Charlton Athletic vs BarnsleySaturday 6th April 2024 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Benjamin SpeedieIntroductionSaturday at the Valley will see the Addicks playing the second of a triple header of games in SE7 - Easter Monday saw us being treated to one of the drabbest games of the season, as Charlton limp ever closer towards the finishing line, last time out recording a 0-0 with Play-Off chasing Stevenage... This Saturday will see another side visiting South East London with similar ambitions to that of our last opponents
The OppositionName: Barnsley (5th) - Manager: Neill CollinsGround: OakwellPrevious League Result: Burton 1-3 BarnsleyVisiting the Valley this Saturday are Barnsley, whose hopes of finishing in the top two hang by the faintest of threads.
The Tykes sit eight points behind Derby County in second place, albeit with two games in hand - However games are fast running out for a number of sides if they want to make improvements on their league placement come the end of April, whether that be automatic promotion, Play-Offs, or avoid the cold touch of relegation... Like I said in my Match Preview for this reverse fixture; Barnsley are one of those teams this season, who seem to have gone about their business very quietly
In terms of their form, and overall performance in the League this season, well only Portsmouth have lost fewer games than the Tykes, with our opponents tomorrow having lost a total of eight games - Their issue has been draws, which we ourselves can relate... that and keeping the ball out of the net, despite their ability to ground out a result, only Oxford, Northampton and Wigan have conceded more than them in the whole of the top half of the table.
Recent results show too that Barnsley can be hurt, and is a sign their hopes of the top two are probably unrealistic, they've won just three games since the beginning of March, with home draws against Bolton and Cheltenham, and defeats coming against Lincoln and Cambridge... Unfortunately its on the road they're strongest, with just the one defeat all season!!
Charlton Team NewsNathan Jones was absent from the weekly Press Conference yesterday whilst dealing with a family matter, however there are no indications that he'll be missing from the touchline this coming Saturday - Paul Hart stepped in for those media duties, and confirmed that they're cautiously possible that we'll see Kayne Ramsay, Lloyd Jones and Connor Wickham, however all three are on a a strict regime, so cant imagine all three being thrown back in at the same time.
Elsewhere and Karoy Anderson was rested for the visit of Stevenage on Saturday, with Freddie Ladapo starting in his stead... Fans continue to be less than impressed with the Ipswich loanee, so we'll hopefully see the rested youngster back amongst starting line up, which should remain largely unchanged from Mondays encounter.
Isted
Edmonds-Green - Hector - Thomas
Watson - Dobson - Coventry - Small
Anderson
May - Kanu
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer - Ness - Edun - Campbell - LuaLua - Aneke - Bakinson
Comments
The last few games have been a bit of a borefest to be honest but I don't blame Nathan Jones for that.
He has an unbalanced underachieving bunch of misfits to work with.
The way I see it is that he had two main objectives this season.
One. To keep us up.
Two. To evaluate the squad and decide who he wants to keep and who he wants rid of.
Number one objective is all but done and I expect him to pretty much know how he wants to shape the squad this summer.
I expect another dull display tomorrow probably ending in another draw and I don't expect any real change in our performances for the rest of the season.
But at least we have stopped the rot that was heading for relegation under Appleton.
Onwards and upwards as they say.
1-1
That's all that matters for me.
Barnsley are far better away then they are at home, so this is a tough game another team needing to win to get that top 6 spot … but we are owed against these after the shocking mistake from the referee up there .. think it’s another cert drawer to be honest .
looks as though I need to remember my sunglasses and cap with a sunny afternoon forecast.
The trouble with putting your foot through the ball is that it gets addictive. And you forget how to play.
I'm relieved by the results it has brought, but its horrible football.
The attacking flair of the early MA days with CBT etc are gone, we have not shown any creativity and the goals that have been scored reduced.Relying on Alfie to create his own chances.
Defence has improved marginally, letting 1 goal a game instead of 2, but tomorrow Barnsley's away record is daunting.
Realistically- we lose
Optimistically- we draw.
draw at best
Limited flair and ability for The Addicks but they’ll run around and try hard , can someone ping a shot on goal or wll it be another 20 scuffs, duffs and muffs by this bunch of bluffs for footballers
Pardew Pen for Charlton. Redfearn Pen for Barnsley.
I can see another one one .