Charlton Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers | Thursday 15th May 2025 | Play-Off Semi-Final | Match Preview

Charlton Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers
Thursday 15 May 2025 | Kick-Off: 20:00

Referee: Dean Whitestone - previously officiated a Charlton match at home to Portsmouth way back in October 2022 where we won 3-0

Introduction
Games come with different pressures, some hold different magnitudes that simply cannot be replicated, but few come bigger in club football than what awaits at The Valley on Thursday evening.

A draw at Adams Park on Sunday means we just need to win a game at home to get to the final. Sounds simple, and in many ways it is. Our home form this season has been excellent; especially since the turn of the year, but the play-offs are different and what we all know by now is drama is guaranteed. Nerves too.

With the home ends sold out, The Valley will be rocking. Let's hope that by 10pm, the dream of another trip to Wembley at the end of May becomes a reality. 

Opposition
Manager: Mike Dodds
Stadium: Adams Park
Nickname(s): The Chairboys
Fun fact: The nickname of the Chairboys stems from High Wycombe's historical association with the furniture-making industry. The club was founded in 1887 by a group of young furniture trade workers.

Wycombe lined up in the first leg differently to how they did against us in that 4-0 win on Easter Monday. Their team on Sunday evening was:

The game at Adams Park was the least kind to the eye across all 6 opening play-off games. Over 100 aerial duals, constant fouls, some unsporting behaviour, and a whole lot of aggression. It wasn't until the introduction of Small and Anderson that we started to look capable of taking a lead back to The Valley, and we so nearly did. Near-post-Norris pulled off a couple of vital stops to deny Godden and then Docherty from scoring. With a few more minutes, we might have grabbed a winner.

Kone, who won both League One player and young player of the season, continued his goal drought and nearly saw red in the process. Nathan Jones has remained calm throughout, showing his leadership to the group as we look to navigate our way back to the second tier. He refused to be drawn into discussions around the controversial challenge on Ramsay in the first half, but it was clear to most that he was lucky to escape further punishment.

Wycombe are a big, physical side and did well to disrupt our rhythm. Credit to both teams where the game could be described as a tactical arm-wrestle who cancelled each other out that earned both a clean sheet. A player not mentioned by many apart from some Chairboys supporters is Xavier Simons. Highly rated, the midfielder on-loan from Hull City improved in the second half thanks to a tactical switch at half-time from Dodds to bring him higher up the pitch. Additionally, we know we need to continue to keep Kone quiet and Edwards seemed to do a good job with Onyedinma too.

What I found interesting is that the longer the game wore on, the bigger the gap in fitness it seemed between the two sides. I just don't envision Wycombe being able to maintain that level of physicality and aggression throughout the game on Thursday.  

Charlton Team News
Jones, Berry and Small returned to the squad on Sunday with the former two starting, getting much closer to our strongest team. It would be fair to assume that with the second leg at home, we will see Small return to the starting XI with Watson dropping to the bench. Small brings a completely different dynamic to the side, and this not only helps our attacking threats, but creates balance, space for others, and his pace and power is a real asset for this level. It's no surprise to me that when Small starts and plays at least 60 minutes, his own personal PPG is the highest amongst the whole squad. A line up with Small on the right, Berry as a 10, and TC floating between the wide position and a second striker means we invariably win most of our games.

Also returning is Chuks Aneke, whose physical presence was missed in the first leg. The striker was wrongfully dismissed on Easter Monday but he has now served his ban and will come back into the squad on Thursday. If Wycombe adopt a similar combative approach, he may be just what we need.

I don't expect many changes at all, but I do expect Nathan Jones to name what is (in my opinion at least) our best starting XI.

Hylton is likely to be on the bench instead of Mbick due to the magnitude of the game and his experience could be vital in the closing stages. It's things like this why he was brought into the club.




Prediction
A fiery encounter at The Valley, but one where the team in red come out on top. If we take the lead, the roof will come off and the vulnerabilities we saw of Wycombe in recent weeks will flood back in. I expect TC to have more space and enjoy himself, and this could be key in our quest for securing that place in the final on Sunday 25th. Personally, I can't wait and I hope we all play our part in making The Valley as loud and fierce as it's ever been.