) and we’ve both endured the third tier more than we wished (they've spent an extra season down there than us in the past 10 years).
Prediction
Charlton’s home form is not great although everyone hopes 2013 will see that change and Wednesday’s defence is admirable away so a draw may be a bet to put on at the bookies. Preview Towers sees a win though, a nervy win but a win all the same. 2-1.
Come on you reds!
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Comments
2-0 Addicks - Kerm & JJ
1 - 0 to the Champions.
0-1 to the Pigs
Ecstatic to be wrong of course...
3 - 1 win for the Mighty Addicks. Yann with all 3 goals.
Teams go in 1-1 half time, ref realises he made a MASSIVE rig so gives everything to us in the second half, eventually giving us a penalty for hand ball that was clearly outside the area, we score in the 68 min to make it 2-1 then late in the game Llera wraps it up with a wonder free kick.
3-1 home victory.
My mum would have a better chance of scoring up front for u lot!
Our recent form.
Hopefully same XI with Haynes and Cort returning to the bench to make it a strong group alongside Button, Dervite, Wiggins, Harriott and Fuller
Ur where u are for a reason?
Last six league games we've scored 6 and conceded 3
You've scored more in the way of 10, but alarmingly you shipped 10 goals in 6 games.
Charlton Life is full of tumbleweeds on Saturday evening through the Massive silence on here from pigs, while the mayor of Sheffield bans evil mastermind Chris Powell from ever visiting their bustling Northern metropolis ever again.
Only joking... 3-0 to Charlton.