Bolton Wanderers v Charlton Athletic
8pm Kick-Off
Referee: Kevin Wright
IntroductionWith the end of the season ever looming you have to look back and wonder where its all gone… It seemed only yesterday when the fixture lists were released and some what harshly, Charlton fans found themselves having long Tuesday night trips to the likes of Blackpool, Leeds and Wigan, of course its not just been restricted to our own fans with other clubs having to make ridiculous journeys to matches held on a Tuesday night whilst more local and much easier trips are kept for a Saturday… As always our own supporters deserve much credit for the miles that they have clocked up this season often without any reward… For our last Tuesday night of the season yet another journey to Lancashire is required as Charlton find themselves up against
Bolton Wanderers.
The OppositionRelegation from the Premier League after a long spell three years ago seems like an age for our opposition this week but that’s how long its been… Confined the England’s 2nd tier since 2012; Bolton have so far failed to mount a serious challenge back to the top flight, missing out on the Play-Offs simply by goal difference in their first season is as close as they’ve got and since then the Trotters have had to make do with mid-table obscurity.
Of course these two sides have already faced each other once this season (also on a Tuesday night)… Back in October, Charlton would be the opposition in
Neil Lennon’s first match in the Bolton dugout, the Addicks would win on that occasion 2-1 (goals coming from George Tucudean and Johnnie Jackson)… Since that match, Bolton briefly steadied the ship and the Trotters would only lose one further match in the next ten, the prospect of a relegation battling season was replaced and Bolton have since flirted around mid-table, with safety now assured, tonight’s meeting could yet again be a fixture played out with both sides dreaming of their holidays.
Player to WatchStarting off this section as always I want to highlight the current links between the two sides… Lining up for Bolton tonight could see ex-Charlton Defender: Dorian Dervite who left the Valley for the North West this summer whilst for the Addicks; Chris Eagles could make an appearance against the side where he spent three years making just short of one hundred appearances.
Much has been made though this season of the Bolton strike force and my player to watch this week is
Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Now 36-years of age and surely close to retirement; Gudjohnsen is back at Bolton for a second spell after two years at the club between 1998-2000… Becoming one of the most wanted Strikers from the Championship; Gudjohnsen would move to Chelsea (after turning down a possible move to Charlton) where he would make his name, spells at Barcelona and Monaco would follow before returning to Bolton in November last year… Now having made 18-appearances alongside ex-England Striker: Emile Heskey, our young Centre-Back: Joe Gomez could notch another feather in his cap should he keep these two quiet.
Line-UpHenderson
Solly – Gomez – Johnson – Fox
Gudmundsson – Buyens – Cousins – Eagles
Vetokele – Watt
PredictionBolton Wanderers 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Comments
But we'll win.....3-2
173 away with no songs sung, only a 'come on you reds' when we force a late corner..
Watt and ventokle
Edit 20:00 ko confirmed on addicks website
...Sheff Wed away last Saturday, after losing to Millwall this season can just end now really.
0-1 - Eagles
Another draw for the accumulator - 1-1
0-3
Bolton Wanderers 1 v CAFC 2
Shows how much interest I have left in the season.
Maybe if I were back home I'd have followed a bit more closely.