Charlton Athletic vs Rotherham UnitedSaturday 7th September 2024 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Simon MatherCharlton's early season hopes of playing Championship Football next year were brought back down to earth with a gentle bump last weekend with a 2-0 defeat at Reading - Defeat / Draw, both types of result will be sure to happen at stages across the season, however if we want to dream of promotion, we need to ensure it happens on less occasions than everyone else - This weekend we play host to Rotherham, it could have been called off due to International call-ups... So I shudder to imagine the reaction to possible defeat come 6pm this weekend.
The OppositionName: Rotherham United (17th) - Manager: Steve EvansGround: The New York StadiumPrevious League Result: Rotherham 2-1 HuddersfieldWhen early transfers signed at Rotherham (which included a new Manager), there were a few on CharltonLife that were impressed with the business, ten players including Jonsson Clarke-Harris were signed well before 1st July, meaning that the Millers only signed one further player, on a permanent transfer, beyond said date - However, life since returning to League One hasn't been straightforward for the side who were relegated in 24th spot from the Championship last time round.
Rotherham after all, given their recent campaigns in League One were always going to be one of the favourites, and even now, despite their sluggish start shouldn't be ruled out of marching their way up the table, ahead of the serious stages of the 2024/25 season, and under Steve Evans they've got a Manager who knows how get results at this level, having won the League One Play-Offs back in 2014
Maybe its the hangover from relegation that saw a slow start. Yet in their first three games; Rotherham were only able to pick up the single point, without scoring a single goal, although according to the xG stats, they know how to create chances, its finishing them off that's the problem - Although, their recent Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield maybe corrected that, Malik Wilks recently joining on loan (and his sixth Yorkshire club) scoring in the 91st minute to record a first victory of the season.
Lets hope that result was just as temporary as our own last weekend.
Charlton Team NewsWell the obvious news is that we'll be without Karoy Anderson, Daniel Kanu and Kaheim Dixon this weekend, with all three jetting off around the globe for various 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, although it'll be a while before the latter appears for the first team no doubt. However it will be interesting to see if Nathan Jones rings the changes after a disappointing performance last time out.
Notable names could include the front two with Tyreece Campbell and Gassan Adahme yet to find the net, although the latter may not come out of the starting eleven until Miles Leaburn is back up to speed... Especially with Chuks Aneke still having his minutes managed - Elsewhere and we could see a debut for Allan Campbell who was an unused substitute last time out, he could come into the Midfield if Luke Berry hasn't shaken off his illness that saw him replaced at Half-Time last weekend.
Mannion
A.Mitchell - Jones - Gillesphey
Ramsay - Coventry - Docherty - Small
Berry
Adahme - T.Campbell
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer - Watson - Edmonds-Green - Z.Mitchell - A.Campbell - Aneke - Godden
Comments
Can’t say I’m feeling confident and can see perennial CAFC transfer targets Clarke-Harris and Wilkes scoring against us. 2-1 Rotherham.
Don’t believe any leaflet will be given to supporters this weekend to say we are uprooting to ground share.
Looking at the league table Charlton have only picked up wins against teams that sit 7th or below,from bottom. If this game was at Millmoor or New York stadium I would fancy Rotherham but as it at The Valley our fortress it’s a home win for me 3-1.Just as it was on
7th Sept 1985.
Think my prediction might need adjusting 😂
The reality is we normally get out-fought and out-muscled by Evans teams and for once I don't think that's likely to be the case. As always the question is whether we have the quality to make anything after the scrap count. There's more to come from this team on the ball so hopefully we can start showing it soon. Chuks weirdly has 3 goals against Steve Evans teams for us so he's the man most likely to put one past them again. I hope we start with Ahadme and Godden this time. TC is a scary proposition with his pace but I would like to see that used as a late weapon and Ahadme put alongside a striker with a bit more experience in the role to make better use of the headers he wins. Hoping for a 1-0 win off a late Chuks goal that send Evans in to some kind of manic shame spiral.
As said the Millers come to us after a good win over Huddersfield, so they should be up and running. Like us they have a lot of new players to bed in and get with the Evans programme
Our Reading defeat should act as a bit of a reality check for us all, fans, players, management.
NO easy games in L1 this season, we should win this one after a tough game
Welcome back to the Valley Dillon Phillips, I hope you stink the place out on Saturday
Do need to be on it so hopefully the press etc works wonders and we push them back.
2-0 Charlton and Steve Evans to moan about our budget etc etc.
Thorough test of our bouncebackability.
1-0
Steve Evans always gets his teams playing in a get in your face sort of way.
We are no shrinking Violets ourselves under Nathan Jones.
Watching Jones and Evans histrionics on the touchline should be quite entertaining.
As for the match itself I expect a feisty affair with plenty of cards shown.
Hopefully 3 points for the Addicks to justify playing the game this Saturday.
3 1 Charlton. Onwards and upwards.
Surely there won't be too many stay away fans because of a nothing England game?
I'll go for an optimistic 1-0.