Charlton Athletic v AFC Wimbledon
Saturday 15th December 2018 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland)
IntroductionIf you can take anything from the first half of the season then it’s the fact that Lee Bowyer’s side do have the quality to match those competing at the right end of the table… Tuesday night saw the Addicks recovering from a 2-1 defeat in Blackpool to record a victory by the same margin over table topping Portsmouth – Injuries though continue to decimate the squad, and as we approach tomorrows clash against AFC Wimbledon will surely be down to the bare bones as we enter the most hectic period of the footballing season!!
The Opposition
Name: AFC Wimbledon |
Manager: Wally Downes
Ground: Kingsmeadow
It’s been an impressive rise through the Football Pyramid for AFC Wimbledon of late yet you have to wonder if they’ve reached their ceiling level, indeed the dizzy heights of the Premier League which the original Wimbledon reached now seem a life time ago, especially as this season will no doubt be the biggest fight in the clubs history as they look to avoid a first relegation in their new history!!
This season though it’s been all the more harder than the two previous spent at League One level; the loss of top scorer Lyle Taylor to Charlton Athletic has been a hole that the Dons have been unable to replace and only sit off the bottom of the table courtesy of goal difference, with one win since the end of September this is a side that will be short of confidence, yet will still be dangerous as the visit South East London for the sole London Derby in League One this year!!
Of course there have been plenty of connections within both sides over recent seasons; Lyle Taylor being one of those, whilst lining up for the Dons will be fellow Striker: Joe Pigott, having made his debut under Chris Powell he would struggle to make the grade, yet after recovering at Maidstone United the former academy youngster has had neat recovery, and with seven goals this term will be just as much of a threat for our opponents.
Charlton Team NewsFor Lee Bowyer it appears to be a never ending story in terms of injured players… Tuesday night was always going to require a hard battling performance yet it appears four further players may be out of contention for tomorrow.
Of course we always knew that top scorer: Karlan Grant would be out having picked up an early hamstring injury – He could be joined on the side lines by Krystian Bielik and Mark Marshall who themselves picked up slight knocks against Portsmouth – Lyle Taylor completes the list, yet does anyone seriously expect to see the ex-Dons Striker missing a chance to face his old employer?
Steer
Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Sarr
Bielik
Aribo | Lapslie
Reeves
Taylor | Ajose
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Dijksteel | Stevenson | Morgan | Fosu | Marshall | Hackett-Fairchild
PredictionUrgh… South London Derbies!! – For some reason it’s always been an event in the fixture list that Charlton know how NOT to excel at… AFC Wimbledon know how to visit the Valley and get a draw, the one rewarding factor is they no longer have the irritating Lyle Taylor to cause problems for them, yet the sole win for the home side in this fixture shows the result is far from being a foregone conclusion!!
Comments
I personally really hope that Fosu plays behind the front two of Taylor and Ajose. At home we need someone with pace who can run at defenders as well as we need Ajose to run in behind at every opportunity. Having these three will allow space for other players like Aribo to venture forward as the Wimbledon defence will back off a bit more than if it was Reeves playing and dropping a bit deeper. I do however understand the appeal of having Reeves when Fosu hasn’t been on form this season. I also have got a feeling that Sarr might drop to the bench for this one which will be a real shame, he deserves to keep his place. Taylor will score, not only is it against Wimbledon but he is due a goal. I also hope that we might see Clarke on the bench for the first time in the league this season, it will be 364 days since Blackburn away last season.
Dijksteel Bauer Pearce Solly
Bielik
Lapslie Aribo
Fosu
Taylor Ajose
Phillips, Sarr, Stevenson, Reeves, Clarke, Marshall, Hackett-Fairchild
Charlton Athletic 3-0 AFC Wimbledon
Taylor x2
Bauer
Charlton 1 - 9 AFC
last season I saw us play the Wombles at the Valley when Ricky Holmes scored with a beauty of a free kick from the left, just outside the area .. I don't care if this time round it's 1-0 or 6-0 and I don't care how the goal comes, I just want to see us keep winning and maintain a promotion push.. come on youse Addicksssaaahhh ((:>)
CAFC 1 v Afc Wimbledon 0
If he doesn't 2.1 Charlton.
And a pint for clb74.
Couple that with the 'new manager' syndrome and the Wombles are going to battle all the way. Hoping we can nick it 1 - 0 but wouldn't be surprised if it ends all square.
0-1
Steer
Solly
Sarr
Bauer
Pearce
Dijksteel
Aribo
Lapslie
Reeves
Taylor
Ajose
Subs: Phillipps, Stevenson, Sarpong-Wiredu, Morgan, Clarke, Fosu, Hackett-Fairchild.
History will mark thisstch as the time we started winning sout London derbies
If Lyle cannot play - I suspect we will see some combination Clarke/Fosu as a 10.
A hint to Ajose if he doesn't want to be the scapegoat - look interested and run around like a blue arsed fly.
0-0 or 3-0 if we score first half hour.
We never seem to do well at home against AFC Wimbledon either. A draw if we're lucky I think. More likely a defeat as the likes of The Pig and Waggy stick two fingers up.
On the day we'll be over the place (tired/Injuries/inconsistent) but they are worse.
1.2
Don’t think we’ll lose, but its got a draw written all over it.
Be highly delighted to be proved wrong of course.
UP THE ADDICKS!