Wigan Athletic vs Charlton Athletic12th February 2022 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Tom NieldIntroductionThis truly is a season that could be compared with the film; Groundhog Day, the moment this Charlton team look to be taking a step forward, they wilt under pressure and take two steps back. Defeat at Bolton on Tuesday night maybe our first loss in five games, yet our last two performances rekindled late hope for some. Instead it looks as though our away form will be another of our downfalls this season - Not good when we now travel back to the Greater Manchester area, to face a Wigan Athletic side who look destined to return to the Championship.
The OppositionName: Wigan Athletic (2nd) | Manager: Leam RichardsonGround: DW StadiumPrevious Meeting: Charlton Athletic 0-2 Wigan AthleticOur opponents this weekend, like Ipswich Town, were always going to be one of the teams to watch this season - After a horrendous couple of seasons, Wigan went into 2021/22 with fresh new owners, and after a few false dawns elsewhere, appear to have genuine Middle East support.
After having their squad decimated due to Administration, it was always going to require a proper squad rebuild from the Latics, and unlike Ipswich and Charlton is a job they appear to have achieved with what looks to be huge success... Ben Amos was brought in from Charlton, and whilst he has the same amount of clean sheets as our own Craig MacGillivray, is able to rely on the second best defence in the League - Further forwards and Will Keane, will be the player to stop in front of goal. Plagued by injures, the Striker has seven league goals to his name this term, and as a team have scored just eight more than ourselves, despite having three games in hand.
As shown at the Valley last September; Wigan are a team similar to ourselves under Chris Powell... We'll look like we've got chances to win the game, but Wigan know how to soak up pressure and hurt you at the right time - That saying, the Latics have just two points from their last two games, although haven't lost at the DW since the end of October.
Charlton Team NewsThe biggest surprise on Tuesday night was midway through the second half we saw an alteration from the 3-5-2 formation, with Johnnie Jackson opting for more of a diamond approach with his midfield - Of course the question now is, does he stick or does he twist with that change. Should he opt for the latter then you'd expect to see Sean Clare at Right Back, yet with Ben Purrington once again out of favour (and Juan Castillo seemingly not ready), who plays on the left?
The biggest elephant in the room now though is Scott Fraser... It hasn't taken long for the exciting midfielder to earn his first assist, and could now come into the team regardless of the formation - Should Jackson stick, then he'll either replace Albie Morgan or Alex Gilbey - Should we see the diamond though, there is nothing to suggest that we wont see all three out there together.
MacGillivray
Clare - Inniss - Famewo
Dobson
Matthews - Morgan - Fraser - Jaiyesimi
Washington - Aneke
Substitutes Bench: Henderson - Lavelle - Purrington - Lee - Gilbey - Burstow - Leko
PredictionCombined with our trip to Rotherham in April, this is probably our hardest game between now and the end of the season - Form and expectation would point towards a home win, yet this is Charlton and we've always been taught to expect the unexpected - Unfortunately even I'd be surprised if we returned to SE7 with all three points, but would certainly give us something to build upon, going into the summer.
Comments
3-1 Wigan as we stay in the bottom half of complete wankness
Anyway, to this game. We always do well when not expected to (and vice versa), Wigan are knackered. Innis and Aneke back. I would go 3-2 Charlton. We race into a 3 goal headstart, sit back, panic and end up hanging on for dear life for the final 10.
Seasons over but the "will we make the playoffs thread" comes back with a vengeance anyway.
Wigan Athletic 1 v CAFC 1
Time to change things for difficult away fixtures up north and try to tough out a draw or maybe a lucky win.
If we keeping doing the same old same old, we get the same old result.
Eight at the back plus Fraser and Chucks would be my choice. Surprise them. Disrupt their game plan. Do something bloody different please.
Beginning to worry that Jacko is too much Captain Popular not a Professor Strategy or a Sergeant-Major Discipline.
3-0
Jacko's full quote.
Wigan 1 Charlton 0
Personally I think we have bought them in to have a proper look at them with a view to signing them for next season.
As for the match itself I can't see beyond 3 1 to Wigan.
It's all about next season now.