Charlton Athletic vs Bristol RoversSaturday 17th December 2022 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Sam AllisonIntroductionThe Addicks return to action this coming Saturday after having had the previous week off - Temperatures have dropped, with ice and snow in the region meaning that our last encounter at Morecambe was forced to be cancelled due to a frozen pitch - With no signs of an incoming Manager, it has given both Anthony Hayes and Jason Pearce more time to worth with the squad, ahead of the visit of Bristol Rovers this coming Saturday.
The OppositionName: Bristol Rovers (12th) | Manager: Joey BartonGround: Memorial StadiumPrevious League Result: Bristol Rovers 1-0 Port ValeWell its not like League Two isn't used to creating legendary moments, Jimmy Glass for one will always be a name linked with the fourth tier of English Football, and the exploits of Bristol Rovers will now surely join them - Going into the last game of the season; Bristol Rovers knew they needed to beat already relegated: Scunthorpe United by a hefty score line if they wanted to leap frog Northampton Town into the final automatic spot - Winning 7-0 of course meant promotion was confirmed in dramatic fashion, however the fact that Bristol Rovers hadn't been in the top three all season (until that point) really did epitomise why our visitors this Saturday are nicknamed the Pirates!!
It meant that Bristol Rovers made an instant return to League One having been relegated in 2020-21 - This season is once again proving to be a tight affair (the fact the Addicks sit seven points from the Play-Offs in 18th) but Bristol Rovers have made their own steady return sitting "comfortably" in mid-table - Just the one defeat since October has seen the Pirates climbing up the table and could themselves technically end Saturday level on points with 6th spot.
Aaron Collins is naturally the danger man for Bristol Rovers, having scored 11-goals this campaign yet could be absent this Saturday after being forced off in an EFL Trophy win over Milton Keynes in midweek - I would say stop the source and you stop the goals, however on an impressive note: Collins is also top of the assist charts for his club with seven this term.
Charlton Team NewsThere was good news reported this week with the impending return of both Miles Leaburn and Terrell Thomas - Neither will be in contention this Saturday, yet is a good sign of injuries dropping - Jayden Stockley of course will now be available again after suspension and should start tomorrow, the Striker has been lacking in front of goal this season, however his idiotic absence brought further imbalance in recent games, to a squad that often plays like a group of strangers!!
MacGillivray
Clare - Inniss - Lavelle - Sessegnon
Rak-Sakyi - Dobson - Fraser - Kirk
Jaiyesimi - Stockley
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer - Mitchell - Chin - Payne - Morgan - Blackett-Taylor - Aneke
Comments
Not hopeful for this but hopefully we sneak a 1-0 win or something.
I don’t want to go
As for the result: Who knows? Certainly not me. Can we scrape a win somehow? I hope so, but would take a draw.
Bristol R not won at the Valley since March 1958!
We will help all football people or clubs in trouble and provide the all support, points or goals you need.
Not won a game in six months? We can help!
Got a striker who hasn't scored a goal all season? We can help!
Maynard-brewer
Clare Mitchell, Ness, Sessegnon
Rak-Sayki, Campbell, Dobson, Fraser,
Stockley, Payne
The young defenders showed the old'uns how to play with commitment and no little skill an d composure@
(Bet it's postponed tho')
in the real world, I am always in favour of starting with the more talented walking wounded, infirm, knackered or just lazy and replacing them when necessary with the fitter but less talented rather than the other way round. Our injury list is still both long and long lasting, so we make do and mend yet again.
The Gas like us can score a few but concede too many, they've taken 8 points from their last five games compared to our 2 from five, they are in decent form, we are in the dumps. All points (not) to a home win
CAFC 2 v Bristol Rovers 0
.........Clare Inniss Mitchell
DJ Fraser Dobbo Morgan Sess
.......... JRS..... Stockley (C)
Macca, Lavelle, Chin, Payne, CBT, Kirk, Aneke
1-1