Charlton Athletic v Gillingham | Tuesday 15 March 2022 | Match Preview, Prediction, News & Views

Charlton Athletic v Gillingham
Tuesday 15 March | Kick-Off: 19:45
Live on Charlton TV (UK included)

Referee: Will Finnie - Previously officiated Charlton in our opening day 0-0 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

Introduction
Charlton lack discipline. Be it carrying out duties, making the same mistakes over and over again, the pathetic goals we concede, the lack of leaders, or the concerning, yet seemingly unmentioned, number of yellow cards dished out to our players this season being so far and away ahead of any other team in this division. Whether that's a lack of anticipation or players showing frustration, whatever the reasons, likely to be an accumulation of many, it shows a struggling and fragmented side that have performed miserably throughout a season so reminiscent to 2010/11 that it's quite frankly embarrassing. Despite the soundbites we hear, this team lack desire, passion, character, and fight, not to mention a glaring lack of quality. Are the players too friendly with the management team? Do they lack respect for what they're trying to achieve? Are there bad apples within making the whole lot rotten? This horrible season has posed many questions but one answer stands out from the rest. Too many are not good enough to represent Charlton if Charlton is a club that represents ambition. An overhaul is required, and a limp finish will do nothing but epitomise what has been, and undoubtedly will be, our worst ever season. But football never stops and there's another just around the corner. This time a team who looked doomed themselves until a change at the end of January means we now face a slightly rejuvenated side on Tuesday, Gillingham travel to The Valley for the 'A2 Derby' - exciting.

Opposition
Manager: Neil Harris | Stadium: The Scaffolding Stadium, AKA Priestfield Stadium
League Position: 21st | Nickname(s): The Gills
League Form: WLWDLD

Gillingham played away at Doncaster Rovers in a massive game at the bottom on Saturday, winning 1-0, their line up was:
Neil Harris was appointed manager of Gillingham on transfer deadline day and has picked up 14 points and 5 clean sheets from his 9 games in charge. In the same time, we have picked up 4 points and kept just the 1 clean sheet. Prior to his appointment, The Gills had won just once away from home all season, now they've won their last 2 away games, keeping clean sheets in both, and have overtaken us in the away league form table. However, staying up for Gillingham is still going to be a tough ask. With fixtures after Tuesday evening including Sheffield Wednesday, Accrington Stanley, Sunderland, Wycombe, Portsmouth, and Rotherham, they're going to have to pick up points against the sides vying for promotion to give themselves a chance.

The Gills do have a two or three players to call upon though. Jack Tucker is a centre back who has got a lot of attention from Charlton supporters over the last 12 months and will be out of contract in the summer. Whether he is a player we, or Martin Sandgaard, has identified we will find out, but he has been crucial to their success in shutting teams out of late. Behind the front two is Ben Thompson. A midfielder Harris will know well from his days at Millwall, he is a player who can be a talent in League One. Up front, Oliver scored an impressive total of 20 goals in all competitions last season but has struggled to have a similar impact this time round.

Charlton Team News
As the cut off point for a 2 game suspension for 10 yellow cards is 37 games, players like Dobson and Famewo (if involved) must avoid showing that lack of discipline if they wish to be available for selection for the rest of the season. Washington returned to the squad after a month out from a hamstring injury so you would anticipate he starts alongside Stockley for the first time in 15 games, at home to Cambridge United on 11th December. Blackett-Taylor, who was also out with a hamstring injury, travelled up north to Stanely but was not deemed fit enough to be included. You would hope he can make the 18 this time. In some really positive news, Forster-Caskey is set to play for the U23s on Tuesday at Watford, with the aim in getting 45-60 minutes, it will be a timely return to game time for the midfielder. Good luck, Jake. 

Although Stockley scored our first goal in an eternity, it was from the penalty spot meaning we have not scored from open play since the 7th minute against Wigan on 12th February. In fact, we haven't scored with our feet from open play since Washington's goal against AFC Wimbledon on 5th February. Something has to change and it must start now.

I believe a large number of the players either aren't good enough or don't want to be here enough and with that will mean huge changes in the summer. Maybe the less I say the better because we are all feeling it, and we all have our own opinions on the players and the situation and of course, much talk has been about the formation. But whatever happens from this point on, I hope we start to see a bit of true discipline and togetherness to be able to pick up the points that we need to at least restore a tiny little amount of pride.

Prediction
Harris will be right up for this knowing we are a damaged and wounded animal. We are weak with huge vulnerabilities. It's Jackson's job now to pick a team that care enough to want the 3 points. It's not going to be pretty and a worrying statistic is that we have won just once in a midweek fixture all season, at home to Ipswich. Maybe we need to play a team in blue, maybe that will be the case on Tuesday. I won't hold my breath, but we shall see.