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Charlton Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers | Thursday 15th May 2025 | Play-Off Semi-Final | Match Preview

SageSage
in General Charlton
Charlton Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers
Thursday 15 May 2025 | Kick-Off: 20:00

Referee: Dean Whitestone - previously officiated a Charlton match at home to Portsmouth way back in October 2022 where we won 3-0

Introduction
Games come with different pressures, some hold different magnitudes that simply cannot be replicated, but few come bigger in club football than what awaits at The Valley on Thursday evening.

A draw at Adams Park on Sunday means we just need to win a game at home to get to the final. Sounds simple, and in many ways it is. Our home form this season has been excellent; especially since the turn of the year, but the play-offs are different and what we all know by now is drama is guaranteed. Nerves too.

With the home ends sold out, The Valley will be rocking. Let's hope that by 10pm, the dream of another trip to Wembley at the end of May becomes a reality. 

Opposition
Manager: Mike Dodds
Stadium: Adams Park
Nickname(s): The Chairboys
Fun fact: The nickname of the Chairboys stems from High Wycombe's historical association with the furniture-making industry. The club was founded in 1887 by a group of young furniture trade workers.

Wycombe lined up in the first leg differently to how they did against us in that 4-0 win on Easter Monday. Their team on Sunday evening was:

Norris
Grimmer - Bradley - Taylor - Reach - Leahy
Simons - Humphreys
Onyedinma - Kone - Udoh

The game at Adams Park was the least kind to the eye across all 6 opening play-off games. Over 100 aerial duals, constant fouls, some unsporting behaviour, and a whole lot of aggression. It wasn't until the introduction of Small and Anderson that we started to look capable of taking a lead back to The Valley, and we so nearly did. Near-post-Norris pulled off a couple of vital stops to deny Godden and then Docherty from scoring. With a few more minutes, we might have grabbed a winner.

Kone, who won both League One player and young player of the season, continued his goal drought and nearly saw red in the process. Nathan Jones has remained calm throughout, showing his leadership to the group as we look to navigate our way back to the second tier. He refused to be drawn into discussions around the controversial challenge on Ramsay in the first half, but it was clear to most that he was lucky to escape further punishment.

Wycombe are a big, physical side and did well to disrupt our rhythm. Credit to both teams where the game could be described as a tactical arm-wrestle who cancelled each other out that earned both a clean sheet. A player not mentioned by many apart from some Chairboys supporters is Xavier Simons. Highly rated, the midfielder on-loan from Hull City improved in the second half thanks to a tactical switch at half-time from Dodds to bring him higher up the pitch. Additionally, we know we need to continue to keep Kone quiet and Edwards seemed to do a good job with Onyedinma too.

What I found interesting is that the longer the game wore on, the bigger the gap in fitness it seemed between the two sides. I just don't envision Wycombe being able to maintain that level of physicality and aggression throughout the game on Thursday.  

Charlton Team News
Jones, Berry and Small returned to the squad on Sunday with the former two starting, getting much closer to our strongest team. It would be fair to assume that with the second leg at home, we will see Small return to the starting XI with Watson dropping to the bench. Small brings a completely different dynamic to the side, and this not only helps our attacking threats, but creates balance, space for others, and his pace and power is a real asset for this level. It's no surprise to me that when Small starts and plays at least 60 minutes, his own personal PPG is the highest amongst the whole squad. A line up with Small on the right, Berry as a 10, and TC floating between the wide position and a second striker means we invariably win most of our games.

Also returning is Chuks Aneke, whose physical presence was missed in the first leg. The striker was wrongfully dismissed on Easter Monday but he has now served his ban and will come back into the squad on Thursday. If Wycombe adopt a similar combative approach, he may be just what we need.

I don't expect many changes at all, but I do expect Nathan Jones to name what is (in my opinion at least) our best starting XI.

Hylton is likely to be on the bench instead of Mbick due to the magnitude of the game and his experience could be vital in the closing stages. It's things like this why he was brought into the club.

     

Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Mitchell, Watson, Anderson, Gilbert, Aneke, Hylton


Prediction
A fiery encounter at The Valley, but one where the team in red come out on top. If we take the lead, the roof will come off and the vulnerabilities we saw of Wycombe in recent weeks will flood back in. I expect TC to have more space and enjoy himself, and this could be key in our quest for securing that place in the final on Sunday 25th. Personally, I can't wait and I hope we all play our part in making The Valley as loud and fierce as it's ever been.

