Charlton Athletic v Walsall
Saturday 20th January 2017 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Scott Oldham (Lancashire)
IntroductionTwo unconvincing wins in the last two games would make you think that the blip of December would be over, yet it may not be as straight forward as that… Mark Marshall opened his account with his first goal for the club as the Addicks recorded a 1-0 victory over struggling Bury last Saturday, and so bounce back into Play-Off contention. This Saturday we welcome Walsall to the Valley, with key players either sold or injured it remains to be seen whether Karl Robinson and his tiring side can maintain any form of fitness into late May!!
The OppositionName: Walsall |
Manager: Jon Whitney
Ground: Bescot Stadium
When you spend time in League One then it’s pretty certain that you’ll end up facing Oldham and / or Walsall – Both sides are recent visitors to the Valley and both sides are extremely familiar when it comes to this level of English Football… For the Saddlers it’s been ten continuous years in the third tier, and apart from a brief push for promotion two years ago, will be one of those sides that you expect to see around mid-table.
And that’s where they remain this season at present… Football outside the Premier League is always a tight affair and League One is no different – Currently occupying 15th a win for the visitors this Saturday could see Walsall moving up four places, whilst defeat could see them just a point above the relegation zone… Tight margins indeed!!
It seems to be though, every preview I’ll mention to Erhun Oztumer as the main threat yet for this match I originally planned to avoid his name… The fact that Tom Bradshaw two years ago scored 17-goals to top the charts, whilst Erhun currently sits on 11-goals, proves what a danger the small midfielder is – No doubt Liam Kinsella (son of Mark) will be hoping to top off a fine week after securing a new 18-month deal at the club.
Charlton Team NewsWith Ricky Holmes departing the club it now remains to be seen who’ll pick up the reigns and lead Charlton to victory each week… Despite not being in form over the last few months, Ricky was one of the key players within the squad. His ability to score from nothing will be surely missed within the squad.
In addition his departure was met with the frustrating news that no players would be signed with the transfer money obtained from the Holmes sale, yet despite that it seems as though Sullay Kaikai will join on loan, making the short trip round the M25 from Surrey; Kaikai has experience at this level having spent time with Shrewsbury Town in 2015 and 2016. Should Kaikai sign its likely that he wont arrive in time for tomorrows match yet we should have the added boost of Chris Solly and Tariqe Fosu returning from injury… the latter (still our top scorer) has proven to be a big miss, despite his low key arrival from Reading in the summer
Amos
Solly | Konsa | Lennon | Dasilva
Kashi | Aribo
Fosu | Reeves | Marshall
Magennis
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Jackson | Dijksteel | Lapslie | Mavididi | Hackett-Fairchild
PredictionEach home game I’ve gone to the Valley not sure which Charlton team will turn up… Its made predicting results extremely difficult and it feels more so at the moment – At present we seem to be grinding out results yet with Walsall in a massive mid-table fight, we cant expect them to turn up and roll over. With Bradford City at Bristol Rovers, this is a chance to start putting pressure back on our Play-Off rivals!!
Comments
I have a good feeling that we will win this comfortably.
3-1
With players returning to fitness and hopefully the new lad from Palace coming in things are starting to look a lot better.
No idea what we will be like.
Amos
Solly Konsa Lennon DaSilva
.......Aribo....Kashi
Marshall...Reeves.....Mavididi
..............Magennis
Subs: Phillips, Dijksteel, Jackson, Lapslie, Forster-Caskey, Fosu, Hackett-Fairchild,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bescot_Stadium
For that purposes its DEFINITELY the Bescot for me as hate how grounds are changed as per Sponsor
yeh, right.
a scrappy 1-1.
Last home game with the Belgium madman in charge.
Hopefully
COYR