Charlton Athletic v Preston North EndSunday 3rd November 2019 … 12noon Kick-OffReferee: David Webb (Lancashire)IntroductionFootball returns to South East London this weekend following two road trips in the week and a half – Four points achieved from our last three games, yet it’s a sign that despite a tough run of October fixtures, we can compete at this level – This Sunday we return to the Valley with the SKY cameras in tow. It’s the first of four games to be televised this month, time to show the rest of the country just what an atmosphere truly is!!
The OppositionName: Preston North End (2nd) |
Manager: Alex Neil
Ground: Deepdale
If you know your football history in this country then you know that Preston North End are effectively royalty – Winners of both the League and FA Cup in the first ever Football League season, they would be named the Invincibles that season, the sole club in English history to be unbeaten in both League and Cup campaigns
Despite being a historic team in the game its been too long since Preston were known as a top flight team – You have to go back to 1961 to find their last campaign in Division One. Yet Alex Neil (promotion winner with Norwich City) could be about to end that for the Lilywhites, sitting second in the table, our opponents remain unbeaten at home yet their three defeats on the road (at Millwall | Swansea | Reading) show that there will be no guarantee of where the points will end up
Now usually I’d pick a opposing player to focus on but its pretty obvious who that player will be – Patrick Bauer was always going to be a tough replacement for the Addicks, whilst we may have found them in Tom Lockyer its no doubt that the German will still cause problems both for our attack and defence – Ahead of the Play-Off Final I questioned if someone would join Shirtliff and Mendonca in being remembered; Patrick will forever be a legend in this small corner of London
Sunday will be a chance to show our appreciation of that memory that’ll last with us for a lifetime!!
Charlton Team NewsAfter being ineligible against his parent club; Jonathan Leko returns to the match day squad this weekend – The West Brom loanee will have enjoyed a longer rest than most and will hopefully be fitter than most
The rest I don’t even want to try and guess; Ben Purrington made his return at the Hawthorns yet you have to question if he’s been rushed back and as a result, injury could return all too easily – Youngsters Ben Dempsey and Josh Davison earned their places on the bench last Saturday with the latter appearing in the dying embers to mark an impressive rise from Enfield Town to the Championship. As for the rest its anyone’s guess, we’ve had a week to recover, lets hope the physios room is getting quieter again!!
Phillips
Solly | Lockyer | Pearce | Purrington
Cullen | Pratley | Kayal
Gallagher
Leko | Bonne
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer | Sarr | Oshilaja | Oztumer | Dempsey | Davison | Aneke
PredictionWith a number of players still out injured you’d expect the visitors to edge the result, our performance at West Brom though shows that regardless of the team, we’ll see effort from this group of players – From those currently above us; Preston will be the sixth team we’ve faced, the sole victory and two draws from those games is clear where we need to improve should we want the fairy-tale to continue!!
