Fleetwood Town vs Charlton AthleticSaturday 17th September 2022 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Simon MatherIntroductionCharlton hit the road once again this coming weekend, with a trip up to Lancashire with Fleetwood Town awaiting our arrival - Our form since the Plymouth result has dipped disappointingly, the high score line from the Addicks perhaps setting expectations far too high, with fans now thinking that chances will consistency turn into goals, and thrashings handed out each week - Instead the Addicks have become leaky in defence, with goals conceded in what can only be described in exasperated style - However we are just eight games in, there is a long way to go, but we must avoid getting into the sort of early form witnessed this time last season.
The OppositionName: Fleetwood Town () | Manager: Scott BrownGround: Highbury StadiumPrevious Result: Peterborough United 0-1 Fleetwood TownThere must have been a few eyebrows raised when Fleetwood opted look North of the Border for their Manager back in May - Hell what am I saying, there have been Scottish Managers at this level in the past, with Derek Adams in charge down the road @ Morecambe the number has now doubled. Yet the eyebrows must have been raised given the experience of Scott Brown in Management, he's only just retired after a hugely successful career in Scotland, and if memory serves me correctly, was linked to Charlton (whilst under the reign of Alan Curbishley) whilst in the early stages of his career @ Hibs.
Fleetwood's season though has got off on a fairly moderate start... The biggest issue for the Cod Army is turning draws into victories, five of their eight games so far have ended all square which is more than anyone else in the league - However Fleetwood have suffered just the one defeat, coming at Port Vale on the opening day... With wins coming against Plymouth and Peterborough, this'll be no walk in the park for Charlton this coming Saturday, our opponents appear to be a team that are organised and know how to keep the ball.
I fear it could be another frustrating afternoon for fans who continue to have preconceived notions as to how poor League One actually is!!
Charlton Team NewsRumour spread prior to the visit of Forest Green on Tuesday night that Chuks Aneke was close a return, so you can imagine the disappointment when he was once again missing from the bench at the very least - In many respects it would be wise to ease the attacker back into the team, but with limited options up front its hindering our own ability to turn draws into wins ourselves.
Elsewhere and Ryan Inniss made a prompt return from injury which kept him out of the trip to Bolton... Only to now miss the trip to Fleetwood having received a needless second yellow card in the closing stages of Tuesday nights match - Sean Clare on the other hand needs just the one booking before reaching his one match suspension, contrary to believe, one booking came in the cup so the Right-Back isn't yet at the mentioned limited.
Scott Fraser could return, given the first of his child on Monday.
Wollacott
Clare - Lavelle - Inniss - Clayden
Morgan - Dobson - Fraser
Rak-Sakyi - Stockley - Kirk
Substitutes Bench: MacGillivray - Chin - Thomas - Payne - McGrandles - Leaburn - Blackett-Taylor
In terms of reunions, we'll potentially have an opportunity to see Brendan Wiredu (V863) in a Fleetwood shirt this weekend, the former Academy graduate made the return to League One this summer signing from Colchester United, he appeared in the first five games this season, but hasn't played since.
Prediction
Nice and brief this week... Charlton to return to SE7 once again frustrated, chances unsurprisingly missed by both teams playing out a goalless draw.
Comments
I think we’ll win. 1-2, Fraser (followed by cradle celebration) and Leaburn.
Due to being in Nottingham, this will be the first game Charlton have played at Fleetwood (other than during lockdown) that I have missed. We won this fixture under Adkins last season, a slightly sour win as it delayed his sacking by a few weeks...
Clare - Lavelle - EOC - Chin
Payne - Dobson - Fraser
JRS - Leaburn - Kirk
1-1 Draw with Rak-Sakyi scoring for us
We have been in this crap division for long enough now for nobody to be under any illusions.
If you are alluding to those of us that expect to be beating teams like Forest Green Rovers, then I would just say that no team in this League should be taken lightly and each demands that we prepare properly and play with maximum effort and determination.
But that is not to deny we should be beating teams like Forest Green Rovers if we have any ambition at all to challenge for promotion.
If the performance is shit it will be called out as shit, nothing to do with preconceived notions of the poorness of the League.
2-0 defeat.
Fleetwood are the League 1 draw specialists, they neither concede nor score many goals .. as said we have problems in attack and defence, the 5 against Plymouth distort the picture. i m o defence currently is a bigger problem than attack and this area needs more attention in the short term ..
Innis is banned, but anyway time to go to a 3 5 2 Thomas and Lavelle alongside O'Connell, Clare and Chin wingbacks, Dobson, Fraser (presuming he's over morning sickness) and Payne midfield and Stockley alongside Sakyi .. thing is though Garner seems to be a 4 3 3 obsessive so we'll probably be stuck with that and not the personnel to make it work
I'll be happy with a point from this, sad to say it, but our form and confidence don't give much hope of a win
Fleetwood Town 0 v CAFC 0
I don’t feel that at all now for this game which is worrying.
Hoping to see Fraser back, though considering how open we are when we lose the ball, not sure him and Payne in the same team is wise.
Clare, Lavell/Thomas, O'Connell, Clayden
Payne, Dobson, Fraser/Morgan
JRS, CBT, DJ
I can see Leaburn being introduced in the second half and going two up top if we're failing to play through the lines and Stockley is being isolated and dominated by two big central defenders, as has happened so often this season. It may not fit Sandgaard's blueprint for the beautiful game, but we need to take a pragmatic view and adapt to what's in front of us.
I know very little about Fleetwood but they're usually quite physical and I doubt that will be diluted under Scott Brown, although it's fair to say that the style adopted by managers doesn't always reflect that of their playing days.
A tough match in prospect and one where a draw would be a decent result, particularly given the recent dip in form. One thing's for sure - if we defend like we did on Tuesday, we'll get nothing.
You don't drop the best player from the match before & Fraser would come in as he's our top goal scorer & one of a select few who knows how to finish. McGrandels to miss out. Keep CBT & JRS on the "wings" but who plays in the middle can be selected by the toss of a coin, unless Aneke is fit.
Trying to be positive but the best I can do is go for same old same old .....
1-1