Introduction
Another fantastic week for the Addicks has meant that any relegation fears are soon to be forgotten as Chris Powell’s men look to try and get an unrealistic but hopeful final play-off place spot.
This weekend, Charlton welcome Wolves to the Valley who have struggled a lot since being relegated from the Premier League last season. With a good run of form on their side, Charlton will be optimistic of claiming the three points this weekend.
The Opposition
Since his arrival at Molineux, Dean Saunders has had a disappointing few months as manager of Wolves which has seen his side battling to avoid relegation. At the moment, Wolves are only off relegation thanks to a superior goal-difference than Huddersfield who infact actually beat Saunders’ side last weekend.
The main problem for Wolves this season has been their number of inconsistent results which has seen them slide down the table throughout the campaign. However in their last fixture, Wolves managed to defeat 2nd place Hull to showcase some belief that the side can get out of the relegation zone.
What Chris Powell and his Addicks must be aware of is despite Wolves’ league showing, they still possess a number of attacking flair including Kevin Doyle who up to last season was scoring regularly in the Premier League. One bonus for the Addicks is that other striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken leg and he joins the injury table that includes winger Bakary Sako (hamstring) and David Edwards (broken foot).
The Line -Up
The 4-4-2 formation seems to be doing wonders for Chris Powell recently and thanks to our excellent form, I don’t see that changing this weekend. This will likely mean that Ricardo Fuller will keep his place upfront alongside Yann Kermorgant with loanee Jonathan Obika remaining on the bench.
The back-four should stay the same following another clean-sheet away at Cardiff in midweek and Ben Hamer will continue in goal.
In midfield, Andy Hughes should be in the starting eleven as he seems to be a lucky gem for the Addicks while Bradley Pritchard is still probably the best option on the right-hand side for the Addicks. Dale Stephens and Mark Gower will possibly be on the bench alongside the likes of Obika and Salim Kerkar.
Predicted Line-Up:
Hamer; Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins; Pritchard, Hughes, Jackson, Harriott; Kermorgant, Fuller.
The Prediction
1-0 home victory for the Addicks.
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Comments
0-2
Wolves will be pumped up and we'll be on our summer holidays.
1-6.
there's a much better chance ,even tho it's slim, of the scum going down than us going up
so playing the long game i'll accept any result !
2-2
OOhaa, I think you have a plan there...
We have had a great run and, after a record away win and drawing in the league leader's own backyard, there just might be a trace of "after the Lord Mayor's show."
I'll be happy if we avoid defeat in this one.
Under Taylor Wolves played kick and rush football packing the box out at every set piece to push, shove and cheat there way to goals, a style of football that has thankfully almost disappeared. The Wolves owner Sir Jack Hayward had spent big on their stadium, the team and the manager, to gain promotion, all to no avail, Taylor never did take the sleeping ji ints oop. Instead they languished the second tier year after year until ex-Millwall man Mick McCarthy took them up to the premier league in 2009, thus fulfilling a promise he made on his appointment to take them up within three years.
Despite keeping Wolves in the premier league for two years the directors saw fit to sell their better players £15m and give McCarthy £12m to replace them. A poor run of results followed and after an altercation with complaining fans McCarthy was the subject of a terrace campaign for his removal. In February 2012 Wolves sacked Mick McCarthy, it had been a frustrating season in the relegation zone, with regular protests from the fans.
McCarthy's former assistant Terry Connor was offered a managerial role until the end of the season after the club were allegedly snubbed by one Llewellyn Curbishley (whoever he is) but, Connor couldn't keep them up. They are now managed by Dean Saunders at one point their fourth manager in 12 months.
Some reminders of what it's like playing Wolves
2008
2009
1996