Burton Albion v Charlton AthleticTuesday 24th November | Kick-Off: 19.00pmLive on Valley PassReferee: Ollie Yates (Staffordshire) - Previously officiated Charlton against Wigan in our 1-0 victory in October.IntroductionThe Addicks unbeaten run was extended after the most recent international break with a point away at Gillingham on Saturday, that unbeaten run now sits at 8 games. All the more impressive when you consider the new players having to gel and the fact that we started the game without a recognised centre-back. Whilst the game was described by Bowyer as, 'crazy', it most certainly feels like two points dropped. On another day, the incredible efforts in the first half as well the penalty would've gone in and we come back up the A2 with all 3 points. Instead, the search for our next 3 points begins with a trip up the M1 on Tuesday evening, away at Burton Albion.
OppositionManager: Jake Buxton (7.7% win rate)
Stadium: Pirelli Stadium
League Position: 24th |
Last 6: LLDLDD
Nickname(s): The Brewers
Burton Albion played Northampton Town at home on Saturday where they lost 3-1, their last line-up was:
Garrett
Eardley | Brayford | Bostwick | Gallacher
Gilligan | Quinn | Edwards
Vassilev | Akins | Ennis
The Brewers have experienced a torrid start to the season, finding themselves sitting bottom of the league. The poor start has included a number of players and staff testing positive for COVID-19 earlier on in the month; the identities of those were not revealed, but it can be assumed from who has since not been involved. Former Addick Luke Varney has been missing alongside fellow striker Kane Hemmings since the news was broken. Yet, Burton Albion have been made to continue to play. They have since lost away to Hull City, 2-0, and most recently a 3-1 reverse at home against Northampton Town. For new manager, Jack Buxton, it's proving to be a real uphill battle - but was this always likely to happen? Ex-manager Nigel Clough left the club in May to help them financially get through the pandemic, but it was the son of Brian who guided Burton to their most successful period in their history. Taking over from another former Charlton striker, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - who won League Two with the Staffordshire club - Clough managed to maintain the momentum and guide them to promotion to The Championship. However, for a club that was established in 1950, Burton have only spent 12 years in The Football League, all coming since their promotion from the Conference back in 2008/09. So to even be competing at this level should be seen as quite an achievement for a club of their stature.
Form wise, the two sides couldn't be any different. We have won 6 of our last 7 whilst Burton have only won 1 game in the league so far this season. That win came all the way back on 19th September against Accrington Stanley - Brayford scored a late winner to make it 2-1. For a club who have been vocal in their struggles throughout this year, they were also knocked out of the FA Cup First Round by non-league North London side, Barnet, who spent half the game with 10 men. Missing out on a good opportunity to inject some much needed cash into the club would've hurt. What makes their form even harder to digest for The Brewers supporters, is that their most recent home fixtures have been against Rochdale, AFC Wimbledon, Blackpool, and Northampton; only picking up a solitary point against The Wombles in October. After they face Charlton, their December includes fixtures against Sunderland, Ipswich, Doncaster, and Lincoln. It wouldn't be too harsh to say being bottom by Christmas is a real possibility for Burton.
However, like every club in this division, they will have players who can hurt us and cause us problems. We must take them seriously and not get complacent, even if this is a fixture we have to be winning if we are serious ourselves about promotion. Stephen Quinn sitting in central midfield has shown over the years his quality on the ball. The diminutive Irishman was once a Chris Powell transfer target when the great man guided us to The Championship. Niall Ennis is on loan from Wolves, the young striker is yet to score for Burton Albion this season, but featured heavily for Doncaster Rovers last season. Whereas Lucas Akins is a bit of legend up in Burton, scoring regularly enough to get double figures at this level pretty much every season (he got 8 last season, so likely would've got 10+ if wasn't for lockdown).
Charlton Team NewsThe Charlton injury theme continues, it's almost like the players are playing a game of 'tag, you're it!'. Maybe we could have a word and say enough now boys, fancy giving that one a rest for a while? Just as we welcome Jason Pearce and Alex Gilbey back into the squad, we learn that Ryan Inniss has picked up a quad injury in training by making a simple 10-yard pass. The length of time the monstrous centre-back is likely to be out for has not been disclosed, but it would be wise to assume it's likely to be until around Christmas time. Forster-Caskey missed Saturday's trip to Gillingham nursing a minor hamstring injury, whilst Jonny Williams returned from international duty with Wales with a groin strain.
In good news, Gilbey came on in the 67th minute against The Gills, and although was a bit rusty, he will add another option for Bowyer in midfield ahead of this busy schedule. Pearce and Oshilaja got 60 minutes for the U23s on Tuesday, so you can assume the skipper will likely come back into the side, whilst Oshilaja could return to the squad for the first time since the beginning of October. That leaves Bowyer with a decision to make in who partners Pearce at centre back. Is Oshilaja fit enough to start? Gunter has performed admirably at centre back, almost like he has played there all his life, whilst Pratley is very competent at centre back too. If Gunter partners Pearce, it means Matthews plays at right back, which I am not convinced he will start 3 games in a week just yet. The game is likely to come too soon for Williams, who I am sure will be targeting a return against one of his former sides, Ipswich Town, on Saturday. Paul Smyth and Chuks Aneke came off the bench and proved to be the difference on Saturday, with the latter scoring the equaliser, assisted by the former. It would again be wise to assume they could both come in for Bogle and Washington as the strikers are rotated.
Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Matthews, Purrington, Oshilaja, Gilbey, Washington, Bogle
Another away trip for us, but one where the fellow promotion chasers have far tougher games on paper. If we are to kick on again and go on another winning run, Tuesday is the perfect opportunity for it. Burton are wounded right now, suffering from a lack of options and a run of poor results. Bowyer will be looking for the players to sharpen up in front of goal and put them to the sword, and I think we might just do that.
Burton Albion 0-3 Charlton Athletic
Aneke
Maddison
Bogle
Comments
0-2
Maddison & Shinnie
An emphatic 1-0 win
I can't believe the negativity on the post match Gillingham thread.
I expect nothing less than a win on Tuesday and I also expect a few goals.
3.0 Charlton to put us in a great position ahead of our game at Ipswich.
Tuesday on the face of it should be 3 points but past hauntings and let downs still temper my judgement.
However, 0-1 to the Addicks.
0-1
we need to start with Washington/Smyth, and get the benefit of
"The Beast" Chuks coming on as a 2nd half impact sub rather than
as a starter
Bogle winner in the last 10 mins
Not often you see Luke Varney, Jimmy Floyd Cashinthebank and Nigel Clough mentioned in the same paragraph.
They are desperate. We don't score very often.
0.0
Matthews, Pratley, Pearce, Maatsen
Watson
Gilbey, Shinnie
Maddison, Aneke, Smyth