Portsmouth vs Charlton AthleticMonday 31st January 2022 - 7:45pm Kick-OffReferee: Neil HairIntroductionCharlton take a break from Football this weekend. With no Premier League Football (due to its now introduced winter break), SKY are forced to look elsewhere to fill its live coverage slots. This Monday night they've decided to show Portsmouth playing host to a Charlton side that has once again lost its identity. At least this weekend, we can sit back and watch as other results come in, highlighting the ever growing need for three points.
The OppositionName: Portsmouth (10th) | Manager: Danny CowleyGround: Fratton ParkPrevious Meeting: Charlton Athletic 2-2 PortsmouthPerformances have been so memorable this season, that I had to stop and question if we've even played Pompey at the Valley this season. The two sides ended up playing out a 2-2 draw, with, the now departed; Josh Davison scoring a late equaliser. Which given the stats (and comments) on the BBC website, was no less than what we deserved... If only I could remember.
Life on the South Coast for the Cowley's hasn't exactly been straightforward either though - Like ourselves; Pompey narrowly missed out on the Play-Offs, so their rebuild in the summer could have been minimal... Unfortunately there was an exodus of players, including Craig MacGillivray who headed to SE7.
As a result the Portsmouth form as perhaps been a little indifferent at times this season, a strong start was replaced by seven games without a victory - Result did pick up though, and this fixture has surely been picked for TV coverage, thanks to the run of games for Portsmouth which saw them pick up seven wins in ten games. Our opponents though have stumbled of late, and apart for a solitary win in the EFL Trophy, have failed to win in 2022. Remarkably that leaves Portsmouth just five points ahead of the Addicks. Based on the consistency of both teams, its likely that this will once again be a League One fixture next term.
Charlton Team NewsDefeat against Hartlepool United wasn't the ideal scenario, but it certainly provided us with the insight that Ben Watson's best days are now behind him, the ageing midfielder will now be surely used as an ultimate last resort - As a result you'd hope that George Dobson will return to the midfield, our trip to the North East showed that of all our players, he is the key spine of this current Charlton team.
Elsewhere and in recent weeks our ranks have been bolstered with Juan Castillo and Nile John both joining on loan - The former was unable to play against Fleetwood (due to COVID), yet made a cameo appearance against Hartlepool, so could now come into first team contention - The latter on the other hand could make his debut this Monday night, and comes highly recommended by random ex-player of ours. Although his opinion should be taken with a pinch of salt, given he rarely featured, and never amounted to much whilst in SE7.
MacGillivray
Clare - Inniss - Famewo
Jaiyesimi - Gilbey - Dobson - Castillo
John
Aneke - Burstow
Substitutes Bench: Henderson - Pearce - Purrington - Morgan - Leko - Lee - Washington
PredictionIts a rare season for our involvement in any cup competition to last until January, so to remain in two of those into the New Year is quite an achievement in itself - Our exit in the EFL Trophy though means that our sole attention returns to ending our League One campaign as strongly as possible - With the Addicks not playing today, its a chance for our rivals to put pressure on us. We of course can return the favour with three points on the South Coast, provided we address our poor away form this season.
Comments
Have no idea what to expect from us these days.
I'm hoping both new boys start and that they have a transformative effect on our play.
Maybe they can introduce some incisive passing to feet and get the likes of Aneke, Burstow and maybe Washington in behind.
My gut feeling is they will both start on the bench and be introduced when we are behind and effectively beaten.
I'd rather not have DJ on the right with his inability to deliver any consistent end product, but as the alternative is the woefully out of form Leko, what can you do.
2-0 Pompey
There will be no Stockley.....
0-2 loss. Hope I'm wrong.
Lee needs to come out for a while and I wouldn't be surprised to see Morgan start as he has put in a couple of decent performances. If Nile John isn't quite ready perhaps Gilbey plays the more advanced midfield role and could well see Washington partner Chuks up top and have Burstow to come off the bench.
Our away form is woeful and can't see that changing here.
We COULD be in the serious shit by the end of February. I am not wetting the bed yet but 3 or 4 points in the next 7 games and I will be .
Were we not their bogey team for donkeys? Sad times.
3-0 to Pompey
And even worse away from home.
And never win on Sky.
And who cares anyway ?
I don't.
Much.
2.1 Aneke 96.
My head says Washington because he's a better, more rounded player at this point. But my heart says Burstow, and I struggle to see Jacko dropping him after he's scored two in two.
Innis & Fraser with the goals.
Gunter Inniss Famewo
Clare Dobson Castillo
John Gilbey
Aneke Washington
Do not want to see either Leko or DJ at RWB,
We are very near the bown stuff.