MATCH PREVIEW: Blackburn Rovers vs. Charlton Athletic - Sunday 4th January 2026: 3pm Kick-Off
Blackburn Rovers vs. Charlton Athletic
Sunday 4th January 2026 - 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: David Webb
Introduction
Our start to 2026 almost began in the best fashion possible, and against a team that should really have rolled over us given recent form. I guess though you've got to be one of the hardest people to ever please if you weren't happy with the effort shown from Charlton on New Years Day, something that has been lacking, and has made recent defeats a touch harder to accept. We'll take that solitary point though, a point that takes us slightly further from two of our rivals. Its important that we now build upon that.
The Opposition
Name: Blackburn Rovers (20th) - Manager: Valérien Ismaël
Ground: Ewood Park
Previous League Result: Blackburn 0-2 Wrexham
The fixture list over Christmas has not been kind to us, three away trips in four games, with four of the last five games coming against teams around us. Okay that was something the fixture computer could never anticipate, but this Sunday is another opportunity to put teams below us, and the bottom three... It will also be important for Charlton and Blackburn to avoid getting cut adrift by those teams directly above us, with a three point gap now opening between 18th and 20th.
Blackburn though come into this game off the back of another home defeat, and one against a fellow League One promoted side... Wrexham visited Ewood Park on New Years Day, and were rarely troubled by an injury hit home side... a 2-0 defeat was a fair outcome for a team using the match to celebrate their 150th Anniversary. It though was their first defeat in four games, and whilst they've only the solitary win in that run, a 2-0 victory over Millwall, they do seem to draw a lot of games of late... Five in their last eight.
Our opponents though will be looking to be the first team to avoid having the double completed over them, the Addicks won this match 3-0 back in September, and was probably our most "complete" performance of the season to date, so a repeat of that would be rather handy - Todd Cantwell will no doubt be the danger man for the home side, who'll go looking for just their third win of the campaign at Ewood Park, ironic in many ways given that the visitors will be looking for their third victory on the road...
So don't expect a classic against these injury hit strugglers... Perhaps that'll suit us even more
Charlton Team News
The question on everyone's lips of late... Who is this Joe Rankin-Costello?
Well where better than to go, but back to the source, if there has been one positive on the playing front this Christmas, its the emergence of the Midfielder who begun his career at Ewood Park... His form has even led Nathan Jones to question himself, and his Management team, wondering why its taken so long for the 26-year old to make an appearance, and like Thomas Kaminski will surely be looking to impress against his former Employer.
Elsewhere and the fitness of both Reece Burke and Amari'i Bell must be commended, both have just returned from injury and in the space of a handful of days have played almost every minute since. Am sure there will be a temptation from Jones to leave the starting eleven alone, despite the slow and costly start on New Years Day, but equally you have to wonder how much more our two returning players can take, even if there is the prospect of a two week break between Sunday and our next League fixture.
Of course with the Transfer Window now open, there is the possibility that we'll see late additions to the match day squad between now and the end of the month.
I just hope that Nathan Jones is once again made comfortable whilst sleeping at Sparrows Lane.
Kaminski
Burke - Jones - Bell
Bree - Coventry - Costello - Campbell
Berry
Kelman - Leaburn
Substitutes: Mannion - Apter - Gillesphey - Gough - Fullah - Knibbs - Carey - Olaofe - Docherty
Comments
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Saw enough on Saturday to give Knibbs a start over Berry but I'd leave the other 10 as is if Burke and Bell can take it. Feeling positive about this one24
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Given how much different we are on the road, compared to how we are at the Valley I'd be happy with a point here... Repeat of what I said pre-Pompey, win the home games, draw the away games is what I'll be happy with.For now I'm taking a welcome week long break from writing Match Previews!!13
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Yeah that would be the sole change I'd make, I've not been massively impressed with Harvey so far this season, but his late goal on Monday and then the effort he put in yesterday means he deserves to start for me.fenaddick said:Saw enough on Saturday to give Knibbs a start over Berry but I'd leave the other 10 as is if Burke and Bell can take it. Feeling positive about this one4 -
IIRC, last time you did a match preview when the window was open, we bought a new player to the club. Fingers crossed FA2
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Another 1-1 I think, with us taking the lead but being pegged back.I would be happy with that.I’d rather Carey or Knibbs start instead of Berry (and also Apter over TC, but that’s just me).Could also possibly be called off, as Blackburn have a dodgy pitch and the freezing temperatures over the weekend, just hope it’s called off nice and early as it’s a long way to go…!6
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Any info on the ref? - his name looks familiar.0
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I’m a bit of a believer in timing in football, I think we will see another good performance from JRC, returning to Rovers and hitting some form, let’s hope the curse of the retuning player works for us for a change. Unfortunately for Berry I think someone takes his spot, Carey, knibbs or even an outside shot for extra energy Fullah?3
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It won't do me any favours as I'm travelling up tonight.CAFC_boi said:Could also possibly be called off, as Blackburn have a dodgy pitch and the freezing temperatures over the weekend, just hope it’s called off nice and early as it’s a long way to go…!
