Charlton Athletic v Nottingham Forest
7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)IntroductionA recent resurgence from the Addicks was halted last Tuesday night as the South Londoners would make the trip up to the East Midlands for the match against high flying Derby County, a routine victory would make it clear why the Rams were top of the league but it would leave many Charlton fans wondering if their recent victories against Brentford and Wigan were in short flukes… Huddersfield on Saturday would prove if Charlton were back to their best or back to normal in terms of struggling at the wrong end of the division, thankfully the former would spring true, a comfortable 3-0 victory meant that the three points were never seriously at danger yet we move on to our next match this Tuesday against another side having a lease of life in Nottingham Forest.
The OppositionIronically you could look at the seasons of Charlton and Nottingham Forest and see almost an identical pattern between the two teams; both had strong starts to the season with both sides lasting until October before being beaten, strangely that would happen on the same day (with Forest losing at Cardiff and Charlton losing at Bournemouth)… Defeat for both sides would begin poor runs for both sides with Forest steadying the ship from as low as 13th whilst Charlton would drop as low as 20th… Bob Peeters would be sacked at the beginning of January for our run of bad form whilst at the City Ground; Stuart Pearce would also be given his marching orders just one month later.
Since then revival has once again been the key word for both sides, after a slow start: Guy Luzon has won three of his recent matches whilst only losing on three occasions since his Work Permit was granted, in the East Midfields; ex-Crystal Palace Manager: Dougie Freedman has come in (and despite losing top scorer: Britt Assombalonga to long term injury) and has yet to lose a match (drawing just the one).
A closely contested 1-1 draw was played out between the two sides in December and with eight points separating the sides it could be another tight encounter this time out.
Player to WatchHad he been fit then top-scorer: Britt Assombalonga would certainly give our Defenders something to worry about and would almost certainly be my player to watch this week… In terms though of returning players against former sides you only have to look at Andy Reid the player with the most obvious links to Charlton yet will be missing this Tuesday as he recovers from injury, whilst in the Charlton ranks: Mark Dmitrovic could line up against one of his former English employees (Only kidding, of course there will be no Addicks on show who could be up against their former side this midweek).
My player to watch though is another from the famed Arsenal Academy in Henri Lansbury: Midfielder by trade; Lansbury came through alongside the likes of Jack Wilshere before having spells on loan at Scunthorpe, Watford, Norwich and West Ham United… A permanent transfer to Forest in 2012 for £1m would happen with over eighty appearances having been made with 20-goals scored.
Line-UpHenderson
Gomez – Bikey – Johnson – Fox
Eagles – Buyens – Cousins – Bulot
Watt – Vetokele
Substitutes Bench: Dmitrovic – Onyewu – Wilson – Harriott – Church – Lepoint – Ahearne-Grant
PredictionCharlton Athletic 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Comments
Also - why no Diarra?
Diarra should be on the bench too.
I reckon we are good for a couple of goals. Lets see if we can keep them out eh?
CAFC 2 v Nottingham Forest 2
Hoping that Solly and Fox are on their games because pacey, tricky wingers are pivotal to how Freedman's teams play. They're dangerous going forward but lately, I'd say we more than match them in that department.
It'll be which defence copes the best that comes out on top. Thankful to have Henderson back in the team and hopefully he can keep another clean sheet.
3-2 to us.
2-1 to Charlton Igor and Watt
Two entertaining and attacking teams, both enjoying a resurgence of goal-scoring form.
0-0
The turnaround does show how Forest underperformed under Stuart Pearce, with that budget they should have been up in the top 8 all season
Couldnt possibly happen tomorrow could it
and Eagles, but il be happy with a draw
2-2
But we are on a high too so 1-1 looks the most likely scoreline here.
I'd keep Gomez and Johnson at CB, even if TBH is fit, and bring him back Saturday.
2-1 either way