Charlton Athletic v Oxford UnitedTuesday 27 October | Kick-Off: 19.00pmLive on Valley PassReferee: Craig Hicks (Surrey) - Last officiated Charlton at home to Shrewsbury, 2-1 win in August 2018IntroductionThree wins on the spin, 4 clean sheets in a row... Bowyer's boys may not be turning out fantastic performances, but they're certainly showing they know how to get results in this league! With 5 clean sheets already this season, it has been mentioned once or twice - very quietly - that goals win you games, but clean sheets win you titles. After the last few months at the club, to be in the position we are at this stage, with momentum and confidence building, huge credit must go to our manager. But Bowyer's opposite number for Tuesday evening already knows all too well about his strengths. Former manager, Karl Robinson, brings his Oxford United side to The Valley under the lights.
OppositionManager: Karl Robinson (39.7% win rate)
Stadium: Kassam Stadium
League Position: 22nd |
Last 6: LLWLLW
Nickname(s): The U's/The Yellows
Oxford United had their game postponed at the weekend due to coronavirus, so their last fixture they played at home to MK Dons, winning 3-2, their line up was:
Eastwood
Clare | Moore | Atkinson | Ruffels
Sykes | Rodriguez | Forde
Henry | Taylor | McGuane
Karl Robinson seems to be a manager that goes through phases, or runs of form. The former Addicks manager, who was integral at bringing in our current manager to the club, is just as capable of going on a fantastic winning run as he is going on a dreadful losing streak. In his last 205 league games, his record stands at having won 79 and lost 67. As things stand, without their last game, and win, against another of his former clubs - MK Dons - Oxford United would be sitting bottom of the league. This poor run of form could be put down to a hangover of the hurt from missing out on promotion in the Play-Off Final against Wycombe Wanderers in August. For our benefit, let's hope that we can cause a little further misery, even if it's just for one more match!
To their credit, Oxford try to play football the right way. Players get forward, full-backs push high, midfielders expected to chip in with a certain amount of goals, and we know that Robinson would rather have more possession than not. However, so far this season, it's not worked out quite like that. Oxford's two wins this season has seen them average 38% possession, whereas they've averaged 57.5% in the four games they've lost. This stat is slightly skewed as they last played MK Dons, who sit joint bottom of the league yet average over 67% possession each game - the definition of having the ball but doing absolutely nothing with it.
In terms of danger men it's quite hard to look much further than Matty Taylor. A player Bowyer was interested in signing during the summer but for the transfer embargo, Taylor is likely to be The U's biggest threat. The striker has already scored 3 in 6 so far this season, complimenting his 1 in 2 record last season when he finished with 13 goals from 26 league appearances. That ability to find the net so regularly at this level is enough to cause any defence problems, even one who hasn't conceded in over 6 hours of football. Containing his movement, and runs in behind Inniss and Famewo, is going to be huge in pushing that statistic to nearly a full working day of 8 hours. Taylor, for his size of only 5ft 9, is usually quite strong at holding the ball up and bringing the midfield further into play, but against the size of our two centre backs, he's unlikely to have much luck in that role. With this in mind, it wouldn't surprise me to see Robinson change the formation that they've been using and adopt a similar game-plan to the one we saw the last time he took his Oxford side to The Valley. Sam Winnall, another smaller striker who signed during the summer from Sheffield Wednesday, could get his first start alongside Taylor as they go for a diamond in midfield themselves. A tactic of two smaller strikers to get in behind the big and strong centre backs, being found by the ex-Millwall midfielder, James Henry, at the top of the diamond could be just what Robinson believes is the best way too cause us most damage.
Charlton Team NewsTwo more players were added to the treatment table over the last few days, Aneke with a minor groin strain from scoring the winner against Blackpool last Tuesday, and Doughty having to come off just passed the hour mark against Northampton on Saturday. It's hoped the latter's injury won't be too bad, with the assessment going on until tomorrow, but it does look as though as it could be a hamstring injury. It is hoped that Aneke will be back for the weekend. That means Bowyer's likely to be without five of his first team players, joining Oshilaja, Pearce, and Gilbey to support the boys from home.
