Courtesy of Henry Irving:
It’s Tuesday so it must be Hartlepool.
Described as “The Everest of away games” (© Addickted), a midweek trek to this northern outpost is the epitome of the tough away game where “soft southern Jessie” teams seeking promotion have to show that they have what it takes, not just in terms of skill but in character and fight, to go all the way.
This will also be one of our games in hand, at least on Brighton, Southampton and Huddersfield. Fellow challengers Bournemouth go to struggling Bristol Rovers while MK Dons host form team Leyton Orient. Oldham play Carlisle while Saturday’s vanquished opponents, the Posh, go to Yeovil.
While a defeat could see us drop below the play-off line a win would see us leapfrog Saints into fourth. A six goal margin of victory would even take us third but before we get carried away there is the small matter of the team we have to play.
Hartlepool have already beaten Brighton, Bournemouth and Huddersfield and were flirting with the play-offs themselves when this game was postponed a week before Christmas. Their form has dipped badly since and they have only won two of their last 10 (v Colchester and Oldham) in all competitions but both those wins came at home.
They don’t score many either. Only 29 goals in 28 league games. Given that Charlton are the league’s top away scorers and top of the current away form table this should be a 5th straight win for Chrissy Powell’s Red and White Army. The key word in that sentence being “should”.
Despite the not to be argued against four out of four record under the new management team the Addicks are yet to start pulling up trees. The pragmatists will argue, rightly, that points, not performances, win prizes. The theorists/reflectors will ask for more if we are to compete with the better sides.
We are also losing players to injury at an alarming rate. Anyinsah was missing and was missed v Peterboro’. Benson was also out and the impressive Bessone seems unlikely to appear having been stretchered off.
We have ready replacements in the super sub Abbott as well as the less than impressive (against Peterborough at least) Fry. The defence pretty much picks itself although Chris Solly must be getting close to place on the bench.
In BWP and the Nathan, the King of Twitter, Eccleston we have impressive skill and pace up top to hurt any side at this level aided and abetted by the Charlton Life sponsored Pole.
It’s the midfield that will raise the most questions. Does Powell retain McCormack to give a more solid defensive shield for the back four or use Racon, the more attacking of the two alongside the bound to start if fit Semedo? The high scoring bag of energy that is Wagstaff didn’t impress again before going off injured so Eccleston may well take his place either in a 442 or a 433. Is there room for Reid and does Jackson, scorer of 13 league goals, play on the outside or in the middle?
I’m going for another narrow, 2- 1, win for the Addicks.
That will be another step on the long road back but will be bad news for the pessimists amongst our number. Another win will take us to 50 points and more years than not that is enough to avoid relegation. Just rejoice at that news.
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Comments
If we are to have any real pretensions of the automatics we'll have to win up there
Doesn't matter if we lose, the league is so pony we've been given a bye into the play off spots already
Defensivley we got away with it saturday so hopefully we can tighten that up and leave the predators to finish the job off
thankfully we will have an impressive away turnout for once working as our 12th man sincesome of those old chestnut excuses sound even more hollow now that scp has got us into a winning mentality and.
0-3 can't see anything but an away win.the run gains a little momentum and we look forward to another huge game in this joke league.
A couple of months ago when it got postponed we was on a bad run and they were on form, so maybe that did us a favour.
Win and we get everyone around us starting to fear us.
With the assumption that Bessone is out , this would be my team . Racon should come in raring to go . Hopefully Anyinsah or Benson could be fit to beef up the attacking options on the bench alongside Reidy.
Elliott
Francis Doc Dailly Fry
Semedo
Eccleston Racon Jackson
Abbott Wright-Philllips
Excellent preview. It should be a straight 4-4-2 v 4-4-2.
A big round of applause to those making the trip.
A couple of players who have had no/cameo appearances lately such as Reid and Racon could be given a go – either of them inspired to play to their full ability would cause a limited team like Hartlepool massive problems. Eccleston has to start on the right (sorry Scotty).
I’d probably go something like this
Robbie
Francis Doc Dailly Fry
Eccleston Semedo Racon Jackson Reid
BWP
A good win here and we’re on a roll. Confidence up before our biggest crowd of the season on Saturday, where a good performance could hopefully have people who have drifted away from us coming back for more.
Expecting disappointment here. In terms of playoffs, i don't see that as a major problem if so, just put more pressure on to win on Saturday. In terms of automatics, these are the games you want to come away from with at least a point, while a win would make us look a real serious danger to others at the top of the table.
There for the taking.
this is the team I'd go with.
Games in hand are no use unless you win them, as I am sure SCP will be drumming into them. Unlike the last bloke, they seem to listen to what he says and so I expect them to deliver three points after another so-so first half followed by a stirring response to a Powell kick up the collective backside over the half-time cuppa...
I don't expect Chris to make any changes to the starting 11 unless they are forced upon him.
Good preview WSS - thanks
Llera?
Elliot
Francis Doherty Dailly Fry
Ecclestone Racon Semedo Jackson
BWP Abbot.
As I doubt Ayinsah or Benson will be fit, Abbott's showing on Saturday deserves a chance. Waggy's head knock is a good excuse for Eccelestone to start on the right.
Not sure if Racon is 100% fit from his knee problem so we'll probably see McCormack starting again.
Elliot
Frannie Doc Daily Fry
Waggy Semedo Racon Jacko
Eccleston
BWP
Reidy on for Waggy, Abbott on for Eccleston.
1-3 Away win, but we let another goal slip from a simple cross in.
Racon in for McCormack, otherwise unchanged assuming Anyinsah and Benno aren't fit.
This. Especially the defensive frailty line.
Coach up today
Not even almost the same cold.