Massive game to set the tone. History tells us we will beat Wycombe as we always beat who we shouldn’t but it’s these games where we should win where we drop points
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.
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
I always expect a good old kick in the bollocks from Charlton, during the festive season. However I am quietly confident we will get a moral boosting NJ point!
I always expect a good old kick in the bollocks from Charlton, during the festive season. However I am quietly confident we will get a moral boosting NJ point!
Indeed, Cambridge lost 4-0 on Friday, we win 5-0 on Saturday, what could possibly go wrong?
Charlton Athletic are unbeaten across their last eight league games against Cambridge United (W4 D4), only conceding more than one goal in one of those matches.
Cambridge United have won just one of their last nine away league games against Charlton Athletic (D5 L3), a 2-1 victory in November 1991.
Charlton Athletic have won four of their last 17 league games on Boxing Day (D8 L5) and are winless in their last three (D2 L1).
Cambridge United have won six of their last eight Boxing Day league matches (L2) but did lose 2-1 to Oxford United.
Anyone else having problems purchasing tickets online? Tried yesterday different cards, on phon,e laptop and again this morning keep getting an error message.
1-1 in front of a crowd that cant make up its mind whether to boo or to cheer. That’s not being pessimistic; you only have to look at what has actually happened over the last 10 games in front of teams we should’ve beaten
Anyone else having problems purchasing tickets online? Tried yesterday different cards, on phon,e laptop and again this morning keep getting an error message.
Are you trying to buy child/student/OAP tickets ? If so then I believe you cant just but them on their own & need to have had ID confirmed by the club before purchasing.
Anyone else having problems purchasing tickets online? Tried yesterday different cards, on phon,e laptop and again this morning keep getting an error message.
Are you trying to buy child/student/OAP tickets ? If so then I believe you cant just but them on their own & need to have had ID confirmed by the club before purchasing.
That may have been the case as I was getting a U21 for my son although he is registered on there but anyway just tried again and finally went through.
Comments
Good feeling about this one & predicted a win last week (although tbf not 5-0) and so going for another win tomorrow.
3-0.
- Charlton Athletic are unbeaten across their last eight league games against Cambridge United (W4 D4), only conceding more than one goal in one of those matches.
- Cambridge United have won just one of their last nine away league games against Charlton Athletic (D5 L3), a 2-1 victory in November 1991.
- Charlton Athletic have won four of their last 17 league games on Boxing Day (D8 L5) and are winless in their last three (D2 L1).
- Cambridge United have won six of their last eight Boxing Day league matches (L2) but did lose 2-1 to Oxford United.
https://www.efl.com/news/2024/december/25/sky-bet-league-one--pre-match-stat-pack/3-0 win today, Leaburn to score and not smile or make eye contact with fans, confirming he's off in January.