Nottingham Forest vs Charlton Athletic
3pm Kick-Off
Referee –
KEVIN WRIGHTINTRODUCTIONA first home defeat of the season for Charlton last Saturday was frustrating to say the least.
Bob Peeters’ side had 21 efforts on goal, but did not manage to convert any of them and when debutant Noel Hunt scored a 94th minute winner, it proved that a ‘Sky’ curse really does exist!
However, a response is now needed.
Charlton are yet to lose back-to-back games under Peeters, so let’s hope that record continues by getting a result against Nottingham Forest at the City ground on Saturday.
THE OPPOSITIONStuart Pearce’s side were many bookmakers’ favourites to win the Championship at the start of the season, but a combination of poor form (two wins out of 10) and injury problems mean that they are a bit lower in the table than they would have hoped.
Despite sitting in ninth place and with 28 points on the board (same tally as Charlton), Forest are only seven points off top-spot and three points off the play-offs.
The Reds will be without top-scorer Britt Assombalonga due to the forward picking up a straight red-card in their 2-1 defeat to Birmingham last weekend.
The hosts will also be without Chris Cohen, Andy Reid and Jack Hobbs, as they all have long-term injuries.
Despite their absences, Forest still have a whole host of talented players within their ranks including the likes of Henri Lansbury, Tom Ince and Matty Fryatt, who on their day, can cause any team in the division some problems.
ONE TO WATCH – MICHAIL ANTONIO My player to watch this weekend is Nottingham Forest winger:
Michail Antonio.
The 24-year-old has been outstanding for Forest since his arrival from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer and has already scored 10 league goals this season.
The former Southampton and Reading winger, is a fast and tricky player and has the ability to cause a few issues for Charlton’s back four this weekend.
With Antonio’s speed on one wing, and the possible likes of Chris Burke or Ince on the other, the Addicks will need to be on top-form to get something out of the game on Saturday.
LINE-UPBob will have a few selection headaches ahead of this match, but following the number of chances created last weekend, I cannot see him changing too much and I would not be surprised to see him keep the same line-up as last Saturday.
In goal, Nick Pope will continue if Henderson is still absent with the shoulder injury.
In defence, Tal Ben Haim should keep his spot despite his “unforgivable” mistake, as Bob put it. He will probably line up alongside the same trio at the back as last weekend.
In midfield, Yoni Buyens may be in contention following a hamstring problem, but if Peeters keeps the same line-up as last week, Jackson and Coquelin will occupy the middle with Gudmundsson and Cousins on the wings.
Upfront, hopefully Igor Vetokele will be able to last another 90 mins and he’ll probably be joined by Callum Harriott, who despite missing a few chances against Ipswich, was actually one of the brightest players on the pitch.
George Tucudean, Frederic Bulot and Lawrie Wilson are just some of the names that will be pushing for a first-team spot this weekend.
PREDICTIONI can actually see us getting a win here but, of course, only If we have convert our chances…
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Charlton Athletic.
Comments
I'm feeling optimistic
So 0-1 to the Addicks and Harriott the goal scorer
Nottingham Forest 2 v CAFC 0 .. Still looking forward to the game though.
The forresters (?) are genuinely baffled as to how they lost having totally dominate. The entire game.
Immediately after Ipswich game felt frustrated and annoyed by the defeat, but now I see it as one of the most enjoyable home games this season, and one in which we played some superb passing football (up there with derby/wolves games).
Will be more than happy to see more of that positive style with a score draw.
1-1
Also, I now understand why we're wearing Arsenal shirts this season. 25 years on from Michael Thomas' dramatic title-clinching goal at Anfield, Bob has decided to model us on George Graham's Gooners.
Adams and O'LearyBen Haim and Bikey will marshall the defence towards another cleansheet, andSmudger SmithIgor will make up for last week and head home the winner.Boring boring Charlton!
I certainly don't think Duchatelet has a duty to throw millions of his hard-earned cash at us either.
0-0, 1-0 or 0-1
Either way I will be watching the Under 21's women's snooker semi-finals instead.