Charlton Athletic v Milton Keynes
Tuesday 25th October 2022 - 19:45Live on Charlton TV worldwide (but let's get down to support the players, if we can)RefereeNeil Hair - previously officiated us away at Portsmouth last season where we won 1-2.Introduction3 wins on the bounce and our first away win of the season. Things suddenly look like they're starting to click for Garner and the squad. What is arguably just as impressive, and important, are the clean sheets that we have been keeping in our last few games. A settled defence and players being able to play game after game makes all the difference. The last time Charlton won more than 3 games in a row was 2 years ago, October 2020, when in fact we won 6 on the spin. The challenge now is after gaining some momentum and looking up towards the play-offs, can we do it against a club who we only seem to play on a Tuesday night and who are the struggling side of the division so far, Milton Keynes.
OppositionPosition: 24th
Manager: Liam Manning
Last 6: LLLLLW
Milton Keynes have lost their last 5 in the league, the latest defeat coming against Wycombe at the weekend, 1-0. The side who were extremely unfortunate last season to miss out on automatic promotion have found life to another season in the third tier challenging this time round. Losing Scott Twine to Burnley and Troy Parrott going back to Spurs have really hit the side from Buckinghimshire hard. Proven by only 3 teams have scored fewer than them this season whereas only 6 have scored more than us. How fortunes have turned so quickly.
MK's league position is somewhat surprising though. They do still have players such as Bradley Johnson, Josh McEachran, Will Grigg, Louie Barry, Nathan Holland, and the experienced Dean Lewington. Players who really ought to be doing better having played at higher level or are still highly thought of. But ultimately, there is a reason why they're playing for Milton Keynes and are bottom. Maybe they're just not as good as they once were, maybe they're not living up to the hype, or maybe they're in a false position and just lack that quality to put it in the back of the net? This though, looks unlikely as only Lincoln and Morecambe average less shots per game and only Morecambe, Wycombe, and Forest Green face more shots per game than MK. There seems to be problems at both ends of the pitch and therein lies a telling factor.
Charlton Team News
Tyreece Campbell made his full debut in Shropshire and impressed. The young academy graduate naturally was quiet in the opening stages but grew into the game and caused problems. His pace, directness, and ability to skip passed players means he was a natural replacement for the injured Blackett-Taylor. Young Campbell showing he could be a useful option going forward this season if required.
Otherwise, Garner named an unchanged team whilst Thomas returned to the squad in the absence of CBT. I feel this could be the only change to the squad on Tuesday night if he is fit enough to be involved following his minor knock.
Rak-Sakyi came under a bout of criticism after missing some gilt-edge chances but came up trumps to gain the 3 points by continuing to get into the position to score. A positive sign for a young player who could quite easily have shied away following 2 great chances in the first half. That winner should do his confidence the world of good and will look to kick on again.
Wollacott
Egbo Inniss O’Connell Sessegnon
Rak-Sakyi Dobson Fraser Campbell
Stockley Kirk
MacGillivray, Clare, McGrandles, Payne, Morgan, Blackett-Taylor, Aneke
Prediction
The big question now is can we follow up a great 12 days with another win, a win which would take us into the top six come 10pm as others are likely to drop points. 3 points under the lights would really lift the mood ahead of another huge game at The Valley on Saturday, but let's get the job done first. Garner's Addicks continue the run and really look to put MK to the sword.
Charlton Athletic 3-0 Milton Keynes
Stockley
Rak-Sakyi
Aneke
Comments
We can’t keep on smashing teams in midweek fixtures + MK Dons will not keep losing games = 2 - 2.
I actually feel more confident for the Ipswich game this weekend.
What could possibly go wrong.........
Can he play 3 games in 8 days?
Already proven he can play regularly and with keeping another clean sheet away at Shrewsbury (last two away games now too) and with having today off, I am sure he’ll be able to go again this Tuesday.
Tomorrow will be a lighter session anyway going through things for Tuesday. Those who didn’t play will be doing a tougher session.
Garner will look to keep things the same. If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. Too often now we lean towards tinkering, the teams who are successful, especially in this league, keep the same team as often as they can.
Fingers crossed but history suggests that his minutes need managing. As Lavelle has not impressed, we do need to keep stability at the back.
However I really cannot see how a tin pot franchisee club like MKDons is going to leave The Valley with anything more than a humiliating pounding and with their tails between their legs.
4-0 Charlton. Our promotion party starts to move into full swing. Up the Addicks.
Team news after Saturday I don’t think we will rush CBT back could be on the bench , so expect unchanged
This one might require patients, like the Forest green game they will be happy with a point. Maybe one for Aneke to start? Seen as they’ll sit back and we’ll have time to swing crosses in. I think we will have just enough and it won’t be pretty.
2-1 us.