After Tuesday night’s victory over Milton Keynes opened up a 10 point lead over Sheffield Wednesday in third place, Chris Powell stated that he “wasn’t happy at the end of the game” and many Charlton fans felt the same way. The fact of the matter is, is that we are learning to win games ugly. Preview Towers remembers how over the past two seasons we would look on enviously as the likes of Southampton and Norwich were picking up points on their way to promotion whilst not necessarily playing well – Charlton are now doing the same and if we can emulate the first year that those two had in the Championship we’d be more than ecstatic.
Saturday sees the Addicks take on Tranmere for the sixth time in our most recent spell in League One and the statistics would tell you this has a draw written all over it. Four of our last five games against Tranmere have ended 1-1, with the anomaly being a 4-0 away victory back in August 2009 when a brace from Lloyd Sam, and goals from Nicky Bailey and Jose Semedo sealed a convincing win. The team from the Wirral has failed to win in 2012 and have a pattern to their results: a loss in one game and a draw the next. On Tuesday they drew with Carlisle, so a continuation of this 2012 sequence would be most welcome to the travelling Charlton faithful.
Chris Powell took some heat off of his misfiring strike force post-game on Tuesday by expressing his pleasure that goals continue to come from all areas of the pitch, but our strikers have not scored in over 1800 combined minutes of football, a trend that surely has to reverse at some point? Despite a late goal by Milton Keynes, the confidence our excellent defence inspires throughout the team is clearly evident, and a lack of injury and suspension for the remainder of the season would be most welcome – Chris Powell will not change the back five unless forced to.
The return of Dale Stephens has somewhat stifled Danny Hollands, but this partnership works and once they get up and running again we will hopefully see the benefits like we did early in the season. Captain and set-piece specialist Johnnie Jackson went off just after half time on Tuesday with a Achilles niggle, if he struggles to make it on Saturday expect Danny Haynes to come in with Green moving over to the left. Wagstaff may even make it back on the bench which is needed to put pressure on Danny Green in his somewhat ‘protected’ position. Wright-Phillips will get another chance up top with Yann but a shake-up could be on the cards in the near future if we don’t see some end results.
The postponements have created a certain amount of fixture congestion, but the players and management should see this period as an opportunity to extend their lead at the top and really put any niggling doubts out of our minds more than anyway. A victory away at Tranmere will be difficult as recent games suggest, but we’ll grind another one out. 0-1.
Come on you reds!
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/tranmere-rovers/results
1 win in 17 in the league
COYR
Haynes deserves a start up front. Wouldn't change anything else though.
The team can't expect decent numbers till they start putting in decent performances
Bit gutted I can't make this one to be honest.
Who are the teams just below us playing?
I'll take a point right now.
Then we have three games in eight days v the two bottom clubs and revenge against Stevenage at home.
79 pts by the end of February, and still 13 games to go. Unstoppable. 100 point heaven here we come.
If Jackson is out I expect us to go narrow with a cm tucked in on the left. Poss Stephens. Also think Haynes will replace BWP.
Regardless, we will fail to shine. Ugly point.
Next big performance Stevenage.
Scrappy 1-1 draw, we take the lead, concede around the 75 minute mark and are left holding on for dear life at the end.
Ian Goodison is a doubt for Saturday, which would be a blow for them.