Charlton Athletic vs Mansfield TownSaturday 14th December 2024 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Benjamin SpeedieIntroductionGroundhog Day appears to be returning as a Charlton supporter, because at the moment it doesnt matter whether we start the season on a high, or a low... We'll still get to the cold months, and it wont just be the temperature thats plummeting, but our own form too - Early wins against Bolton, and Birmingham, made us think we had the slightest bit of hope, but we've just one win the League since the latter, and that came away from the Valley... where our home form is supposedly stronger.
It leaves us wondering how on earth we're still 12th... But at least we've still got the Cups
The OppositionName: Mansfield Town (10th) - Manager: Nigel CloughGround: Field MillPrevious League Result: The latest side to visit the Valley, and so smelling blood are newly promoted; Mansfield Town
I guess the best place to start with Mansfield is by covering their recent decades, Charlton have of course faced their opponents on two occasions in recent seasons, albeit those games came in the FA Cup in 2018-19 when we were forced to a replay, with the Addicks eventually running out 5-0 winners - However there has only been one league season where these two sides have met; back in 1977-78, which resulted in a 2-2 draw at the Valley on that occasion... Mansfield themselves are back at this level for the first time since 2002-03, its been a rough couple of years since then for their fans, which included five years in the Conference
The Stags returned to League One last summer by finishing third behind Stockport and Wrexham, and will be hoping that Lee Gregory (formerly of Millwall), can continue providing the goals (seven in the League so far) that saw them start this season so strongly; Will Evans with six goals to his name is another to be wary of and is someone who has already previously found the net against the Addicks (I mean... Who hasn't?), when we lost 3-1 at Newport County in the League Cup last season.
Our opponents come into this fixture on their own bad run of form, under Clough they've got a Manager who knows this Division, and early season form had them fighting for the Play-Offs; the Stags though aren't fairing much better and sit just two places, and a point ahead of the Addicks, and have just a point to show for themselves since the end of October - This match has all the makings of two short blokes fighting over the height restrictions at an closed Theme Park!!
Charlton Team NewsWe seem at the moment like we dont even know our best eleven anymore, which in turn isn't helping to create any confidence or consistency amongst the side - Tuesday night saw an opportunity to instil the former amongst the squad, with an EFL Trophy clash against Leyton Orient, yet it was the fringe players; Tayo Edun and Josh Laqeretabua that impressed the most that particular evening - Kaheim Dixon was another given the opportunity in the First Team, having found his Midas touch in front of goal for the U21s, yet clearly needs longer to adjust to English Football, before returning to the First Team.
Elsewhere and Miles Leaburn appears to be struggling to find the pre-injury form that previously linked him with higher and better options, yet we do now have the returning Daniel Kanu who scored his first goal of the season recently against Crawley Town, and could be an option to pair alongside Matty Godden - In defence we at least have Lloyd Jones to call upon once more, whilst Dan Potts provided extra stability in the back line on Tuesday night, so we could we opt for back three tomorrow afternoon.
Maynard-Brewer
A.Mitchell - Jones - Potts
Laqeretabua - Docherty - Taylor - Edwards
Berry
Kanu - Godden
Substitutes Bench: Gillesphey - Edmonds-Green - A.Campbell - Edun - T.Campbell - Ahadme - Leaburn
Comments
- This will be just the third league meeting between Charlton Athletic and Mansfield Town and the first match between the pair since the Addicks won 3-0 in April 1978.
- Mansfield Town have won just two of their last 10 away Football League games against sides from London (D3 L5), keeping just two clean sheets across that time.
- At home in League One this season, Charlton have faced chances from their opponents worth just 5.2 xG in total, the lowest such tally in the competition.
- Mansfield have lost each of their last five league games in succession and could lose six in a row for the first time since November 2013.
https://www.efl.com/news/2024/december/13/sky-bet-league-one--pre-match-stat-pack/4-0 Charlton. Gasman hattrick with the doc scoring a 80 yard screamer.
SHOULD be a win for us although Jones N still seems to have no idea of his best starters or formation, however (rare benefit of the doubt given to the Welsh Worrier) he is dealing with a lot of injuries to important players.
Home win after yet another hard slog at the Valley
Please Lord, in the name of all that is Holy I beseech thee: make it stop!
Do make sure you snivel about it on the Post Match thread though.
I'll make the 270-mile, 6½ hour round trip - like I do (almost) every home game - and make my usual contributions to the match thread ... I'll probably leave the post-match thread because by the time I've got home I've had enough.
None of that stops me whinging like hell about the torture we have to go through watching this crap under Jones.
I’d also start Anderson over Berry, he isn’t good but we play better with him on the pitch just due to his energy. Him and Kanu should bring some of that front footed aggression that we need
4-3.
As for tomorrow you will not see a 4-3 win.
My guess 0-0 or 1-1 draw.
Just leave Nathan.
Your post was simply trying to make a humorous attempt at highlighting how poor the team have been playing recently. Silly me...