Comments
https://www.pnefc.net/news/2019/october/alex-neil-credits-work-of-lee-bowyer/
Was hoping that the Charlton Press Conference would have been completed by now (hence the delay for the Preview being uploaded this morning)
Of course will update the team should one happen and Lee give anything away
LB: We’re raring to go. After a tough week last week, we’ve been able to get them ready with a full week of preparation, so we’re looking forward to it." #cafc
LB: “Preston are a good side. The manager’s done a great job there. They’re sitting in second and deservedly so. They’re good in possession and out of possession and have players that will hurt you.” #cafc
LB: “Last season, our fitness was a big part of why we got promotion. It’s why we regularly finished the stronger side and got a lot of late goals. We had to improves stepping up this season and we have done. We keep going and keep fighting until the end.” #cafc
LB: “Pearcey is our captain. He would jump in front of a bus if we asked him to! Naby is improving all the time and he’s getting better at the physical side. Lockyer has come in and done brilliantly." #cafc
LB: “From back to front, everybody gives everything. I know that my team is going to do that as individuals, because they know that if they don’t, then they won’t play.” #cafc
LB: "They came on this journey with us last season and they see that they play a massive part towards our results. They’ve helped us get points this season already.” #cafc
LB: “Lewis Page trained on Wednesday for the first time so will need to play some U23 games first.” #cafc
LB on Sarr's potential Senagal call-up: “It’s not been officially confirmed yet, but if it happens, then I’m so pleased for him. Naby wasn’t in a good place, but he’s got his confidence back and has become a better defender." #cafc
LB: "His work-rate has been unreal and he’s gotten fitter. The fans have to take credit as well. I remember saying 'when you sing his name, his smile is so big and gives him confidence', so they need to take some credit for this." #cafc
LB on game being on TV: “A game’s a game innit?! It doesn’t matter if it’s on TV or not. It’s a game of football with three points at stake. The only difference is that I have to get up early.” #cafc
Yeah Lyle wont be fit for Millwall
A very generous opinion from a well-respected manager. And fair play the Preston fans making the journey - no trains - and coaches leaving at 4.30 am!! They sound almost as dedicated as our lot.
I am feeling surprisingly confident, Preston are a good team but so are we are home. A weeks rest should do us good and hopefully we can put in a strong performance! I have a feeling we might see Lyle Taylor for the last 10 minutes if needed?
2-1 Charlton - Gallagher x2
2-1.
At home Preston are superb, unbeaten with 6 wins out of 8, scoring 22 goals. Away they're nothing special though, with only 1 win and 2 draws in 6 games, scoring 5 goals.
On that basis, it could be a draw, but I'll plump for a narrow win, 1-0
got a die hard Preston fan in the office so we often chat a bit about football, he says they are very hit and miss but when they are good they are very good.
They've got a good manager and are a decent side, looking forward to this one and reckon we'll just have enough to nick it 2-1, Bonne and Gallagher
Fair play to the 1k+ coming down with no trains and coaches leaving at 4.30am for a game live on the box.
I went to WBA last Saturday and the boys just refuse to give up.
I expect the same battling qualities on Sunday and 3 points to the mighty Addicks.
2.1 Charlton Leco and Gallagher.
Lord Bowyer has a bit of previous when it comes to ruling out a player as being "too soon" and then have them in the XI a couple of days later.
He deserves the utmost respect upon his return (and for his Achilles heel - a slight lack of pace- to be ruthlessly exploited by our pacy, split forwards)
I like your team. Would play Ozzy this week at home as I think there will be more space for him to exploit and Kaya next week away as he has a bit more of a tackle in him.
Important to put in a performance this week for confidence ahead of next week.
2-1 charlton. Bonne and Lockyer
Regarding us, as the official site says, this game comes slightly too early for some so we are probably only looking at introducing Leko back into the squad. However, I wouldn't bet against Taylor making the squad either... With the amount of players still unavailable or injured, we just have to do as best as we can. I don't want our players to treat this game any differently with Millwall the week after in the back of their minds, and I don't think Bowyer will allow that to happen. We can also hope that players like Lockyer, Pratley, and Gallagher, don't pick up another caution as that will put them out of next week, and with their importance to the side, as well as the lack of players we have fit at the moment, we can't risk that. So if we are in a good position in the game, I think we could see a couple of them taken off with the following game in mind. I think we will see Oztumer start on Sunday but Kayal will come into the side against Millwall, same with Sarr will start on Sunday but Pearce will come into the side next week.
Tough one to call this Sunday, but Preston seem to like a 1-1 draw away from home. However, with the resolve we showed last week and the fact that our home form is still very impressive, I think we could cause them some problems. Leko to stretch Bauer and do him for pace.
Solly Lockyer Sarr Purrington
Pratley
Cullen Gallagher
Oztumer
Bonne Leko
Maynard-Brewer, Pearce, Oshilaja, Kayal, Aneke, Davison, Taylor
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Preston North End
Gallagher
Leko