Charlton Athletic v Hull CitySunday 9th May 2021 ... 12noon Kick-OffReferee: Martin CoyOnce again we have the strange occurance of having a referee for both home and away fixtures this season. Martin Coy was the man in charge at the KC Stadium for Hull's 2-0 victory over Charlton earlier this year, and the man who sent off Darren Pratley... That game earned Coy a statbank ranking of: 3.86, the fourth lowest rating of the season.Introduction492 games played... 1,339 goals scored... Teams have travelled the bredth of the country, from Plymouth in the far South, to Sunderland in the far North. For much of the Division, the important proceedings have been decided, automatic promotion has been decided, champagne has been drank, down the bottom relegation too is done and dusted, tears have been shed - It would be boring though if League One had been completely decided before the final day, three teams are left fighting for one spot in the Play-Offs... time to see just which of those has the stomach for it.
The OppositionName: Hull City (Champions) |
Manager: Grant McCann
Ground: KC Stadium
Previous Meeting: Hull City 2-0 Charlton Athletic
A bit like my preview against Peterborough I feel the need to eat a small slice of humble pie... A few times this season I've questioned if Grant McCann had the confidence in himself to be able to achieve promotion, he'd tried for five years and failed each time, both at Peterborough and Doncaster Rovers - On this occasion he's not just achieved promotion, yet also the league title. So Grant certainly deserves the plaudits for keeping his Hull side together after relegation, and having the ability to bounce back at the first opportunity, as we've seen in the past at this level its not an easy achievement, especially when you consider the potential issues Hull had to deal with in terms of their own Egyptian ownership.
For the Addicks this Sunday it doesnt just end what has been a difficult season, but what'll also be a difficult week... We ourselves have had the third best away record in the Division, yet we'll be ending our home campaign against the two teams directly above us in that particular form table, so before we even begin to worry about the tasks for Accrington and Burton, we must first worry about our own challenge here in South East London.
Hull themselves visit the Valley on Sunday afternoon with two players from the team of the season: Callum Elder (Left-Back) and George Honeymoon in Midfield the two players to watch out for in that respect... The Tigers form though is similar to that of Sunderland when we went North, they've not lost now for fourteen games, their last defeat on the road was a further five games back, a 1-0 loss at Burton Albion at the start of February.
As I said before Sunderland, runs always have to come to an end eventually, at least I hope.
Charlton Team NewsAfter a few weeks of having no injuries, normality appears to be returning at Sparrows Lane; Diallang Jaiyesimi has been absent since departing against Peterborough United and with no news it will be surprising if we see him again this season... Jake Forster-Caskey joins him after it was confirmed that he had suffered a second ACL since joining Charlton, its certainly a bitter end to the year for someone who'll surely end up as Player of the Year.
Elsewhere though and it looks like we still have a plethora of players to choose from... No doubt everyone will be wanting to see Chuks Aneke from the start this Sunday afternoon, especially after linking with Jayden Stockley so well against Lincoln City. Nigel Adkins advised though that the decision will ultimately rest with the medical team, yet of course may well choose to gamble, after all there is no point holding your best players back when you need nothing sort of three points.
In midfield you'd surely expect Albie Morgan to come in, in place of the injured Forster-Caskey
Amos
Matthews - Inniss - Famewo - Maatsen
Morgan - Watson
Gilbey
Washington - Stockley - Millar
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer - Pearce - Gunter - Purrington - Shinnie - Pratley - Aneke
PredictionI stopped predicting Charlton results a few seasons ago, partly because I never like to bet against the Addicks. Yet on this occasion it'll take an even braver man to predict not just what'll happen at the Valley but at Fratton Park and the Kassam Stadium too... Nottingham Forest showed last season how a six goal swing can steal you dreams and leave them trampled in the dust. Charlton last season had to deal with the blow of two teams getting unexpected results, a bit of redemption from that depressing July evening will be nice way to extend our season, even if just for two more games.
Echoing @Sage's comments from Tuesday night I would (see what I did there) like to thank everyone for continuing to put up with my jabbering for yet another season, I think you have to go back to 2014 to find my first gibberish preview... Hopefully this wont be my last of the season, if it is then myself and Sage will no doubt be back for 2021/22... Have a great summer. 
Comments
I feel like a 1-0 win is on the cards. Morgan to assist Washington.
Championship games are being played tomorrow
Honeyman to miss season finale
https://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1078580889?-11197:833
Leeds
Burnley
I think Norwich one year
As for this game I honestly think it's out of our hands.
We could win five nil and still not make the playoffs.
22 games for 23 points fucked us this season.
Next season we will smash league one.
That's it.
Because it is.
Faux drama. Non event.
0.0
This season has been what it has. Tomorrow is the time to see it close, say goodbye to a fair few current players and the hopefully watch the rebuild and look forward to next season with eager anticipation.
I'm just gutted I didnt take that cash out option of £46.00 on us getting promoted 2 weeks ago when it was there 😂😂😂
Wont be watching the match but instead will be following it all via Sky.....same as I did on Tuesday night so hoping for the same result 🙂.
However, like on Tuesday (where I predicted a 3-1 defeat) I'm not expecting a win. Like the ending to the film "A Bridge too Far", the musings will be why we fell just that little bit short.
It was Nijmegen (Oxford penalty save)
It was the road to Nijmegen (awful 10 week period after xmas)
It was the single track road to Nijmegen ( Bows team selection & subs)
0-2. Same ref as the match up there - same result.
Shame the game is at 12 on a Sunday against the champions. I just feel that the block tackle Chuks did in the box affected him before his second rash challenge where the 4th official listened to the defence lawyer Watson who convinced him to keep his cards in his pocket and give Aneke one last chance.
Washington should be good to play the full game now and replace Maatsen, who I like but unfortunately he is a liability in most positions he plays and on the right is just crazy.
Both Purrs and Ian may be exposed against Hull who ever gets the gig on the left.
TBF to Ben, Lincoln was his first poor game since he got his two Cards when he was done for pace.
I said 7th when we kicked off the season as I knew injuries are mandatory at Charlton.
No blame to any Medical staff from me.
So near yet so far from the play offs. Good to hear Nigel accept we have the oldest squad in League 1 and we need younger and fitter players.
Injuries happen but totally crazy the amount of times players in decent form get injured at Cafc over the last 3 seasons.
Or close the defensive wall up with our Charlton injured.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of the referee's whistle blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the Kinsella;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd tackling;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let pry through the portage of the head
Like the Costa stare; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth the Mountain Inniss
O'erhang and jutty his confounded opponent,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful defence.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest Charlton.
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!
Fathers that, like so many Curbishleys,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument:
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to win. And you, good midfield,
Whose limbs were made in SE7, show us here
The mettle of your training; let us swear
That you are worth your selection; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like Yann on the defender's shoulder,
Straining upon the pass. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Nads, Charlton, and Sangaard!'