Crawley Town v Charlton Athletic
Tuesday 11th March 2025
Kick-Off: 19:45
Live on Sky Sports +
Referee
Matthew Russell - Never officiated a Charlton game before but was one of the assistants in that crazy 4-4 draw at home to Ipswich a couple of seasons ago.
Introduction
This is my third preview against Crawley Town this season and yet we've only played them the once, so far, I feel like I have run out of things to say! Since that night at the beginning of December, Charlton's form has been automatic promotion worthy. A night where Nathan Jones still looks back and mentions how hurt he was from the 'catastrophic' reaction, but a night where not a single Charlton fan, even the most optimistic, would have anticipated what was to come... 18 league games later has seen just 2 defeats and 10 cleans sheets. The record specifically is won 11, drawn 5, lost 2, scored 28, conceded 12 equating in a points tally of 36. A win on Tuesday night (our game in hand on some) will put us 4th, and a minimum of 5 points off 2nd with 10 games to go. The hunt is on.
Opposition
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Manager: Rob Elliot
Nickname(s): The Red Devils
League Form: DLLLDD
Previous result: A 1-1 draw at home to Reading. Their line up was:
Wollacott
Mullarkey - Barker - Radcliffe
Adeyemo - Watson - Fraser - Anderson - Doyle
Swan
John-Jules
Another team, just like Leyton Orient, where former Charlton players and connections are everywhere. Wollacott in goal, Barker in defence, Quitirna and Louie Watson in midfield and the goalscorer for Crawley on Saturday, Pan Camara, have all represented the Addicks in some form in recent years. Add to this, Rob Elliot is their manager having been appointed from Gateshead in the summer. It's clear many of them are going to be right up for it on Tuesday evening, looking to prove a point, it's important we don't take our foot off the gas here. Elliot said following their draw on Saturday, "Charlton are an exceptional team with a brilliant manager and it will probably be our toughest game of the season", emphasising how important this fixture is for them as well as us.
One player I would like to mention away from the Charlton connections is Kamari Doyle. The Brighton midfielder previously spent time on loan at Exeter this season but he moved to Crawley on loan in the January window following a lack of game time. In his 10 games for his new club, he's scored 3 and assisted 3, arguably been their best player for the last couple of months. He's one to watch. On the flip side, Crawley lost one of their better players in January, Ronan Darcy signed for Wigan Athletic, our next opponents at The Valley on Saturday, we'll likely see him then instead.
After their win at The Valley in December, a game where Elliot had no expectations of picking up a result, Crawley have won just twice, ensuring they sit 3rd from bottom, just a single point above bottom of the league. When looking specifically at records, as I have done in the introduction, The Red Devils record is actually the complete opposite to ours since that game in 2024. They've won 2, drawn 5, lost 11, scored 20, conceded 36. One clean sheet kept in that time.
Charlton Team News
The Addicks picked up strong point on the road at Stockport County, one of the most difficult places to go, and will be looking to get back on the winning trail and make up for that result and performance back in December with a convincing one here. It's been a tough week but to come away with 7 points and the only goal we have conceded being a wonder strike from well outside the box, it's really pleasing.
The game on Saturday was very physical, there's no doubt there'll be bumps and bruises from that one, so it'll be interesting to see if changes are made. Leaburn came in for Godden for the only change to the starting eleven, but with the way Crawley like to play football, I would hope to see Godden return as his cleverness and runs could be key in hurting them. There remains lots of talk for Gilbert to get his first start whilst Berry continues to get the nod. This is another one I am keen to see what happens as I feel Gilbert's passing ability might actually suit this fixture more, we shall see.
I have mentioned the reverse fixture at The Valley a lot, but one thing is for sure, we are only likely to see a maximum of 4 players who started that night, also start on Tuesday. The team, and in fact the squad, will look very different.
Mannion
Ramsay - Jones - Gillesphey - Edwards
Coventry - Docherty
Small - Berry - TC
Godden
Reid, McIntyre, Watson, Anderson, Gilbert, Leaburn, Aneke
Crawley Town 0-3 Charlton Athletic
Godden
TC
Docherty
Comments
I really hope I still ‘own this package’ for the game tomorrow, but I can’t be sure I won’t have to pay again.
The defence has been strong in recent weeks and even chipped in with a few goals.
I expect another clean sheet tomorrow evening, us to score two, climb to fourth and Con Cov manages to get through yet another match un-carded.
Absolutely a must win game and it's possible we could be 5 points off 2nd if Wrexham lose.
Looking forward to a convincing win.
again I think this squad has the bit between their teeth and won’t slip up. I would give berry a rest and start Gilbert personally as it would be good to see what he can do when starting a game and we should have enough to win when making the change.
1-3 Addicks
Also, it must be Godden back in for Leaburn.
As a side note I hope Rob Elliott has a long and successful career in management. I met him before his playing career took off and he's a thoroughly decent lad
I'm going to go Crawley 0-1 Charlton
Comfortable but not easy
There's no point weakening the side on an ifs-buts-maybe basis. If he was carrying a knock that would be a different matter because you could be facing a longer-term absence if the injury was aggravated but right now we need our best players on the pitch because a slip up could be seriously damaging to any promotion hopes we have.
A successful team should not be shaken up unnecessarily particularly with a good bench and our great record in the closing stages of games. Six points this week will see us challenging for 2nd, such a great position to be in.