With Pratley coming on at half time for young Dylan Levitt, proving to be the right move to steer us to victory, it would be expected that he'll slot back into the starting XI. But the same could be said about Ben Watson, the 35 year old had no pre-season and was given a rest against Northampton having played three 90 minutes in a row. Sections of the support are unlikely to be happy to see both Pratley and Watson start together again in midfield, but it's something I do see Bowyer going with, especially until we have the rest of our squad up to speed. That experience in front of a young back four could be vital in helping to us to maintain the level of solidarity in the team.
Other options are available, but questions marks remain as to whether Maddison is fit enough to start. With Doughty a doubt, we will surely lack that creative spark to unlock a defence. However, asking Maddison to start could be pushing just a little too much, that move might be at the weekend. Instead, another young academy product could come in from the cold and be asked to provide the extra bit of quality. Albie Morgan has only been able to make the bench in any of the last 5 league games, but could be given a start in midweek. Forster-Caskey and Jonny Williams might count themselves unlucky not to be selected again, but we know Bowyer is happy to rotate so it wouldn't be a surprise to see either take their place on the bench. Young Ian Maatsen has also impressed at left-back, which will surely mean Ben Purrington will return to the squad on the bench, before probably starting away from home at Portsmouth on Saturday.
Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Purrington, Levitt, Forster-Caskey, Williams, Maddison, Smyth
An intriguing match is likely to follow. It's one where I think a lot of tactical games could be played to cancel each other out. Robinson will look to kick start their campaign by upsetting his former assistant, but I do think this new look Charlton team will show again we just have enough to get passed our opponents on Tuesday evening. Expect our substitutions to be crucial, with Maddison coming on and setting up the winner.
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Oxford United
Inniss
Bogle
Comments
Got a feeling the usual Oxford hoodoo could continue; Going for a 1-1 draw - If we win then I truly will believe we've got a chance finishing top two
They'll be coming to us looking for 3 points but I feel confident that if nothing else our current back line can keep them out for long enough that we should get a draw. Time for another one of our forwards to step up and get off the mark this season.
Watson surely will be saved for the Pompey game. I'm going to agree with Leuth: put Prats at DM protecting the defence and let someone quicker play the CM role, like Levitt. I think Shinnie is more suited to play the other CM, giving more space for his penetrating passes.
I wouldn't risk starting Maddison - but by all means give him some minutes in the last quarter, if that's what the game needs.
we will inflict another defeat on Robinson's Oxford.
Will go for a good 3-0 win, we are due a convincing win
so Tuesday it is, Inniss x 2 & Bogle... COYR
AMOS, GUNTER, INNIS, FAMEWO, MAATSEN, PRATLEY, SHINNIE, JFC, SMYTH, WASHINGTON, BOGLE
2-2 Bogle, Maddison
Amos
gunter innis Famewo Maatsen
Smyth Maddison Williams
Bogle
subs, amb, Watson, shinnie, Washington, purrington, levitt, Morgan
Gunter, Innis, Famewo, Maatsen
Watson
Pratley, Shinnie
Maddison, Bogle, Washington
2-1 Washington, Shinnie.
Clean sheet run goes but not W run, Oxford’s XI looks dramatically changed from the last couple of seasons so not expecting the same side that has done well, I think this is the year it goes wrong for Karl.
I think Maddison will get chucked in to see what he can do, it’s not like we’ve not got a bench these days if he’s ineffective. Watson to get dragged off 60 minutes in with the hope he’s not booked and suspended for Pompey.
Looks a tough fixture especially without Doughty's pace.
I expect a tough game but I also expect us to eventually come out on top.
2.1 Charlton and we send Gobinson home empty handed.
Wonder how match fit he'll be
Wouldnt be surprised if it happened as running into strong wind can just ruin your energy and Gunter may need a break after Saturday
And with no Aneke or Doughty, even fewer chances will be created.
0.1 (pen 92mins)