Blackpool v Charlton Athletic
Saturday 8th December 2018 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland)
IntroductionAfter a run of cup games we return this weekend to League action where its here to stay for the rest of the season – Defeat against Doncaster Rovers last Saturday saw the Addicks exiting the FA Cup and so missing a trip to Preston North End in the next round. Lee Bowyer’s decision to rest the first team in that game would cause much anger and debate on CharltonLife yet it is now time for Charlton to prove it was the correct decision.
As we now enter the busiest time of the year – The Christmas fixtures are just weeks away yet the prologue begins this weekend, with trips to Blackpool and Portsmouth over the next few days this could be a time of the year that’ll either put us right into contention for the season ahead or potentially damage it
The OppositionName: Blackpool |
Manager: Terry McPhillips
Ground: Bloomfield Road
If anything at the moment; Blackpool are one of a number of sides that simply confirm how challenging League One can be – A shaky start to the season saw them picking up just the sole win in the first six games yet the Seasiders would suddenly kick themselves into life, and with fives wins from the last eight games have propelled themselves into Play-Off contention with a 3-0 win required to leapfrog the Addicks on Saturday.
To say its impressive is an understatement, with ownership issues as bad as ours there appears to be a small bond forming between the two clubs (proven by the joint Football League protests earlier this season). Yet when Terry McPhillips took over the reigns (initially as caretaker manager) in August there were certainly a few raised eye brows yet just one defeat in his opening nine games would see him appointed to the managerial position on a permanent basis and the rest as they say, is history!!
In a way though we could find ourselves in an ironic position this Saturday – Charlton were happy to exit the FA Cup yet Blackpool still remain and have a replay against Solihull Moors coming up on Tuesday night, a win would see them hosting Arsenal, and having almost gotten a result at the Emirates (in the League Cup) once this season, our opponents may well have one eye on trying to go one better just at Bloomfield Road in January
Charlton Team NewsFor those who agreed with Bowyer’s decision last Saturday it would have been a welcomed break for the players – It’s always nice to win late on, yet against Burton Albion, we would commit a robbery to take all three points back to South East London… Lee would admit after that game that certain players were looking leggy and once again the absence of some players to injury appear to be affecting us slightly.
Darren Pratley | Lewis Page | Igor Vetokele | Josh Cullen all remain side-lined for a bit longer so we’ll be left with the usual pool of players to choose from on Saturday (provided there have been no knocks in training) – Billy Clarke and Ben Reeves remain the ultimate question marks though, have they done enough to warrant a place back in the First Team? Well for Clarke it may still be a no but you’d certainly expect to see the latter back at least!!
Steer
Dijksteel | Bauer | Pearce | Solly
Aribo | Bielik | Reeves
Ward
Taylor | Grant
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Sarr | Lapslie | Stevenson | Fosu | Ajose | Marshall
PredictionIt has been confirmed in the last few days that Lee Bowyer has once again been nominated for Manager of the Month – It’s a sign of the good work he’s doing in the League yet we have to hope that form doesn’t plummet like it did for his last nomination in October… Having picked a weak squad against Doncaster many fans will be happy with no less than four points expected from the next four days!!
Comments
Score draw
1-3 to The Addicks
0-2 Charlton - COYR
Taylor and Grant to both score and bring back the feel good factor after last week's FA cup defeat.
I shall be at the game.
Using that logic you may as well say the Portsmouth game is also a 'must win'. Saturday's result will not affect either our promotion hopes or our chances of relegation. Sure, if they don't turn up and give 100% on Saturday then the knives will be out.
There are months to go before any game becomes a 'must win' and there will be games like Coventry - where we smashed them off the pitch and lost - and Burton where we played badly and nicked the points.
I'd have Sarr at left back, Solly on the right and something tells me that Bowyer considers Reeves a little too lightweight for the really competitive games .. so Dijk in the middle (appropriate for holding back the tide) and I'd go for Lapslie instead of Bielik, George has the type of harassing mentality combined with a terrific work-rate so necessary in this kind of game, i.e. a tough one .. come on youse Addicksaaaahhh !!
Blackpool 0 v CAFC 1
Seriously someone has to look at what is going on as the amount of injuries we get is absolutely ridiculous.
It is with the reasons I have mentioned that I would play all of Bauer, Pearce, Sarr and Bielik. These four along with Aribo and Taylor give us enough to be able to cope as well as be dangerous ourselves from set pieces. Not to mention, playing Sarr at left back for this one means he won’t be having to deal with an overlapping full-back and his wide man will also be fairly defensive. Grant scores the vast majority of his goals at home, therefore I believe Taylor will score for us on Saturday and I hope that Fosu begins to make steps going forward to find his form from last season.
Solly Bauer Pearce Sarr
Bielik
Reeves Aribo
Fosu
Taylor Grant
Phillips, Dijksteel, Lapslie, Marshall, Clarke, Ajose, Hackett-Fairchild
Blackpool 0-2 Charlton Athletic
Taylor x2