MATCH PREVIEW: Watford vs Charlton Athletic - Easter Monday - 3pm Kick-Off
Watford vs Charlton Athletic
Easter Monday - 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Introduction
It was not to be a very Good Friday for the Addicks last time out, we once again conceded an early opener which meant we were once again forced to chase the game. Despite another spirited effort, Bristol City still managed to head back to the West Country with all three points, with Charlton reminded that the job of survival is not complete... Not just yet.
The Opposition
Name: Watford (9th) - Manager: Ed Still
Ground: Vicarage Road
Previous League Result: QPR 3-1 Watford
This coming Monday the Addicks make the short trip round the M25 for one of the few "London Derbies" this season, and they'll be doing so looking to resurrection their form. Thankfully its the time of the year for that sort of thing, but Watford will also be looking for an improvement, having lost 3-1 in West London on Friday afternoon.
That defeat against Queens Park Rangers probably puts an end to any faint hopes of Watford reaching the Play-Offs, even if they are still only eight points away from the top six. It also no doubt creates a bit of uncertainty for current Manager: Ed Still, and whether he'll be in charge for the 2026/27 season, but then again this is Watford, he might not even be in charge come Monday - In all serious its been an impressive start for the less known: Still Brother (Will Still started the season in charge of Southampton); Ed became the third Watford Manager of the campaign in mid-February, picking up three wins, three draws, and three defeats in his nine games so far.
The one downside is that Watford have only lost back to back games on one occasion this season, that coming back in September, and Watford have followed up all but three of their defeats with a win, so we should expect a response from them on Monday afternoon. The last time we recorded the double over Watford was back in 1995/96, having already beaten them at the Valley, back on the opening day of the season, courtesy of a late Harvey Knibbs winner.
In terms of head2head and the Addicks have 24-wins to Watford's 18-wins in the League, our last win in Hertfordshire coming on New Years Day in 2013, a dramatic 3-4 win which would ultimately help guide us to ninth place, goals coming from Yann Kermorgant, Johnnie Jackson and a helpful own goal.
Charlton Team News
The team that lined up against Bristol City on Good Friday was pretty predictable, with just one of the Jamaican duo involved in the starting eleven after a long away day trip over to Mexico - Tyreece Campbell on the other hand made an appearance from the 64th minute having not had time to train since returning to South East England, however you'd expect the Winger to make a return to the team, given recent line-ups from Nathan Jones.
Elsewhere... We saw Harvey Knibbs and Matty Godden returning to the team, with the latter appearing on the bench, with the amount of time they've been out, you'd expect see a few more cameos from the bench before they're ready to play longer than 30-minutes... If there are any other changes then we'll perhaps see Conor Coady returning to the team in place of Conor Coventry, the Wrexham loanee hasn't been seen since our victory on Teesside, with the Addicks picking up just a solitary point since then.
Kaminski
Ramsay - Jones - Bell
Clarke - Coady - Docherty - Campbell
Carey
Dykes - Kelman
Substitutes: Mannion - Gillesphey - Chambers - Fevrier - Fullah - Godden - Knibbs - Costello - Coventry
Comments
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Our last league game at Vicarage Road was that a hammering by five goals to nil back in January 2015 with Guy Luzon unable to take charge after his Work Permit had not come through so 24 hours before the game Ben Roberts and Damien Matthew were in temporary charge
Then the infamous train journey back to Euston with Meire after the game and then 6 years later an apology to a Charlton fan made by Thomas Sandgaard at AFC Wimbledon in Charlton TV before that game after comments made about said fan on commentary that afternoon at Vicarage Road
Tensions were also running high in the away end that afternoon and a lot of fans left at halftime with us 3 down with other fans having heated debates with each other during the second half
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3 points coming home with us I tell ya...could be 0-1 or 3-4, makes no difference just win Charlton, and here's an idea...start when the whistle goes, not 20 f'in minutes later...🤦♂️
...Oh and by the way, great preview as per FA5 -
We will bore them to defeat. 1-0 to the addicks1
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Interesting point about Coady - 1 point from 9 since he came out of the team. He’s a great organiser, must be that?
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Is anyone driving to this coming through Ashford or driving near/through Ashford.
Looking to car pool is all, happy to chip in with petrol.1 -
Valley Express...😉Braziliance said:Is anyone driving to this coming through Ashford or driving near/through Ashford.
Looking to car pool is all, happy to chip in with petrol.0 -
I think we'll pick something up from this game, hopefully all three.1
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Would take a point now... A win would be amazing but to do either there needs to be player and tactical changes. Not sure who but Coady should start ahead if Cov or Doc... Up front who knows, Godden can't manage more than 20 mins so I imagine Dykes and Kelman.
Just need, as Eastterace said above to start from the first minute and we may have a chance.
Not easy this one but again who thought we'd beat Middlesbrough? That's our Charlton surprising us since 1905.2 -
3-0 defeat and the gap is down to 5 points.3
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A point or three would be a massive relief. Hopefully we get a 'reaction' from the Bristol game. Manager and players alike must have reflected that a 6/10 performance might be ok in September, but at this time of the season it is not on.
If things don't pan out in our favour on the day, the gap to 3rd bottom could well be down to 5 points - so heads cannot drop, must be careful with the goal difference.
Prior to our kick off, the Portsmouth v Oxford match will have been completed.7 -
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Mannion
Ramsey, Jones, Bell
Clarke ( reluctantly) , Coady, JRC, Carey, Chambers (reluntantly)
Dykes , Godden.
hoof it and hope for the best .
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A must win2
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Friday was disappointing but not personally buying into the doom and gloom. We're still a good side capable of getting a result, especially with Watford dropping and off and having nothing to play for.
