Charlton Athletic v Swindon TownSaturday 23rd January 2021 ... 3pm Kick-OffReferee: James Linington (Newport)IntroductionThe way Charlton are performing at the moment you could be mistaken for thinking that they're playing some sadistic game with the supporters, four points from two games considering the opposition isnt great form, but it created a benchmark, and so victory over Bristol Rovers last Saturday ended the run of games without a win that dated back to the win over AFC Wimbledon - Tuesday night and it looked like we were about to start a new run before the customary mistakes returned meaning we left London Road with nothing when we perhaps deserved a little bit more... This Saturday though like any upcoming fixtures is an opportunity to quickly put that result behind us, and so start a run that must soon happen if we have any aspirations of a return to the Championship!!
The OppositionName: Swindon Town (23rd) |
Manager: John Sheridan
Ground: The County Ground
Reverse Fixture: Swindon Town 2-2 Charlton Athletic
Despite it being late in January we've finally hit the stage of the season where we can say that we've faced every team at least once, we're at the halfway point... Usually this stage of the season will give us a clear reflection of where we are in the Division and what target is potentially required to reach whatever the endgame may be, with other sides having games outstanding (some with four games), it means the Division leaves a false representation so we can only guess what might happen come May.
The reverse fixture at Swindon has been one of the main talking points of our poor run of late. It was a game that Charlton never really controlled and it was very much a different performance to the one we'd seen against AFC Wimbledon just a few days beforehand, it didnt help we conceded first, and with us also conceding last (in what was a 2-2 draw) it kept the unwanted record of failing to win from 1-0 down in the League since the day Luton Town visited South East London in April 2019.
Since that spirited last gasp equaliser for Brett Pitman its been a couple of months of little change for our visitors this Saturday, the draw would leave the Robins in 22nd place, and having had two cancellations have only played three games since. As a result its given John Sheridan little to work on and as a result has seen Swindon drop a place. In those three games however they have recorded one victory (along with two defeats), coming on the road at Ipswich Town which proves that our opponents wont be travelling up the M4 simply to make up the numbers!!
Charlton Team NewsThe few positives from Tuesday night was the return of Darren Pratley, who amazingly survived until the dying stages before being booked, and a cameo from Andrew Shinnie returning from injury (despite having a hand in what would prove to be the winner) - Its meant that Lee Bowyer should soon be able to play the team that he wants without constraints, provided of course his players firstly learn to stay injury free, and secondly stop playing these childish games...
Suspension Tag" being the latest, it meant that Albie Morgan would miss the fixture against Peterborough yet could return to the team this Saturday, as too could Ben Watson having rejoined training following a slight hamstring injury at Hull City - Akin Famewo on the other hand remains absent from training so we'll surely see a match up of Deji Oshilaja and Jason Pearce in defence, whilst we could yet see a new Addick added to what is now the Valient 918, that of course will depend on whether the Management team can bring in any new players before 12noon tomorrow.
Amos
Gunter | Oshilaja | Pearce | Maatsen
Williams | Pratley | Watson | Millar
Schwartz | Aneke
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer | Purrington | Matthews | Forster-Caskey | Morgan | Stockley | Washington
PredictionAs already mentioned in this preview, its alright for Alan Curbishley to say that every team has a blip (and its convienent we're having ours now), but at the same time its also important that a team comes out of its blip with plenty of time to make the required recovery and push if it wants to achieve promotion come the end of the season. Whilst I have my personal doubts over whether we can manage it anyway, its important we learn from the first half of the season and so turn fixtures like this from draws and defeats into wins... and soon!!
Comments
I think I’m turning into Golfie !
Please start Chuks and Ronnie together.
6-0
Subs
Purrington in if Maddison out.
matthews
gunter
oshalaja
maatsen
wiiliams
jfc
morgan
millar
schwartz
aneke
3-0 home win, thank you very much
He should have been sent off twice on Tuesday and still cost us a goal.
Great warrior but his time is up. Get some kids in to liven things up a bit . We look tired and very mediocre.
0.0
Amos
Matthews Gunter Deji Maatsen
Williams JFC Morgan Millar
Aneke Schwartz
I’m going for 4-0 to Charlton and a real feeling of optimism going forward.
Matthews, Oshilaja, Pearce, Maatsen
JFC
Morgan, Shinnie, Millar
Aneke, Washington
Rest for Gunter I think, Pratley dropped for this one as I think we’ll be offensive, Shinnie thrown back in cos whilst we’ve suffered at centre back his absence has gone under the radar, one of the most important players in the squad for me, I think Schwartz is still not ready by the looks of things.
We’ll win this one I’m sure if it, 2-1 Aneke x2