Charlton Athletic v SunderlandSunday 26th May 2019 ... 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)IntroductionHow do you compare a Play-Off Final to any game in a season...? - Quite simply you can't, we've seen how unpredictable the Play-Offs can be and with this being the 32nd year since their introduction am sure we'll see more drama over the entire Bank Holiday Weekend... At the end of the day though it is just another game, Bowyer will be telling his players its no different any other League games we've faced this season and to an extent he's right, this time though its not three points that’ll be the prize, for the winners its promotion to the Championship, for the losers its another year in the third tier...
Glory and a chance to enter the history books awaits, just who is going to seize the opportunity??
The OppositionName: Sunderland |
Manager: Jack Ross
Stadium: Stadium of Light
There is an ironic factor in this game that we not only face the same team from our last adventures at Wembley, yet in addition we find ourselves ending the season against the same opposition that we started against... the late 2-1 defeat that day was certainly difficult to take yet it was clear that the Mackems would challenge for promotion this season, whats surprising is the fact that Sunderland didn’t seal a top two spot - Yet despite ending in the dreaded fifth spot (the fewest Play-Off winners have come from this placing) our rivals will be dangerous and with the second meanest defence in the Play-Offs this season, will be difficult to even score against!!
But there is light at the end of the tunnel for Addicks fans (as am not one to miss out on a straw to clutch); Sunderland visit North London this Sunday knowing that Wembley is not a happy venue for them - Defeat in the CheckaTrade Trophy in March was their seventh consecutive defeat at the National Stadium (their last win coming in the 1973 FA Cup), they've lost all three previous Play-Off Finals (despite being promoted in 1990 due to Swindon's financial irregularities), whilst the Addicks have never lost a Play-Off Final, no records like those lasts forever... Sorry Mackems, it really doesn’t need to be this year!!
Charlton Team NewsIt appears we go into the final game of the season having everyone available, how Lee deals with a number of talented individuals who'll no doubt be either forced to remain on the bench or miss out completely is a position I’m glad I’m not in!!
Occasions like this can make even the greatest players freeze so its important to some extent that we start with some experience, both Chris Solly and Jason Pearce have been forced to wait for a starting berth of late so may come into the side… Jonny Williams, Lyle Taylor and Darren Pratley have all achieved promotion this way so their own pasts will be invaluable – Will Igor Vetokele be available though, that’s the main question, I guess we’ll have the answer come 2pm on Sunday, could this be a similar story (like the one John Robinson had in 1998) waiting to happen!!
Phillips
Solly | Bauer | Sarr | Purrington
Cullen | Bielik | Aribo
Williams
Taylor | Parker
Substitutes Bench: Maxwell | Dijksteel | Pearce | Pratley | Reeves | Lapslie | Vetokele
PredictionVery few of us get to put our mark on the history books before we leave this world... For most Footballers it’s the same story, but this Sunday those who take to the pitch have the opportunity to be remembered from generation to generation, like Shirtliff and Mendonca their names will be talked about for years to come – This team have defied nearly all fan expectation... Just one more effort is all that’s needed, and we can finally rest
Hopefully I'll return with the Previews during Pre-Season, please god let it be for the Championship!!
Comments
As a die hard Addick what else can I say other than I think we will win....somehow or another. To say or contemplate any other scenario is quite frankly unthinkable.
Having said that, we will need to find the form we showed prior to Friday night if that is to be the case.
To state the obvious, this is an immensely important game for both clubs. To lose will mean upheaval, uncertainty and probable major overhauls for either.
ME? .. I am an absolute bag of nerves, allied to a supreme confidence that we will win this thing. Having seen us play some dreadful stuff (especially Scunthorpe away) and some wonderful stuff (the last few games of the season excluding v Donny pt 2), on Sunday I expect some wonderful stuff and a win, albeit a hide behind the (pitchside ?) sofa style close finish. Sunderland have already lost at Wembley this season and this game will be second time unlucky for them.
This regular season Sunderland have both scored and conceded 7 goals more than us. The two league games were close run things, away they finished stronger, at home we did after a first half pounding. The Wembley game will be no different between two highly motivated sides.
It will need a strong referee as Sunderland like to put it about a bit in the first quarter in the hope that the referee will be lenient and allow them to soften up the opposition.
Will McGeady be fit for them ? .. He has been their main man all season, BUT ironically in the second play off game at Pompey he was injured and the Mackems midfield looked quicker and slicker as well as more solid without him. Whatever, our in form midfield will be too good for them as will Taylor prove more effective than Wyke or Grigg who will be too out of form and nervous to get any change from Sarr and Bauer.
