Charlton Athletic (2) v (1) Doncaster Rovers
Friday 17th May 2019 ... 7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey)
So how are your nerves after going through that roller coaster of emotions?
I imagine many like myself are still recovering from the emphatic win against Doncaster on Sunday, despite a slow start, goals from Lyle Taylor and Joe Aribo would give us an oh so important lead to take back to the Valley and so secure a win in the first leg of a Play-Off Semi-Final since the Ipswich Town victory in 1998 (for those desperately looking for inspiration)... Doncaster shouldnt be ruled out until the referee calls time on the match, they know what they must do, a single goal win can take it to extra-time and god forbid; penalties... a clear two goals and it is them that get to enjoy a trip to Wembley; the roller coaster of emotions that the Play-Offs evoke are only just getting warmed up, with an all but sold out Valley its a chance for the fans to truly become the twelfth man and so send us to a Play-Off Final for the first in twenty one years!!
Name: Doncaster Rovers |
Manager: Grant McCann
Ground: Keepmoat Stadium
Doncaster should take heart from their defeat on Sunday afternoon; there have been five occasions in League One (or the Second Division before the renaming) where the home side have lost the first leg yet have still advanced to the Final... You have to go back to 2008 to find that last occurrence though: Leeds United would lose 2-1 at Carlisle United before getting rescuing the fixture at Brunton Park - To help Addicks nerves another 1-2 scoreline was recovered from in 2002, this time it would be Stoke City who would turn the fixture on its head and so enjoy a day out at Wembley.
Its clear though that Lee Bowyer isnt the sort of man to reflect on the history books, as proven at the Keapmoat on Sunday it was the Addicks who surprised everyone by altering their formation - Keeping John Marquis contained again will be one of the priorities for the Charlton Manager whilst Mallik Wilks will once again be a threat on the flanks, the fact that Doncaster have been able to call upon veteran: James Coppinger in fifty of their matches this season is nothing less than impressive, the 38-year old could be key to keeping his team mates calm in what'll be a game our opponents must win.
Oh and to genuinely calm Addicks nerves; Swindon Town were the last team to win 2-1 away from home in the opening leg, they achieved that feat in 2015 before going on to lose unfortunately at Wembley - The fact though their fans had to endure a 5-5 second leg against Sheffield United could hint towards some goals under the Valley floodlights.
Charlton Team News
In the first leg; Bowyer made the slightly surprising decision by naming Albie Morgan ahead of Jonny Williams (albeit justifying his decision prior to the match by wishing to stick with the team that had performed so admirably in recent weeks) - With so much on the cards its a change that you'd potentially expect to see happen this week, its a game when you want your best and experienced players, having played in the Semi-Final of a European Championships you'd expect a game like this to be simple for the calibre of a man like Williams (wry smile time)
Elsewhere; Chris Solly finally returns from his four match suspension (having earned his second red of the season against Oxford), Bowyer may well choose to stick with Anfernee Dijksteel who himself has performed to a high standard of late yet may choose to put Solly straight back into the team and freshen up the defence slightly - Josh Parker saved his best performance in a Charlton shirt for the encounter on Sunday lunchtime, despite pulling up midway through the second half with cramp its expected that the ex-Gillingham Striker will be fit to return to the line-up. Igor Vetokele remains a doubt with a thigh strain and is rumoured that his season is now well and truly over
Phillips
Solly | Bauer | Sarr | Purrington
Bielik | Cullen | Aribo
Williams
Taylor | Parker
Substitutes Bench: Maxwell | Pearce | Dijksteel | Forster-Caskey | Lapslie | Morgan | Pratley
Prediction
I sincerely hope that I have one more Match Preview to write, if this is it then its a pleasure as always but am going to make this section very simple - There is one question that Lee Bowyer should now be asking his players: Who they want to be facing next season; Do they want to making trips to Fulham and Stoke City... Or do they want to stay here in League One, sacrificing any potential glory, forever thinking what may have been and so face trips to the potential likes of Newport or Tranmere, thankfully for the time being its in our hands, now isnt the time for any slip ups!!
Comments
Great preview as ever ForeverAddickted .
Come on .... , would Charlton let me down the day after my birthday ?
4- 0 to us , @happyvalley shouldered around the pitch after the game by the Charlton players, Parker with a hat trick and a 35 yard screamer from Solly , after coming on from off the bench.
A man can dream can't he .... Come On You Addicks !!!!
I can’t see us scoring less than 2 at home, so by that reckoning Doncaster need 3 to tie it up.
Gonna be a hell of a game.
I just hope we do it.
A few pints pre match should settle me down.
A one goal lead for us in the first half and it's all over.
Only a freak penalty, unplanned injury to Lyle or a sending off could ruin our Wembley dreams.
Oh dear God. I cant take it I tell you. I just cant take it. I have a flight booked for Wembley not Sunday lunch with my mother. .
Please God make this the comfortable 3.0 win this should be not the penalty melt down stress implosion, we know it could be.
2..0 Charlton. Kick off 2.15 am Hong Kong time.
See you at Wembley.
I hope.
We squeeze through 2-1.
2-0 Charlton.
Hopefully one more to go before you can have a well deserved rest.
I can't see Charlton scoring less than 2 in front of a packed valley. Do this and we can all start looking forward to a dark out at Wembley.
I hope we go back to the diamond formation though
Luton 4-0 L
Barnsley 1-1 D
Charlton 2-0 L
Pompey 1-1 D
Sunderland 2-0 L
Peterborough 1-1 D
Coventry 2-1 L
Burton 1-0 L
Blackpool 1-1 D
Fleetwood 3-0 L
Oxford 2-2 D
Played 11, Won 0, Drawn 5, Lost 6, Scored 7, Conceded 20
CAFC 2 v Doncaster Rovers 0
Him and Bielik link well
Can't recall a much better midfield of Bielik, Cullen, Aribo and the in form Morgan in recent years.
Everyone mentions Donny wanting payback but I remember a Tuesday evening game a few seasons ago in the championship where they sung ‘going down’ to us at there place when they beat us (2-0 I think). Riga completed our great escape and they went down! Will never forget them goading us!!