Swindon Town v Charlton Athletic
Saturday 5th September 2020 ... 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Brett Huxtable (Devon)
Introduction
As we enter our ninety ninth season in the Football League has there ever been such uncertainty surrounding this historic Football club? - Of course we've been minutes from worse outcomes yet once again the troubles that surround Charlton Athletic just refuse to go away... There is an opportunity to focus on matters on the pitch now though, this Saturday we travel to fellow League One side: Swindon Town for what'll no doubt be a brief spell in the League Cup.
It may be a competition little will care about, but its a chance to see and support this great club on the field (where matters should be taking place!!), surely thats whole point in this current fight for the club?
The Opposition
Name: Swindon Town | Manager: Richie Wellens
Last Season: League Two (Champions) - EFL Cup: First Round
The mess that COVID created last season means that our opening salvos in the 2020/21 season involve cup competitions, already we've seen an impressive display from the youngster in the EFL Trophy, now its a chance for the First Team to get some much needed minutes in what'll be the last chance before we travel to Crewe on the opening day of the League One campaign next weekend.
Swindon Town themselves returned to League One partly thanks to the points per game method which would see them only completing thirty six games, yet that decision wouldnt change their placement and with a game in hand on those around them its difficult to tell if they were going to fall away, with the second highest Goal Difference, you'd think not... Its meant though that whilst the Addicks were fighting for their Championship surival, our opponents on the other hand havent played a competitive game since March (a 2-0 defeat at home to Forest Green Rovers) so may well be more rusty compared to their South London opponents!!
Changes have been made to the squad with Jack Payne joining on a free transfer from Lincoln the pick of the bunch, the one time highly rated prospect at Southend has struggled in recent years and will be looking for a fresh start in Wiltshire!!
Charlton Team News
As always lets get the easy news out of the way first... Dillon Phillips so dependable last season will no doubt want a return to the Championship, the shot stopper has already signalled his intent to return to that level so wont appear in a Charlton shirt until a new contract has been signed. As a result we'll be seeing Ben Amos with Ashley Maynard-Brewer as the Goalkeeping options for the foreseeable future!!
Its in defence thats the overall concern; Deji Oshilaja and Ben Purrington are our sole options at the back at present what with Jason Pearce now out for six weeks - It means that Darren Pratley will surely start at the back with George Lapslie continuing to show his versatility at Right-Back... Further forward and there will be hopes that Alex Gilbey will earn his first start in Charlton colours, the signing from Milton Keynes Dons was absent from our pre-season friendly in Surrey last weekend due to stomach problems!!
Amos
Lapslie | Oshilaja | Pratley | Doughty
Gilbey | Forster-Caskey | Morgan
Oztumer
Bonne | Davison
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer | Vennings | Dempsey
Prediction
Lee Bowyer has already admitted that this particular fixture will be used as nothing more than a Pre-Season friendly and with our depleted squad / transfer embargo its the wisest approach to take - Cup competitions this season are nothing more than a distraction sadly and should be removed from what'll become a congested calendar as quickly as possible... A win may well boost morale but a winnable fixture against Crewe Alexandra next weekend should remain the ultimate focus on the pitch!!
Comments
Amos
Lapslie Oshilaja Pratley Doughty
Gilbey Forster-Caskey Morgan
Oztumer
Bonne Davison
Importantly, we must avoid any more injuries at this early stage of proceedings.
1-2 Bonne, Oztumer
Thanks Johnnybev1987 for pointing out the date too
Using this game as a warm up for my previews as well
Excellent preview, especially in difficult circumstances with little to go on, the little squad we have, and that it is of course a cup game first up.
Look forward to sharing these with you again this season.
As it’s our final pre-season friendly, in Bow’s eyes, I would expect him to go with what they’ve been working on ahead of next week. As I haven’t watched any of the games before now, I am going to have a guess.
Lapslie Oshilaja Pratley(C) Purrington
Doughty Forster-Caskey Morgan
Oztumer
Bonne Davison
Maynard-Brewer, Barker, Dempsey, Gilbey, Henry, Aneke
Swindon Town 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Bonne
(2-4 Pens)
*Edited due to players on international duty*
You will soon be up to speed.
I'm pretty certain that with our squad being as small as it is Bowyer will field a weakened team and save a few of our senior players foe next Saturday when the league starts.
Despite this I reckon we will win.
2.1 the mighty Addicks.
What's wrong with Brett
"Fuck it that bench'll do"
No more fucking round pegs in square holes.
Edit: just realised international duty.