Wrexham vs Charlton AthleticSaturday 26th April 2025 - 5:30pm Kick-OffReferee: Ben TonerIntroduction
ROLL UP... ROLL UP... FOR THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!!
But here we are, the end of the season is nigh upon us. For the last few weeks, and for the coming weeks the theme is all about "Cup Finals" for the Addicks - Our win last time out, secured our spot in the nail biting Play-Offs, however we can yet go one better, to do so though we need to win our last two games and hope results go our way - Our trip to Wrexham this coming Saturday could consign us to relying on another Wembley trip, if we want to get promoted. But like last Saturday's 4-0 victory at Wycombe... These are the games you want to be involved in.
The OppositionName: Wrexham (2nd) - Manager: Phil ParkinsonGround: Racecourse GroundPrevious League Result: Blackpool 1-2 WrexhamWell as far as penultimate games of the season go, they don't get bigger than this!!
The job at hand will be simplified for both sides, by the fact that come 5:30pm, we'll both know what kind of outcome could be achieved with victory for either side - Should Wycombe Wanderers fail to win, well a victory for the Red Dragons will secure their third promotion in three years, and a first trip to the second tier of English Football since 1982 - A victory for the visitors, and we're setup for an epic final day of the season!!
Enough clowning around though, lets focus on Wrexham, who themselves have proven to be no mickey mouse outfit, and certainly have experience throughout the side, from a Manager we well know in Phil Parkinson (He has two promotions from this level with Colchester and Bolton), whilst the team are littered with experience with the likes of James McLean, Jay Rodriguez and Steven Fletcher... Names who have promotion under their belt and will know how to see out these final games of the season. There are also the ex-Addicks; Elliot Lee (His Dad played for Newcastle), George Dobson and fan favourite: Eoghan O'Connell... Whoops, maybe that should be the other way around.
In terms of form though, and this is where Wrexham could be vulnerable... They've not lost since March (a 2-0 loss at Reading), and have just two defeats at the Big Top all season - However April hasn't been a happy month for the hosts, with three draws in five matches meaning that some nerves could be creeping into a side that didn't look impressive against Burton and Wigan respectively.
Charlton Team NewsLets be honest, no one could have predicted the outcome of our victory over Wycombe on Easter Monday, so in short... God knows what the outcome will be come 8pm on Saturday evening - Although Charlton have just the one win at the Racecourse Ground; coming on the 28th December 1974, a 3-0 win that day so a repeat of that would be ideal for any advantage in Goal Difference, going into the final day of the season.
In terms of the team for this coming Saturday and already we're without Chuks Aneke from the bench, after the FA upheld what was nothing short of a ridiculous Red Card handed out against Wycombe last week, he'll miss the next three games, so will be absent for the first leg of the Play-Offs (If we have to rely on them), Nathan Jones mentioned that Lloyd Jones and Luke Berry are carrying knocks, however am sure there could be a slight amount of mind games at work here. Whilst Daniel Kanu returns to the fold after injury, you'd expect him to replace Aneke on the bench for an otherwise, unchanged side.
I should finish, by pointing out that the 26th April is a historic day for the Addicks, as that's when we defeated Burnley in the FA Cup many years ago.
At a time of the season, where we need to win each of the "Cup Finals" that we come up against, this could be the best omen of them all...
Mannion
Ramsay - Jones - Gillesphey
Small - Coventry - Docherty - Edwards
Berry
Godden - Campbell
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer - Watson - Anderson - Gilbert - Hylton - Kanu - MBick
Comments
It will start cagey and almost feel like we are walking a tight rope, but once our players liven up backed by a roaring crowd, our lions will wake up and feast.
I'm gonna say 8 nil to outperform our last act and Nathan Jones will go past their cauldron like home end on his unicycle juggling with balls. On his way back to the dugout he'll give parky a cheeky squeeze of his red nose.
would be promoted and hate to say it but I think that boost will get them the win they would love ( just hope they get any help from the ref ) .. but if Wycombe win I think we might see a more nervous Wrexham with the pressure back on them in front of their own fans and that might be another to get us a result ?? the disappointing thing is it will still be out of our hands come next Saturday even if we pull of another great result ….
Wycombe winning however ends our chances of a top two finish
I shall be watching both games on sky a nervous wreck.
So if they beat Orient, and we beat Wrexham, we'll go into the final day needing them to lose, or we'll need to win and better their Goal Difference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20sbZzw8ehw&ab_channel=LeagueOneLowdown-THEDECK
3-0 to the welsh wizards
It will be tight, and I think without Chuks holding on to a narrow lead will be tough. Overall I think we'll win. Can't wait.
A 3 goal win over Wrexham, with Wycombe winning by one goal puts us a goal behind the latter in the GD column
Meaning that we could finish second by winning by two goals on the final day of the season, with Wrexham / Wycombe both drawing.
If my maths is correct there, which it probably isn't
No. I'm not going to say it.
They very rarely lose at home since Parkinson arrived, they've been getting big results all season, and as much as I hate the media love in, they've built something there.
I will say though, we are their toughest test of the season without a doubt in my mind. With our form, clean sheets record, and all our other accolades we have accomplished. If they can beat us, you can't begrudge them getting promoted, as it will take a genuinely good team to stop us at the moment.
I haven't been this excited for a game since probably Charlton Doncaster at home. It feels like it could be a special night.
- Wrexham have lost just one of their last eight league games against Charlton Athletic (W3 D4), with this exact fixture being played for the first time since September 1981 and a 1-0 win for the Welsh side.
- Charlton Athletic have won just one of their prior six away league games against Wrexham (D2 L3), a 3-0 victory in December 1974.
- Wrexham have lost just two of their 22 home league games this season (W15 D5), though their last home defeat came against a side from London in a 2-1 loss to Leyton Orient in February.
- Charlton have failed to win any of their last seven league games against sides from Wales (D4 L3), since a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City in March 2015.
https://www.efl.com/news/2025/april/25/sky-bet-league-one--pre-match-stat-pack/If Lloyd plays and can manage Rodriguez or Fletcher, I think we will come away with a 2-1 win. If Lloyd is out 1-1 at best, more likely a 2-1 home win. This lad brings a dominance and confidence to our defence that neither Mitchell nor McIntyre can do.
Also getting TC to run at EOC will be a complete mismatch. The defence is a fairly slow in general so pace could be a factor for us.
Naturally would settle for a 1-0 win but ideally want a result that's comfortable enough so it doesn't cause a heart attack! Nervous already tbf!
2-1 Charlton (Godden and Campbell)
Could we see someone being sacrificed to bring in 4 at the back, both Mitchell AND McIntyre if Jones is out?
Small, Ramsay and Kanu didn't feature last time out and we were still playing a 4-box-2. They still had Palmer and Mullin up top and a different make up of midfield. This game will be a totally different tactical proposition to the last one but I would bet it's going to be a very physical game with a bit of edge to it