Bristol Rovers vs Charlton AthleticGood Friday @ 3pmReferee: Simon MatherIntroductionThere were quite remarkable scenes at the Valley last Saturday, with the Addicks running out 6-0 winners over fellow mid-table side: Shrewsbury Town... Yes you read that correctly, Charlton only went and scored SIX times in a match at the Valley for the first time since the 70s - We travel to Bristol Rovers for the first of our Easter Holidays, the players will be looking to carry both that performance, and their form into the remaining fixtures this term... and prove this season hasnt just been a one off.
The OppositionName: Bristol Rovers (15th) | Manager: Joey BartonGround: Memorial StadiumPrevious League Result: Bristol Rovers 0-2 PortsmouthThe Pirates naturally returned to League One in perhaps the most dramatic of fashions last season - Yet like Charlton have gone about their campaign this season in quiet fashion, never once have they really looked like relegation strugglers, whilst at the same time they've never really like achieving anything other than mid-table - I imagine that has suited Bristol Rovers fans quite nicely, especially after dropping into League Two for a season back in 2019-20.
Overall their form hasn't been overly special of late... The Pirates welcomed back to back wins along with the New Year, however they've picked up just the two wins since, once in February, the other in March - Postponements against Shrewsbury and Plymouth mean they come into this match having not played since the 18th March, and will either be fresher than the Addicks or will be lacking match fitness... Although I guess that'll depend on the result, with Charlton currently undefeated at the Memorial in their last five visits to the West Country.
Charlton Team NewsNaturally Corey Blackett-Taylor | Chuks Aneke | Lucas Ness will be absent from the squad this coming Friday, but apart from that there are few injury concerns as we approach the end of the season - Mandela Egbo continues to wait for more First Team minutes having made an early and unexpected return, whilst Todd Kane will be approaching match contention soon having made his comeback in the London Senior Cup on Tuesday night.
I guess a 6-0 win over Shrewsbury means that we need to implement very few changes to a winning squad - Macauley Bonne may be given an opportunity from the start, after finally grabbing his first goal last Saturday, whilst there are continued calls for Aaron Henry to be given further opportunity from the start.
Maynard-Brewer
Clare - Hector - Inniss - Thomas
Morgan - Dobson - Fraser
Rak-Sakyi - Leaburn - Campbell
Substitutes Bench: Wollacott - Mitchell - Sessegnon - Payne - Henry - Bonne - Kanu
Comments
0-6 (Bonne, 12, 34, 36, 54, 72, 90+14)
Let's hope we can avoid any play-off or relegation candidates until the end of the season.
1-2
2-2 (Fraser and Leaburn)
again this could be a very good drawer depends how Rovers react after not playing for 3 weeks
Always find Deans interviews interesting, and he is sounding realistic whilst confident of a good game, with a sold out away end cheering us on, another three point are there for the taking, sounds like Clare will be missing...
Otherwise I don't see why we would make any changes. With 5 subs available, you can easily starting resting players when we're 4-0 again !
Charlton will take to the field in a nonchalant mood and then proceed to lose 1 0.
3-1 win to the mighty CAFC Come On You Reds