Charlton Athletic v Nottingham Forest | Wed 21 August | Match Preview, Predictions, News & Views

Charlton Athletic v Nottingham Forest
Wednesday 21 August | Kick-Off: 19:45pm
Referee: Oli Langford (West Midlands)


Introduction
So we are back at The Valley for our first midweek fixture in the league this season. How many of us predicted we would be sitting in the automatic promotion places going into our 4th league game? After another good, battling display on Saturday at Barnsley's home, Oakwell, we lost our 100% start but continue to be undefeated. To come from a goal down on two occasions to draw at a fellow promotion winner from last season, a team who haven’t lost at home in over 17 months, has to be considered as a positive result. However, now we face the second oldest professional football league club in the country, and one who are now in their 12th consecutive season in the Championship, Nottingham Forest. Live on Sky Sports Action.


Opposition
Manager: Sabri Lamouchi (49% win rate)
Stadium: City Ground
Nickname(s): Forest
Fun facts:
- Garibaldi, an Italian freedom fighter, played an indirect crucial role in the early years of Nottingham Forest. After the founding members bought 12 tasselled caps in ‘Garibaldi Red’, it was established as the club’s colours.

- Forest are one of only two clubs to have won the European Cup/Champions League who are not currently in their countries top domestic league - the other is Hamburger SV.

A positive start to the season has seen Forest comfortably win on Saturday at the City Ground against Birmingham City, 3-0, as well as picking up a valuable point against league leaders and promotion favourites, Leeds United - the only game they have played away from home so far this season. Forest would start the season against another promotion favourite, West Brom, and narrowly lost the game 2-1 after taking an early lead. To add to their start, they also won in the Carabao Cup a week ago against Fleetwood Town. A game where Forest made 9 changes and still came away with a win. It shows they have strength in depth amongst their ranks and a team we really can’t afford to take lightly.

Forest often play a 4-1-4-1 formation, with their previous line up being: Muric; Cash, Dawson, Worrall, Robinson; Watson; Lolley, Sow, Semedo, Ameobi; Grabban

It’s unlikely that after a 3-0 win Lamouchi will change the team. Therefore, focusing on their danger men are the two wide midfielders and Grabban up front. Lolley is arguably one of the best players in the division when he is on his game, a left footed midfielder who likes to cut in and cause havoc. Lolley scored the opener for Forest on Saturday and he is someone Purrington must keep a close eye on. Sammy Ameobi is a tricky winger with pace and plenty of skill. Whoever is at right back, likely to be Oshilaja, again will have to be careful. With the absence of Solly, we are going to have to protect our full backs whenever we can. One of their key strengths is getting the ball out wide and crossing; they have created so many chances doing this recently that they could’ve have scored enough goals to win 5 games. Up front, Lewis Grabban is a prolific scorer in the Championship, with 38 goals in his last 74 league appearances, which already includes 2 so far this season. Lockyer and Pearce are going to need to be on their game, otherwise they could have their work cut out. One other area which Forest seem to be very strong in is set-pieces. This is something that I am sure Jackson has carefully analysed and has ways of coping with them, as well as ways in which we could hurt them with our own. I actually have a feeling this game is going to be settled on a set-piece.

Some key areas of weakness for Forest is that they’re extremely slow in turnover of possession. They struggle to win the ball back quickly, something that I must say has improved for us greatly under Bowyer.  Forest also struggle in transition, not only do they find it difficult to win the ball back quickly at times, but in fact getting back into their defensive shape. They have been noticeably wide open at times at the back and getting in behind the defence is a tactic that could work well, especially on the counter attack. Someone like Leko could have a field day if we play it right.


Charlton Team News
With Solly’s absence due to concussion and the head injury protocol, we know there will be at least one change to the team that started against Barnsley. Oshilaja is expected to come in for the right back who reached the fantastic milestone of 300 appearances for the club on Saturday. With Page and Kayal still out, and Bowyer saying we are going to be patient with new signing Erhun Oztumer, the squad almost picks itself.

Possible further changes could in fact see Aneke come in for Leko after the his impressive cameo off the bench on Saturday. Whilst Sam Field will be looking to be involved in the squad again. However, I think Bowyer is fairly happy with how the team is performing at the moment and could well keep the same players in order to keep momentum. I expect us to start with wingers in almost the old inside forward positions, but to help out our full backs too. Later switching to a diamond midfield where we can, at times, look far more threatening.




Prediction
A very tough game against a side who are just beginning to find a bit of confidence and form. Not to mention, this is the Sky Sports pick for the main featured midweek game in the Championship. However, Forest averaged only 17% of all of their successful passes in the attacking third in comparison to 44% of our successful passes have been in the attacking third. Therefore, with our phenomenal home record in the league and our ability to get the ball closer to the opponents goal more often and effectively, I think it’ll continue for a little longer yet.