Does anybody know how many we sold for this? The sales looked very poor.
I bought two tickets for this one and Charlton lost both of them, so I have to collect duplicates on the day.0 -
Carey to start for Berry
1-1 and another solid display/point4 -
Zulu said:Any info on the ref? - his name looks familiar.He's already taken charge of our match against Coventry and SwanseaHe's also taken charge of Blackburn's defeats against West Brom and Sheff Utd0
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I hope for a 1-1 draw. We are still a team easy to pass through and around.0
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Was hoping to get to this as it’s only and hour from me but not going to happen this time round. I just don’t know what to expect at the moment with this team. Hopefully we can start to build some consistency from yesterday’s performance. We need a win, I know that much. As others have said, Knibbs or Carey in for Berry please.
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According to BBC the weather in Blackburn will be cold -3 in early hours but 2C during afternoon with sunny periods.
Snow not until Tuesday
Do not blame me if changes 🤔1 -
As good as yesterday's performance was, 1 point over Xmas and New Year, and results elsewhere, means there's a bottom 6 taking shape, and we're in it.
As long as we dont do another Norwich, we should get something out of this.
No league game for either side for 2 weeks after this, so expecting everything to be left out on the pitch from both sides.
Hopefully no frozen pitch.0 -
A couple of wins puts a very different complexion on that.Er_Be_Ab_Pl_Wo_Wo_Ch said:As good as yesterday's performance was, 1 point over Xmas and New Year, and results elsewhere, means there's a bottom 6 taking shape, and we're in it.
As long as we dont do another Norwich, we should get something out of this.
No league game for either side for 2 weeks after this, so expecting everything to be left out on the pitch from both sides.
Hopefully no frozen pitch.1 -
Totally agree @Sword65pf. This one and then the 2 homes to follow. Very doable. But got to do it. Of those teams above, West Brom seem most keen to join the party.1
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We can do this - JRC will murder them if he runs the show as he did vs Coventry. Looking forward to it and hope the weather does not put paid to this fixture as timing feels good…4
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Trying to get my head around tickets not only being off sale already, but Blackburn saying they won't sell away tickets on the day.
Do businesses not like free money or something?14 -
They're worried about us and the great support that travel, and well they should be, but yes, it does seem strange...Braziliance said:Trying to get my head around tickets not only being off sale already, but Blackburn saying they won't sell away tickets on the day.
Do businesses not like free money or something?0 -
3-1 Addicks win and we start looking up again instead of down.
Half the season to go. Top half finish for sure.5 -
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2-0 Charlton,Kelman and Knibbs with the goals. Hopefully the game will go ahead but call me an old cynic, wonder what the chances of it being called off due to a frozen pitch that would surely help an injury hit home side? 🤔3
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No tickets sold on the day according to Blackburn. Too late to sort myself out with tickets.2
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Just delaying the inevitable...Redvalleyeast said:2-0 Charlton,Kelman and Knibbs with the goals. Hopefully the game will go ahead but call me an old cynic, wonder what the chances of it being called off due to a frozen pitch that would surely help an injury hit home side? 🤔0 -
A big round of applause to those that are going. Legends, each and every one 👏👏👏12
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Watched the first half of Blackburn v Wrexham on Sky before leaving for the Valley. They have switched from 4-2-3-1 to 3-5-2 recently and were dis-organised at the back. It’s an open 3-5-2 system. There is plenty of space to play through between defenders and also in behind the three centre backs (first goal).They also defended poorly on Set Plays (Second goal). If we play like we did against Coventry, particularly in the second half, it’s an away win for me.9
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Agree with Berry dropping, but not sure I'd pick Knibbs still. He's blowing after 10 minutes every game he gets that long.fenaddick said:Saw enough on Saturday to give Knibbs a start over Berry but I'd leave the other 10 as is if Burke and Bell can take it. Feeling positive about this one1 -
Do we ever get points at ewood? Ill take a point!Carey or fullah for berry for me3
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Last six games at Ewood; Blackburn 3W - Charlton 3W2121 said:Do we ever get points at ewood?1 -
Must win.
You can’t have free hits without must wins - the maths doesn’t work out.So if the last game was a free hit, this is therefore a must win.
We keep coming up with reasons why we don’t need to win a game. No more dicking around - win it, take three points home, get away from the relegation zone.3 -
But I thought the last one was a must win not a free hit?DamoNorthStand said:Must win.
You can’t have free hits without must wins.If the last game was a free hit, this is a must win.
We keep coming up with reasons why we don’t need to win a game. No more dicking around - win it, take three points home, get away from the relegation zone.
Personally think this is a do not lose but reckon we'll sneak a win anyway4
