Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers
Saturday 28th April 2018 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Robert Jones
IntroductionAnd so for Charlton the two game shoot out begins… Over the last number of weeks, we’ve had to face a number of cup-finals in our attempts to reach the Play-Offs, some we’ve won, some we’ve lost… Yet the battle for promotion in May is far from over – This Saturday we welcome Blackburn Rovers to the Valley, as we look to emulate our opponents and finally return to the second tier of English Football for next season!!
The OppositionName: Blackburn Rovers |
Manager: Tony Mowbray
Ground: Ewood Park
On Tuesday night the automatic places for promotion were resolved, Wigan’s win on Saturday had already confirmed their return to the Championship. For Blackburn, they simply needed a win against Doncaster which they naturally delivered… An impressive run of games without defeat since October being one of the main factors in their success.
Another one of those factors is the return to form for ex-Charlton youngster: Bradley Dack, having been released many years ago, the Greenwich born midfielder made his name at Gillingham before finally leaving for Lancashire in the summer… Winner of the Player of the Season award in 2016, that feat was matched for a second time this year, the attack minded player will certainly be one to watch having scored 16-league goals already this season.
The Play-Off raceThe race for the Play-Offs isnt over yet could well be this time on Saturday… For Charlton, recent results have been impressive (something that didn’t look possible after their recent defeat to Scunthorpe), whilst for our opponents: Plymouth, results have taken a turn for the worse, defeat against Northampton and a draw on Tuesday against Rochdale have left the Pilgrims with a lot of work to do.
Breathing down our neck are Scunthorpe United who travel to already relegated MK Dons, you’d expect an away victory in that fixture, yet should Plymouth lose to Rotherham and Charlton win themselves, our own place in the Play-Offs will be confirmed – Simple!!
Charlton Team NewsOur victory against Portsmouth was marred by two forced substitutions… With Charlton in complete control on the south coast it was disappointing to see Lewis Page (achilles) and Tariqe Fosu (hamstring) having to be withdrawn from the action – For the former, it wasn’t serious so its possible we’ll see Page back in left back contention, whilst for Fosu its likely his season is now done – A return to the Play-Off Final in the style of John Robinson would be much appreciated
Amos
Konsa | Bauer | Pearce | Page
Reeves | Kashi | Forster-Caskey | Dasilva
Magennis | Ajose
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Dijksteel | Lennon | Marshall | Kaikai | Zyro | Aribo
PredictionSaturday will be tough and raises the potential for our rivals to gain some ground – A win though will be a huge confidence booster and should confirm our place in the Play-Offs… We put up a good fight at Blackburn earlier in the season and expect the same again... They might be on a good run yet so were Plymouth and Rotherham
Lets turn the Valley back into a fortress, and do it again!! - Charlton... Assenble!!
Comments
Sorry
Will Bows put a player to man mark Dack?
0-2.
Even by Charlton standards this season is impossible to predict.
Head says 0.1
Heart says 2.1.
Let's hope heart wins and we all go home ha
With Fosu out I think Bows will play a diamond midfield with Kashi taking Dack out. Reeves to play the point. Dyksteele maybe the player to come in as he is after all a defensive midfielder or DeSylva. So:-
Amos
Konsa. Bauer. Pearce. Page
Dyksteele.Kashi Foster-Caskey
Reeves
Mag. Ajose.
Or move Foster-Caskey to the left and DaSilva left. I have gone with Dyksteele as I think RB needs more cover.
I was wrong about the score in the Portsmouth game (I said 1-2 away win) but got the result right at least.
I'll settle for getting this result right too, that's for sure.
I'd happily take a point. They're a good lesson in getting in a bunch of players with lower league experience to be successful, as opposed to say a Wigan or an us who are looking more at players with big upsides.
I'd like to see Aribo tried in that 10 role. I don't think he's a perfect match for it but I think he's better suited to it than Kaikai has shown himself to be or than Marshall is, with Mav and Fosu out.