Charlton Athletic v Scunthorpe United
Saturday 21st January 2017 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire)
IntroductionFor the third league game on the trot football remains at the Valley this Saturday as we play host to one of the now favourites for promotion; Scunthorpe United… Since the turn of the year the Addicks have marked a slight improvement with four points being deserved in our last two games.
Beginning with the Millwall game last Saturday we’ve entered a brief, tough period in the fixture list as on consecutive weekends we play sides vying for automatic promotion… Karl Robinson last week said that the Play-Off sides will be waiting for a Charlton charge, another four points in our next two games and that charge may well be cantering into life.
The OppositionName: Scunthorpe United |
Manager: Graham Alexander
Ground: Glanford Park
Like the Milton Keynes Dons; our opponents this Saturday are no strangers this season… Having faced the Iron in a League AND Cup fixture already this season, our scouting team must have had the week off – Our season against Scunthorpe began in September with a trip to Lincolnshire, a 0-0 draw was played out that day with many believing that an opportunity to pick up three points had been missed…
The second encounter saw Graham Alexander bringing his side to the Valley and in an FA Cup tie; Ademola Lookman showed just why he would be leaving this month by running riot and being the main influence in what was a 3-1 victory… Naturally we didn’t earn any points from that run out at the Valley, yet a repeat performance this Saturday will certainly be welcomed.
Charlton Team NewsThis Saturday will certainly see a much changed Addicks line-up… Our fixture against Millwall didn’t get off to the greatest of starts when we lost Josh Magennis (likely to be out for a month), that start got even worse when we then lost Lewis Page (likely to be out for six weeks). In addition Jorge Teixeira will be serving a one game suspension after earning a late red card.
Straight away we can expect to see changes in those two positions with Jay DaSilva our young loanee from Chelsea potentially coming into the squad; Patrick Bauer will hopefully be fit after needing treatment at the end of the Millwall match, if so you’d expect Ezri Konsa to drop back into Defence with Jake Forster-Caskey making his debut for the Addicks…
Rudd
Solly | Konsa | Bauer | Chicksen
Forster-Caskey | Crofts
Byrne | Aribo | Holmes
Watt
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Johnson | DaSilva | Jackson | Ulvestad | Ajose | Novak
PredictionScunthorpe coming to town will be a stern test for Karl Robinson and his side yet we’ve already beaten the Iron at the Valley this season so there is no reason why we can’t do that again… the Iron have an impressive home record which dates back in the League to the end of 2015 yet away from home the Iron have lost on four occasions, let’s make it five!!
Comments
1-1
We ain't going anywhere this year!
Ajose at least gets in the box and there were a couple of decent balls into the box Saturday, and Watt was hanging around in midfield like the number 10 he probably is. If not him, then maybe a kid from the under 23 team. At least they should have some confidence and I would certainly have one at least on the bench.
Boy we have a very sort side. Corners are going to be even harder to defend.
Our unbeaten year continues and will continue to the Wembley play off final.
Him leading the line, he likes to drop deep and collect the ball and make runs across the centre backs to try and drag one out of position. There is no point him doing that if no one is leading the line. So I would start Novak if at all possible failing that Hanlan. They are the right type of player to lead the line. If we don't think that's enough of a goal threat then I would also play Watt behind him. Or have Watt come on for the last 30 mins.
I would take a point.
Agree we are going now where this season, squad has no balance. It's getting there, but won't happen this season.
Solly | Konsa | Johnson| Chicksen
Forster-Caskey | Crofts
Byrne | Aribo | Holmes
Novak
Your right though; with the one up top approach and with Josh injured, it does leave me wondering where the goals will come from
Solly
Konsa
Johnson
Chicksen
Forster-Caskey
Crofts
Byrne
Aribo
Holmes
Novak
Subs Phillips, Djiksteel, Jackson, Dasilva, Watt, Hanlan, Aherne-Grant,
I'd like to bring Watt on for Aribo for the last 20 to run at their defense. And I'd try and get Jacko on too so we have an extra aerial threat from set plays.
That's assuming we aren't already 3 up by then...
Magennis's absence shows how we lack experience and cover in attack .. BUT Robinson needs to start winning these games and should select both Watt and Ajose from the start .. Watt alone up front would be up against a brick wall .. even though Scunny have the excellent Mirfin injured, Wallace and Goode are very quick and ruthless defenders.
In defence, Johnson has to play and IF he does, I hope that the 'fans' do not boo when his name is called over the tannoy, that would do wonders for team morale (NOT)..
Scunny is a very quick and pacy outfit and are super in midfield .. Morris, who leads the division in both goals scored and assists (why can't we find a bargain like that) and Dawson both work really hard in attack and defence .. both full backs like to get forward and both are very quick and can cross for the dangerous Madden or whoever is selected up front .. Scunthorpe have made some shrewd signings so far in 'the window' .. Davies, Toney and Crooks are all very handy, their squad looks very strong now
Having written all that, I reckon we can get a win here, or at least a point .. no logic, just a gut feeling that we are due for a big win .. presuming Magennis and Bauer are out we should start with :smile ..
Rudd ..
Solly, Johnson, Konsa, Chicksen ....
Forster-Caskey, Crofts ....
Holmes, Aribo ....
Watt, Ajose
CAFC 3 v Scunthorpe United 2
Rudd
Solly : Johnson : Konsa : Chicksen
Forster-Caskey : Crofts : Byrne
Aribo : Ulverstad : Ajose
Subs: Phillips : Djiksteel : KAG : Watt : Holmes : Hanlan : Novak
A toss up between an unfit Novak on the bench, or a green around the gills Dasilva - either way, we're down to the bare bones.
PS thanks @ForeverAddickted for the great preview