Charlton Athletic v Cambridge United
Thursday 26th December 2024
Kick-Off: 15:00 - Live on Sky Sports
Referee
David Rock - Previously officiated a Charlton match away at Bristol Rovers at the start of October.
Introduction
Merry Christmas everyone! Well last Saturday came as a shock to us all, a 5-0 win away at Northampton in December is definitely a moment we can treasure in an otherwise largely uneventful season. Now it’s time to follow it up and make this feel good feeling last and that has to start with a home win against Cambridge.
Opposition
Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Manager: Gary Monk (21% win rate)
Nickname(s): The U’s
League Form: LDWLDD
Previous result: A 0-4 loss at home to Huddersfield Town.
Reyes
Okedina - Morrison - Watts
Bennett - Cousins - Brophy - Andrew
Kachunga - Nlundulu - Lavery
Cambridge currently sit third from bottom after narrowly escaping relegation last season. The U’s have 1 win in 8 in the league after previously winning 3 on the spin during October. They have the worst away form in league with just 5 points and 20 goals conceded in 10 matches. Additionally, they’re in the bottom 5 for expected goals against meaning they often give up big chances. Manager Gary Monk joined them in March after being without a club for 3 and a half years, if he fails at Cambridge, it’s unlikely he’ll get another job so the pressure is on. The odds are stacked in our favour for this Boxing Day clash. That’s a lot of negativity in one paragraph…
No team in the division goes without its own threats and the majority of their goals (70%) come from their front 3 plus former Addick loanee Sullay Kaikai. It seems if we manage to keep most of their attacks reaching their front 3, we keep them quiet, especially as pride ourselves on a clean sheet. Other noel-table players would be the former Charlton players Michael Morrison and Jordan Cousins. The former defender, Morrison, is 37 in 2025 so is very much in the twilight of his career but has been an almost ever present throughout his professional life. A real leader who will bring the standards up of those around him, but is likely to struggle against our pace. Cousins moved to Cambridge in the summer of 2023 but has really struggled for regular football until his move to The U’s. He’d be keen to impress on a return to The Valley.
Charlton Team News
Suddenly with players coming back from injury and illness, we have a number of options within the group to be part of the match day squad. Nathan Jones said we should have Aneke back over the Christmas period and we can hope that players like Taylor are available following a short bout of illness. After winning 5-0 away from home on Saturday, you’d be extremely tempted to keep the same eleven if possible.
Docherty played his best game for the club and backed it up with two excellent goals. Leaburn led the line very well and linked up with TC and Small, with pace either side of him proving too much for the Northampton defence to handle.
With two games in a very short space of time coming up, there is going to be changes and the squad is going to have to be used. The first thing we have to focus on is 3 points this Boxing Day, so let’s get that out the way and think about the team for Sunday against Wycombe after the final whistle.
AMB
Mitchell - Jones - Gillesphy - Edwards
Coventry - Docherty
Small - Berry - TC
Leaburn
Mannion, REG, Taylor, Anderson, Kanu, Godden, Aneke
Charlton Athletic 3-0 Cambridge United
Leaburn
Berry
Godden
Merry Christmas one and all. I hope you and yours have a wonderful time and we can celebrate it on Boxing Day with 3 points.
Comments
2-1 Charlton
Ahadme to score the winner against his old club & ear cup the covered end in his celebration
5-0 should suffice 🤔
3-0 Charlton
I'll say 3-0 as our shooting boots seemed on the other day. Definitely fancy a clean sheet unless our players are hungover, we have managed 5 from the last 7, great record.
I’m literally eating / on toilet 💩ing / sleeping all day long so far
Charlton 2 Cambridge 0
I never say this but this game really is a must win ! 3 points with another decent performance to build on last weeks result will get the confidence up and the train rolling towards promotion