IntroductionAnother dismal Saturday saw Derby defeat Charlton 2-0 last weekend and despite the Addicks having some decent spells during the match, the lack of goal threat cost Chris Powell’s men as Derby secured three valuable points.
To bounce back, Charlton really do need to put in a performance against a Bolton side who despite a poor start to their season, have managed to pick up a few points to push them higher up the league table.
Another defeat for the Addicks could take them into the relegation zone for the first time this season.
The OppositionBolton have endured an inconsistent start to their 2013-14 campaign as Dougie Freedman’s side haven’t really impressed thus far but a decent November which saw them win three out of four matches will give the side confidence to progress in the latter stages of the season.
In their last fixture, Bolton lost 3-2 away to Wigan and played with one striker up-front in the shape of loanee Joe Mason. However, the return of Mark Davies to the squad last weekend after a seven month absence will give Trotters a boost ahead of Saturday's fixture.
Despite their league position, the quality that Bolton have within their squad shouldn’t be undervalued. The likes of Jay Spearing, Chris Eagles and Jermaine Beckford all have Premier League experience and are capable of causing the Addicks a few problems this weekend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTM7gBXB10YPlayer to WatchThe player to watch this weekend is Bolton winger Lee Chung-Yong. The South-Korean international displays huge amount of talent which could force one or two problems on the Addicks defence. If it wasn’t for a broken leg that he suffered in 2011, then Lee would probably be a first-team regular in a Premier-League side. In fact, Lee was actually once named as one of the top 50 rising stars in football in 2009 by The Times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZaRW8KOLsIThe Line –Up Who knows?!
In all seriousness, the lack of goal-threat on Saturday will probably prompt a change of formation with Simon Church back upfront with Yann Kermorgant in a 4-4-2 formation.
Elsewhere, Chris Solly will be looking for a return to the first-team after recent substitute appearances. If Solly does return, then Lawrie Wilson could be pushed further up-field to right-wing.
Ben Hamer might not be ready in time for Saturday’s fixture so Ben Alnwick will probably continue in goal.
Richard Wood will be pushing for a starting centre-back spot ahead of Dorian Dervite while Dale Stephens and Jordan Cousins are likely to continue in the middle of midfield.
Marvin Sordell is unavailable against his parent club due to his loan, so Joe Pigott will probably replace him on the bench and Johnnie Jackson is suspended.
The PredictionA 1-0 victory to give the Addicks a very Merry Christmas.
Comments
3-0 to The Whites
But we're more than capable of grabbing 3 points, Bolton aren't much good this season. Imagine we'll try and keep it tight for a clean sheet and hope snatch something from one of the few chances we'll create.
Alnwick, Wood, Solly, Morrison and Wiggins keep the northern hordes at bay for 97 mins and we start checking how many points we are off the play-offs.
Line up as per the preview.
1-0
Fair play to any addicks who attend this one. It takes alot to motivate yourself to travel the fair old journey upto Bolton 4 days before Xmas on the back of a dismal run and a poor record at the Reebok.
...but I hope you all come home singing the jingle bells song.
We need to be really brave and attack, attack .. attack attack attack:
Alnwick .. Solly Wood Morrison Wiggins .. Wilson Cousins Stephens .. Kermorgant Pigott Stewart
Bolton Wanderers 2 v CAFC 2
I reckon it could be a new low for the season, maybe 3-0 to Bolton. We battle valiantly but let our heads drop after a fluke goal.
CP: I have to shake things up. How I do that is up to conjecture, but I have to do it.
CP: We need that impetus, that spark. That could be bringing in some players who are unaffected by what has gone on before.
CP, on Bolton Wanderers Official: Every game for us now is huge in respect to our position. That doesn't change i you climb the table.
CP: Our supporters need a lift. We had a really positive October, but we are better than we have been in November and Dec.
CP: My players are training well. They are playing for each other. You need a side with spirit and character.
CP: We can take some solace from playing well, but we need three points which would be the cherry on top of it.
Chris Powell confirms that Marvin Sordell is unavailable for the game at Bolton due to the terms of his loan.
Chris Powell confirms that Ben Hamer and Leon Cort unavailable at Bolton due to injuries, but Chris Solly has a chance.
CP: We are where we are, but not a week goes by when we are not trying to move this great football club forward.
But Sordell is not available for selection Gramps :-0
Took me a while to get that one, but I like your style. Having said that, who are the fools ? We are paying him good wages to play for 10 minutes !
3-0 to Notlob
We're on 18 after 20 games. Even if we get 3 wins from our next 3 games, it means we reach the halfway mark on 27 pts. Say we repeat that over the 2nd half of the season, that's 54 pts in total. That will be dangerously close to the bottom 3. Of course we can pick it up and go on a run and suddenly find ourselves in the top 10, given the proximity of points between 6th place and 24th. But, at the moment, the only way I see out of it is to attack. I'll happily take a 3/4-0 hammering between now and the end of the season, if it means we give ourselves a chance of 3 pts.
I just don't believe we approach games positively. Last Saturday was a great example. Pritchard the furthest forward of our midfielders?? He's someone I would take playing further back, but our thinking shouldn't be getting someone like him supporting the forward.
We all know the squad isn't great, and we definitely lack forward options, but if we're going to be down there scrapping it out, let's go for it in the process. I really think teams in this division aren't the sort of teams you sit back against. In addition I don't think we've got the pace or the guile to hit teams on the counter. We've got to hard.
This will be a frustrating afternoon again until a last gasp equaliser from Yann. I'm going 1-1