Burnley v Charlton Athletic
Saturday 19 December 2015 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
IntroductionAfter conceding a two goal lead last night and ultimately only taking a point makes writing the Match Preview for the next game all the much harder… But as many of you now know, when we play on a Saturday I like this to be completed three days in advance whereas the Tuesday night games are only previewed the day before.
It’s now been four matches since our last victory (a 1-0 result at Birmingham), yet despite that we’ve only lost two games, looking on the bright side, there were opportunities to beat both Leeds and Bolton in our recent home games so the performances are coming, we just seem to need that extra bit to get to the Full-Time whistle ahead. I guess when you look at the fixture list, the most feared matches are against the three teams who have relegated from the Premier League, and they’re the sides with the parachute payments, the ones who only six months ago were going toe to toe with England’s biggest sides.
In true Charlton fashion this season though, we’ve struggled against the teams around us, yet when we’ve faced the sides who should be beating us (notably those down from the Premier League), quite simply they’re not and our record against those sides is, played two, won two!! - This Saturday is the date when we march through the gates and into the Christmas period, the time of year that is loved by English Football Fans as it is so unique, we only have two teams left to face before we start again, this Saturday we face
Burnley… Can we get a clean sweep of Premier League clubs, I guess at 5pm on Saturday we’ll know if we have or not.
The OppositionName: Burnley |
Manager: Sean Dyche
Ground: Turf Moor |
Nickname: The Clarets
Despite the difficulties of writing the Match Preview based on what happens on the pitch, its writing Previews like this one that makes me enjoy the job so much (I’m a history nut and love expanding my knowledge)… In Burnley we face another side who were the founders of the Football League, they finished that year in 9th place and along with four other sides they had to apply for re-election, the following season wasn’t much better, they finished second bottom and what’s worse is they went that year is they went 17 games without victory (We thought we had it bad).
But I’m getting carried away… all this happened in 1888, they were founded six years earlier in 1882 so what happened, how did it come about? – Quite simply, the origins of Burnley weren’t as a Football Club yet as a Rugby Union side, sadly Wikipedia doesn’t tell me anything about the change, simply that
Burnley Rovers decided to shift allegiance in May 1882 and played their first match that October (losing 8-0 to Astley Bridge)… In 1883 they moved to Turf Moor where they have remained since (it wouldn’t surprise me if the wooden seats are still the same).
Of course I can’t end this section without discussing the matches between these two sides, the first meeting came in 1930 at Turf Moor with the two sides in the Second Division; it would end in a 1-1 draw with Charlton winning the first meeting at the Valley 2-1… The most famous meeting between these sides came in 1947, the location Wembley Stadium, the result 1-0 to Charlton, the even bigger result… Charlton win the FA Cup for the first (and only time) in their history.
Last Meeting @ Turf Moor… Burnley 3-0 Charlton Athletic
Charlton Team NewsI know I should write the preview after the Press Conference, it would make my life easier writing this section but at the same time, the Press Conference doesn’t tell you much anyway… The best news this Saturday will see the return of
Patrick Bauer following his suspension, he should slot in alongside Harry Lennon so we’ll have to see if Alou Diarra goes into Midfield or whether he is rested for Bristol City on Boxing Day…
Both Ademola Lookman and Johann Gudmundsson went off injured on Saturday, if they latter remains side-lined it’ll be interesting to see if
Regan Charles-Cook comes into the line-up, at present it appears as though the Academy lads are leading the way at the moment as despite not being on the bench last night (after being there Saturday), the decision wasn’t down to injury as Regan was doing some sprinting prior to kick-off yesterday.
Henderson
Solly … Bauer … Lennon … Holmes-Dennis
Charles-Cook … Diarra … Jackson … Ghoochannejhad
Makienok … Vaz Te
Substitutes Bench: Pope … Sarr … Fox … Ba … Cousins … Lookman … Ahearne-Grant
Prediction
Burnley 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Comments
Suffice to say this will be more doom and gloom. Routine 3-0 drubbing with Fraeye telling us we played well between minutes 57 and 71 (so that's alright then).
His pick is ..
Henderson
Solly … Bauer … Lennon … Holmes-Dennis
Charles-Cook … Diarra … Jackson … Ghoochannejhad
Makienok … Vaz Te
Substitutes Bench: Pope … Sarr … Fox … Ba … Cousins … Lookman … Ahearne-Grant
Makienok is just not with the programme at present and he'll get no change at all from the VERY decent Burnley CBs .. I'd recall Fox, play Holmes-Dennis on the midfield left, rest Jackson, with Reza up front, though if A-Grant was there, that'd do me just as well, presuming that Lookman is crocked ... if he and/or Gudmundsson are fit, they should start .. I'll assume they will both be missing whilst hoping they are fit.
Henderson
Solly … Bauer … Lennon … Fox
Ba … Diarra … Cousins … Holmes-Dennis
Reza … Vaz Te
A tough, tough, VERY tough game, though Burnley have recently dropped from their very high standard .. heart says ... a backs to the wall, scrapped for, fighting, well deserved point at least
Burnley 1 v CAFC 1 .. Come on You Addicksaaaaaaaaahhhh
Plus we don't have the energy to play a midfield 2!
This would also allow the full backs to get forward and support the play a bit more.
I think our front 3 have enough pace/movement to cause problems to i would go with something like:
Henderson
Solly - Bauer - Lennon - HDennis
Cousins - Diarra - Jackson
Reza - V Te - Lookman
Leaves no place for JBG but he could probably use a rest.
Plenty of goals, unfortunately most of them land in the back of our net.
Henderson
Solly/Bauer/Lennon/Fox
C-Cook/Ba/Diarra/Cousins
Vaz Te/Mak
Subs: Pope/THD/Sarr/JJ/Moussa/Reza/KAG
Not the team I would like, but the team I expect. Hoping for 1-1 and we stay undefeated in December
As for the team, I'd actually start Makienok with Reza right Lookman (injury permitting) on the left in a 451. Burnley have some good set piece takers and height and strength at the back and the last games without Mak on defensive duty has lead to havoc in our penalty area. Bauer back and Diarra in the midfield will also give us more defensive solidarity.
Sadly, woeful refereeing will rule 2 of those out, incorrectly, and their goalie will keep 3 other certainties out in a performance he won't repeat this season.
Result = the status quo (supported by Wilko) is put back where it was before, with no light under the tunnel.
Bauer and Lennon allow Diarra to move back to midfield, we play the diamond with JBG at the top and we draw 2 - 2.
Lennon and Reza score.
A draw at best.