Peterborough United vs Charlton AthleticSaturday 21st January 2023 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Andrew KitchenIntroductionCharlton travel to Peterborough this Saturday having once again found a slither of form... We've been in this position before this season, back in October we went on a similar run of form, winning three games on the trot before once again going winless in eight - Victory against Barnsley last Saturday wasn't pretty but it got the job done - If the Addicks want to continue looking upwards at the League table, then we must go into each game with the intent of winning each game we play between now and the end of the season.
The OppositionName: Peterborough United (7th) | Manager: Darren FergusonGround: London RoadPrevious League Result: Port Vale 0-2 Peterborough UnitedWhen there's something strange... and results aren't good... Who ya gonna call... GHOSTBUS-No wait... Darren Ferguson!!
There was much mirth around CharltonLife when Grant McCann received his P45 as a late, and unwanted, Christmas present in January - He became the second Manager in quick succession to be sacked after facing Charlton in recent games, when his side were only able to pick up a single point in SE7 on Boxing Day - Many believed that MacAnthony would turn to the man who resigned less than a year ago, when it looked as though he'd be unable to keep the Posh in the Championship.
Yup that man was, as already mentioned was Darren Ferguson - Into his fourth spell now at London Road, and tasked with guiding his side to the Championship once again... Yup you guessed it, he's already done it on the previous three occasions he's been in charge at Peterborough, his issue is keeping them in the second tier - Because of the FA Cup, Ferguson has only taken charge of one game in his familiar surroundings, a 2-0 win at Port Vale on Monday evening in front of the SKY cameras, leaving our opponents at the head of the Play-Off chasing pack
In terms of new faces that we wont have seen against us on Boxing Day; Will Norris (Goalkeeper on loan from Burnley), and Nathanael Ogbeta, dont laugh, a Left-Back (no doubt invoking cries of... Why didnt we sign him, come 5pm on Saturday) signed on loan from Swansea City - Both of whom could be involved this coming Saturday.
Charlton Team NewsLast Saturday saw a late interruption to the team line up, with Steven Sessegnon pulling out of the starting eleven at the last minute - It meant that Sean Clare started on the right as per usual, with Todd Kane moving across to Left-Back... However the new loan signing was unable to last even until Half-Time before becoming our latest injury.
It means that we potentially go into this game with no recognised Left-Back once again, Sessegnon did return to running on the grass this Thursday, yet a return to action may be too risky with more games ahead - One option for Dean Holden will be to deploy Lucas Ness at Left-Back, with Eoghan O'Connell making a return at the heart of the defence, a setup we saw against Barnsley last time out.
Maynard-Brewer
Clare - Inniss - O'Connell - Ness
Morgan - Dobson - Fraser
Rak-Sakyi - Leaburn - Campbell
Substitutes Bench: Harness - Lavelle - Payne - Henry - Blackett-Taylor - Stockley - Bonne
Comments
3-1 defeat
They played a 4-2-3-1 last game and BTs speed against 32 year old Thompson and Raks skill could push them back. They should find lots of space to play on Saturday.
Sess starting would not surprise me as it seems to be an injury that comes and goes. I am really hoping his knee is better!
If Sess is out it would be better to go 3 5 2 and bring DJ back as a wingback, he is better at it than CBT or Campbell.
If Sess is out then I would also switch to three at the back, drop Clare to the bench and play Leaburn and Bonne as the front two, with Stockley and Aneke (if he is fit enough) from the bench. I think Campbell did enough to justify another start. He also did okay when switched to wing back.
I think we will get at least a point from this.
Dean Holden had to learn quick and if he had read CL he would never have played a slow Thomas as LCB and Chin as a Left WB against Oxford where Robinson couldn't believe his luck. TBF with Sess yet again struggling to play games in a row someone had to play out of position but Thomas is a reserve player and Chin is young and should only ever play on the right
Kane coming a cropper on his debut against Barnsley in the first half is just typical of full backs that are cursed at Cafc.
* I know he's not Left footed like his brother Ryan but he can use his left foot which is better that most of our RB's who try to cover on that side over the last few years.