Charlton Athletic 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers
Godden
Campbell
«1345678

Comments

  • blackpool72blackpool72
    Excellent preview as always. 
    Hopefully one more to go.

    Head says we win
    Heart says we win.

    Hopefully an early goal or 2 to settle the nerves not just of the players but the fans as well. 

    An early goal is always a good thing but tomorrow night in front of a packed Valley I believe it could be decisive. 
    Wycombe will buckle under the pressure of the occasion and the noise from the stands.

    Hopefully Wembley awaits. 
  • shirty5shirty5
    Old Chuks back on the bench is the X factor that we have been missing in the last 20/30 minutes of a game. The likes of Godden will get more room to play with when Aneke comes on

    Thanks for your excellent previews Sage 
  • palarsehaterpalarsehater
    2-0 charlton we get an early goal and put the pressure on the them and we break on  the counter!. 
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  • king addickking addick
    Nervous and excited for tomorrow. Last time I sat in the West Upper, I watched Wycombe beat Les Reeds Charlton in an embarrassment of a game. 

    Feel we are going to win this. Wycombe will fly out the traps first 10 I reckon and if we soak that up and nick an early goal, they will deflate. 

    Charlton 3-0 ( Godden x 2 and Aneke)
  • TunwellsaddickTunwellsaddick
    If we can get an early goal, I can see us winning 3-0.
    Thanks Sage, always fully appreciated your insightful match previews. 
    Sorry to read this could be your last one. 
  • BrazilianceBraziliance
    edited May 14
    Thanks for the previews Sage. 

    I can't wait for this. The excitement is genuinely indescribable, and tells me that football is and always will be more than just a game. 

    Every stat and bit of data you can find points towards us qualifying for the final, and I'm gonna say the same. 

    I think if we get a goal early, there will be no coming back for Wycombe, I just don't believe they have the character or skill that Doncaster had when we last played a play-off semi at the Valley. I can see them falling apart.

    I'm gonna say 3-1 Charlton. Godden, Small and Docherty for ours. Udoh for theirs. 

    90 minutes to make this season worthwhile, come on Charlton.
  • fenlandaddickfenlandaddick
    edited May 14
    3-0 win  we need to get an early goal. The place will go crazy when the first goes in. Godden with two and Berry with one.
  • BigRedEvilBigRedEvil
    Can't believe we've had to wait 6 years for such a big game, buzzing and nervous. We won't make it easy, I've got no idea what will happen

    COYR
  • KillarahalesKillarahales
    We will win, but I think a nervy 1-0 is more likely than anything more expansive. Hope Orient win tonight as Stockport (and Wycombe to a lesser extent) are anti-football.
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  • sam3110sam3110
    2-1, Wycombe to score first and try and spoil the game, we equalise early in the second half and score the winner in the last 10 mins, heart says it's an Aneke curler from 25 yards out but head says it's a corner that's knocked down and bundled in by Berry or Docherty
  • The Red RobinThe Red Robin
    edited May 14
    Fairly confident but as others have said, look at Coventry last night. 

    My worry is if Wycombe score first. It would be tough coming back from that given their ‘style’ of play.

    2-0 Charlton: Godden and Ramsey to kill them off. 
  • UboatUboat
    0-0 after 120 minutes. 
    After that, who knows. 
  • cafc_se7cafc_se7
    Killarahales said:
    We will win, but I think a nervy 1-0 is more likely than anything more expansive. Hope Orient win tonight as Stockport (and Wycombe to a lesser extent) are anti-football.
    Stockport are definitely not getting the credit they deserve! Fevrier, the right winger is very Thierry Small-esque and Ethan Pye is a very good centre back. They may be bruisers but they certainly don’t shirk playing football. They are an extremely effective side.

    That being said, I would rather play Stockport than Orient at Wembley as I believe Stockport would struggle on a bigger pitch! I think Orient would be more dangerous in a one off final! 
  • GuardyGuardy
    In the words of Danny Dyer, my pooper is flapping
  • letthegoodtimesrollletthegoodtimesroll
    Guardy said:
    In the words of Danny Dyer, my pooper is flapping
    Now you mention ‘in the words of Danny Dyer’ does anybody else think that in that radio advert he does for a podcast with his daughter it sounds like he introduces himself as ‘Danny Diarrheora’ ?
  • fenlandaddickfenlandaddick
    Uboat said:
    0-0 after 120 minutes. 
    After that, who knows. 
    I really hope not. Don't think my nerves will take it 😬

  • C_DubzC_Dubz
    First goal wins it for me. Will end either with a comfortable Charlton win or 1-0 to Wycombe
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