Charlton Athletic v Bradford City
Saturday 30th March 2019 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Martin Coy (County Durham)*
Introduction
Well it’s certainly felt longer than two weeks since
we were last in this position but that’s the length of time since we last
witnessed the Addicks kicking the ball in anger… A trip to a blustery Bristol
Rovers was always going to be a difficult place to take three points. On a plus
note the distraction that is the International break (well its less of a
distraction for England fans these days) is done, its plain sailing straight
ahead to the finishing line, as the Addicks look to cross that mathematical
line and so secure an extension in the Play-Offs
The Opposition
Name: Bradford City | Manager: Gary Bowyer
Ground: Valley Parade
From one end of the table to the other, in recent
weeks its been a pleasure to see League One in the media for all the right
reasons and you have to admit its for impressive reasons at that… In all my
years of following the sport I don’t think I’ve witnessed a finish like the one
we could see at this level; thirteen teams, separated by nine points means that
any potential side could face the drop on the last day – Our visitors this
Saturday: Bradford City are the team at the bottom and will be trying to emulate
AFC Wimbledon by ensuring that gap doesn’t leave them cast adrift come 5pm on
Saturday!!
For a team who reached the Play-Off Final two years
ago (Don’t worry Bantams, we’re not frustrated in the slightest at who you lost
to) you have to question where it all went wrong, losing the likes of Mark
Marshall and Billy Clarke wont have helped but that was two seasons ago… Sadly
as is so common with English Football these days the answer is ownership; Edin
Rahic would want too much involvement and as Addicks fans know, three managers
in a single season never ends well
Rahic would depart the Yorkshire club in December
though (albeit with the damage done) so there is hope for Bradford… In Gary
Bowyer they have an experienced manager and lining up against us on Saturday
will be Billy Clarke, the Irish Midfielder having impressed early in South East
London would succumb to an season ending injury and that would be the last we’d
see of him… A mutual ending of his Contract in January would see him return to
Bradford where has since played nine times, it’ll certainly be a pleasure to
see him back playing on the weekend, just hopefully returning home with the
wrong result!!
Charlton Team News
An International weekend has in recent years been a
bit of an uneventful occasion for the Addicks yet for the fans the years were
rolled back this week with six players all departing to represent their
countries; Lyle Taylor (Montserrat) and Igor Vetokele (Angola) would get
playing time for their nations, whilst the likes of Josh Parker (Antigua),
Chris Maxwell (Wales) and Josh Cullen (Ireland) would get to enjoy the
experience, all players would of course return to the club fully fit and
available this weekend.
Unfortunately its not uncommon for at least one
injury and once again its Krystian Bielik that’ll be absent after suffering
with an ankle problem against England U21s – The young Pole shows much promise
yet if he continues to struggle with injuries throughout his career you’d
question his potential to reach the top with parent club Arsenal.
Comments
4.0 Charlton and the chase to overtake Pompy for 4th gains momentum.
Plus no new injuries.
Good lad.
I'll go 2-0 Charlton. Aribo and Reeves.
Looking forward to Wembley and flights are booked but on second thoughts, would prefer for Sunderland to get the second automatic spot leaving us with Barnsley or Pompey to see off. Having said that, Sunderland would be a fabulous occasion.
1.1
Clarke to score for them, obviously.
Scrappy 1-1
https://www.worldfootball.net/table_calculator/eng-league-one/
We were top and Swindon bottom,
Without checking, 99/2000 season ?
Sticking with 3-0 tomorrow.