We all need to hold our collective nerve, the team needs to play its usual rhythmic attacking football and we will be back in the Championship next season
CAFC 2 v Sunderland 1 .. come on you Addicksaaaaaaa !!!!!!!
With all the tension, despair and last minute jubilation trying to get a ticket, I'd clean forgot about all the actual football.
If they turn up without Aidan McGeady, I'll be overjoyed. He scored both their goals in their recent Wembley visit and netted his penalty in the shoot-out with aplomb. He swaggered around that day and was their stand-out player. No nerves showed with him.
The two matches Sunderland had without him against Portsmouth presented a competent outfit but certainly lacking a wow factor. Really hard to breakdown with Cattermole and Leadbitter protecting a solid defence that includes a very good left back in Oviedo who acts as a very good supply line to Charlie Wyke up front. Their keeper is a competent chap too.
Very happy to have Sunderland waiting for us in the final until we put in that worrying performance on Friday.
However, time to be upbeat and positive. If we bring our A-game to the table, I'll go 3-0 Charlton and over to you Roland.
Hopefully next year's previews will be in the championship.
As for the game itself I have absolutely no idea what to expect.
We were the in form team going into the playoffs and then put in a shocking performance at home to Doncaster.
Having said that Sunderland against Pompy was not to clever either.
I think it will be a case of who can control their nerves and not panic on the day.
Players like Solly Pearce and Pratley weather they start or not will at some point have an important part to play I'm sure.
As for Vetokele it's anybody's guess as to how fit he is.
Anyway here's hoping for the best.see you all at Wembley.
COYR.
To me Dillon, Bauer, Purr, Cullen, Bielik, Aribo and Taylor are certainties, the other 4 spaces have some sort of question mark about them
if i was to guess i would go 2-1 win, early goal by us and winner in the last 10. COYR
Looking to Sunday, I genuinely don't believe we will be better prepared for this game. Bowyer has turned boys in to men, average in to competitive. The fact that we are here is an incredible achievement. I hope the players can muster one final performance of the season to end it on a high.
With so much at stake I don't think it will be pretty, I for one will take a win in whatever format it comes. Come on Charlton, come the F@ck ON!!!
I am not at all nervous about this game because of the quality of footy we are playing.
Anfernee and Sarr are rock like.
Aribo is tricky
Lyle is lethal.
Dillon can pull a worldy save out the bag.
Our fans need need to stay positive and supportive especially if we go behind.
Away this season at Burton - they battered us. We were second best, but up popped Pearce at the end to add two points to the tally.
Come on Charlton, 35000+ are behind you until the final whistle.
Away days at Fulham, Brentford, QPR and the toolbox are on the horizon.
LMAO we scored 2 minutes in and that went well. I genuinely think we need to score around 20 minutes in, then 40-45 minutes in.
Prediction - 1-1 Full time , early Charlton goal around 10 minutes from Aribo or Taylor. Try to defend a goal lead for 80 minutes, with Sunderland late equaliser in last 5 minutes. Sunderland go close once or twice before final whistle
Nervy extra time with us under the cosh as Mackems have momentum from late goal, and they hit the woodwork twice.
Penalties - same as Friday, one each missed in first five, Dillon makes all important save for 6th or 7th penalty and is the hero of the hour/day/season/decade proving he should have had his chance one or two years earlier. Goes on to play for England.
Taylor to prod home in the first half of extra time to seal the deal
Certainly we were the team in form - until the shambles against Donny on Friday night. A tentative attitude and atrocious defending, Cullen included, must not be repeated at Wembley. But I fear that a squad that includes Morgan, Lapslie and a striker who can't score doesn't quite have the strength and ability to win on the biggest occasion.
I predict a weird symmetry. We lost 2-1 to Sunderland in the first game of the season, and I can see us losing 2-1 again to a late strike.
Agree with that line up, think we need the experience from the off and Morgan coming on from the bench will cause them more problems later in the game.
Gutted I can't be there but I'll be cheering on from my sofa Hanoi, I'm certain the crowd will get behind the boys.
One more step.. I'm praying we can make it!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SJHWGDkIxNM
If tickets arrive, transport works, and I am sitting with my family in Block 529 (bring your own oxygen) ten minutes before kick-off with the sun shining it will feel like a victory before a ball has been kicked.
Think we might just click and for once we can enjoy a straight-forward win.
3-3 after ET
Charlton win 11-10 on pens.
COYRS!!!