1-1, Godden from the bench to make up for the miss3 -
First thing Andrew Kitchen as ref not a great start .. tough game at most a draw
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Same ref we had at Wembley.RonnieMoore said:First thing Andrew Kitchen as ref not a great start .. tough game at most a draw
Try harder12 -
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Did I miss any news regarding why Leaburn wasn’t included in the 18 on Friday?0
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20 mins would be an improvement on only starting playing when the second half begins.eastterrace6168 said:3 points coming home with us I tell ya...could be 0-1 or 3-4, makes no difference just win Charlton, and here's an idea...start when the whistle goes, not 20 f'in minutes later...🤦♂️
...Oh and by the way, great preview as per FA0 -
I would dispute a good side. I have seen all games at the Valley this season and all the sides bar Oxford have played better football than us. Our strengths are the negative parts of the game, closing down remaining tight at the back. We have very little creativity. When we do get a chance we are not clinical enough. Just look at Fridays game Campbell and Godden had clear cut chances to win that game. But like other games we did not take them. The total number of goals scored is appalling. Our top scorer is a midfielder.PeaksAndValleys said:Friday was disappointing but not personally buying into the doom and gloom. We're still a good side capable of getting a result, especially with Watford dropping and off and having nothing to play for.
1-1, Godden from the bench to make up for the miss5 -
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0
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Horrible game at home against Brizzle and I share some of the pessimism about this match........
BUT.....we are Charlton.
How many times have we given away stupid precious points at home and then gone away and performed like heroes?
Will take a draw all day long but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see us somehow nick all three?
We are Charlton - it's what we do!
0-1 Godden again ole ole 80th minute.5 -
An ankle knock apparentlyrobinofottershaw said:Did I miss any news regarding why Leaburn wasn’t included in the 18 on Friday?1 -
I'm not going to this one so an away win. Nailed on. 1-0 nail biter again. Although they all are for Jones I suppose.2
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I can see Nathan making a few changes for this one, although I’ve got no real idea as to how Watford play, having only seen them on the opening day in their then manager’s first game. Being Watford, of course, they’re now on their third manager of the season.
The midfield needs a shake up, although Nathan’s selections are usually conservative, so I can’t see more than 1 or 2 changes, especially going into a difficult away game. Coady may come in for Coventry and there might even be a chance of Knibbs starting in place of Carey, with Sonny perhaps being introduced from the bench in the second half. Fullah’s another possibility in an advanced role. I expect we might not see too much of the ball, in which case, the Doc is likely to retain his place, although it’s a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy if he starts. JRC has some good moments on the ball but he is terribly slow over the ground.
With Chambers offering nothing going forward in recent weeks, the current formation isn’t working for us but there’s no way that Nathan will change it now.I wonder if he might start Godden up top with Dykes, with TC to come on later in the game. We need a bit of guile up there.The other decision is in goal. It would feel harsh to drop Mannion after his clanger, although if Watford are not predominantly a side who rely on aerial threats, maybe Kaminski will get the nod because of his shot-stopping abilities.I’d be well pleased with a point, as we creep - or rather, stagger - towards the 50 mark.1 -
And we had him this season poorJohnnyH2 said:
Same ref we had at Wembley.RonnieMoore said:First thing Andrew Kitchen as ref not a great start .. tough game at most a draw
Try harder0 -
Blucher said:I can see Nathan making a few changes for this one, although I’ve got no real idea as to how Watford play, having only seen them on the opening day in their then manager’s first game. Being Watford, of course, they’re now on their third manager of the season.
The midfield needs a shake up, although Nathan’s selections are usually conservative, so I can’t see more than 1 or 2 changes, especially going into a difficult away game. Coady may come in for Coventry and there might even be a chance of Knibbs starting in place of Carey, with Sonny perhaps being introduced from the bench in the second half. Fullah’s another possibility in an advanced role. I expect we might not see too much of the ball, in which case, the Doc is likely to retain his place, although it’s a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy if he starts. JRC has some good moments on the ball but he is terribly slow over the ground.
With Chambers offering nothing going forward in recent weeks, the current formation isn’t working for us but there’s no way that Nathan will change it now.I wonder if he might start Godden up top with Dykes, with TC to come on later in the game. We need a bit of guile up there.The other decision is in goal. It would feel harsh to drop Mannion after his clanger, although if Watford are not predominantly a side who rely on aerial threats, maybe Kaminski will get the nod because of his shot-stopping abilities.I’d be well pleased with a point, as we creep - or rather, stagger - towards the 50 mark.
Kaminski 100% has to start and Campbell not included ..0 -
I came across this link quite by chance. Someone has reproduced the entire programme for Watford v Charlton on Boxing Day 1969. My dad took me on the Lewis Jr coach and it was my first ever Charlton away game. The two things I distinctly remember about were the large bales of hay around the dog track/pitch and Charlton conceding a very late equaliser.
https://oldwatford.com/1969/12/26/26th-december-1969-division-two-watford-1-charlton-athletic-1/#:~:text=26th%20December%201969%2D%20Division%20Two,Charlton%20Athletic%201%20%7C%20OLD%20WATFORD
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Kaminski
Clarke Ramsey Jones Bell
Coady Carey
Fullah. Knibbs. Campbell
Dykes
fed up with Jones current formation, know there’s not a chance in hell of this happening, would like to see the 4-2-3-1 formation given a go, I believe they finished the game utilising this formation.1 -
Agree changes of a moire offensive nature should be made but not sure we start with them of change at half time. One player who should get more time is Fevrier: his impact on Friday was considerable: he can run at defenders and tackle back. Also Ibbi Fullah and Rankin-Costello should also get gane time as the former can change the game through unique unpredictability and the latter adds balance and can pass the ball forward!!!0
