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ULTIMATE MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs Leyton Orient | Sunday 25th May - 1pm KO

ForeverAddicktedForeverAddickted
edited May 18 in General Charlton
Charlton Athletic vs Leyton Orient
Sunday 25th May - 1pm Kick-Off
Referee: Andrew Kitchen

Introduction
This time next week it'll all be over, at this stage of the afternoon on Sunday 25th May 2025, there will be a group of fans drowning their sorrows, confined to another campaign in League One... and there will be another side, celebrating promotion to the Championship. This Sunday is the culmination of 10-months hard work, 48-games have led to this one point... there will be heroes, there will be villains... there will be tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

into the breach once more dear friends

The Opposition
Name: Leyton Orient (6th) - Manager: Richie Wellens
Ground: Brisbane Road
Play-Offs: Stockport 3-3 Leyton Orient (1-4 on pens)

If we had to pick an opponent for this one last push towards the Championship, it just had to be the side that has already resulted in the most amount of drama this season. These two sides have clashed three times already this season, twice in the League, once in the EFL Trophy... Its 3-3 on aggregate, with five of those goals coming beyond the 90th minute... If this season is anything to go by between these two... Its not going to be over... Until its over.

Putting 2024/25 to one side though, and like our clash with Wycombe Wanderers in the previous round, I want to focus on Leyton Orient and their record, not just in the Play-Offs, but at Wembley too - Their last visit to the National Stadium ironically came in 2019, suffering a 1-0 loss against AFC Fylde in the FA Trophy. Their last Play-Off campaign (coming in League One) was in 2014, which resulted in Orient surrendering a two goal lead against Rotherham, and subsequently losing on penalties... Defeat came again at Wembley in 2001 this time a 4-2 defeat against Brighton in League Two, again they reached the Twin Towers in 1999, only to be thwarted on that occasion by Scunthorpe United, losing 1-0.

Its not all been tears and defeat for the Orient in the Play-Offs... In 1989 they won promotion from the fourth tier with a 2-1 over Wrexham - However Leyton Orient's history at Wembley Stadium (despite calling it home for two League games in 1930) is not filled with happy memories

Lets hope that this isn't the year that changes!!

Charlton Team News
Six years ago I wrote a similar Preview... Asking who our Peter Shirtliff, Clive Mendonca, Richard Rufus would be as we made the trip to Wembley with Sunderland awaiting our arrival. 2019 resulted in Ben Purrington and Patrick Bauer joining those illustrious names. So to continue the theme, it'll only be right if a Centre-Back grabs the headlines once more. It'll be a fine way for either Lloyd Jones or Macauley Gillesphey to finish what has been a solid season at the heart of Defence.

Matty Godden will equally be wanting to cement his name further into folklore, having scored the winner against Wycombe Wanderers on Thursday night. In a post match interview with SKY our top scorer reiterated his determination to ensure there wasn't a repeat of the defeat he was part of, when Coventry lost on penalties against Luton Town in the Championship Play-Off Final in 2023.

In terms of availability and it could just be Luke Berry (who ironically was on the winning side for that Play-Off Final in 2023) that'll be absent next Sunday... The Attacking Midfielder was absent from the team against Wycombe, that may have been a precaution, with the prospect of a trip to Wembley on the horizon, but if Berry is absent then you'd expect Alex Gilbert to step up in his place, the Middlesbrough loanee has put together some impressive performances in these last few weeks of the 2024/25 League One season!!

Mannion
Ramsay - Jones - Gillesphey
Small - Coventry - Docherty - Edwards
Gilbert
Godden - Campbell

Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer - Mitchell - Watson - Anderson - Berry - Aneke - Mbick
«134567…12

Comments

  • NabySarrNabySarr
    CAFC_boi said:
    My one main thought is that Leyton Orient looked really weak at set pieces against Stockport (and earlier in the season against us).

     If they defend then how they did against Stockport (arms round necks) with VAR in play, then I can definitely see us getting a penalty at some stage. 

    We must be favourites to win this though but I think it will be nervy. 

    Whoever scores first to win it for me. 

    1-0 Charlton from a set piece (or penalty from a set piece)! COYA! 
    Need to do a lot better from set pieces than we did on Thursday to make the most of that Orient weakness. If Gilbert is playing then hopefully he can rediscover that part of his game and deliver a couple of assists from corners again 
  • Pedro45Pedro45
    I think VAR could have a massive impact as both teams would have been penalised in their semi finals gad reviews been in place. 

    We need a strong referee too, as the O's can be a dirty side. 

    We will be favourites, so let's go for it and win handsomely please!

    COYA!
  • LincsaddickLincsaddick
    Great FINAL (for the season we hope) preview, except, I just can't see Gilbert keeping out Berry
    Lovely big pitch just right for Campbell and Small to get us on the attack
    Orient won't be easy, BUT we are the better team and we will WIN
    Get ready for the Championship fellow Lifers
  • AndyGAndyG
    Although very nervous about this game as it does seem written in the stars a bit for Orient the way they finished the season but we have also had the stars align to a good extent. 

    I think it will be a great game to watch ! None of the attritional stuff dished up in the Wycombe games they like to play football and at times this year we have shown we can.

    i can’t see them not scoring as they will certainly create chances. If TC gets his mojo back ( I think he has been a bit overawed recently ) and terrifies them like we know he can and Small can finally get one of those shots to hit the back of the net ( he is due one ) then with golden Goden adding another I think we can win this 3-1 COYRS
  • mendoncamendonca
    We know Josh Keeley's weakness and need to focus on it. Hopefully not at the cost of our (occasional) passing game. 

  • Briston_AddickBriston_Addick
    Is this a good omen?

    We started this season with three wins; the last time we did that was 2011-12 ... when we were promoted from Division Three (albeit as champions under Saint Christopher).
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  • StarinnaddickStarinnaddick
    I know that Godden, Berry and Hylton have all been involved in play offs and Curtis Fleming was in the Cup Final with Borough but Orient have Pratley who was with us in 2019 and Swansea in about 2011. Have either of us got anyone else with Wembley experience? 
  • Pavoren007Pavoren007
    We know how football works, just ask Man City. We will need to be at our best, hope that VAR catches Orient out more than us (our defenders use the dark arts subtly but still do and this could put us in trouble) and we’ll need to keep going for 90 minutes + as Orient don’t lack fitness nor resilience. All the aforementioned falls into place and I think we will have too much for them running out 3-1 winners our last goal late when they are trying to get the equaliser. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

    This week will be torture despite it being one of my favourite weeks of the year in the industry I work in. 
  • CrispywoodCrispywood
    We should be winning this game they have some good players but realistically only Keeley Galbraith Donley and Kelman would get into our starting XI and even Keeley has a mistake in him. If Lloyd and Coventry do a job on Donley and Kelman I reckon we win it comfortably
  • lancashire ladlancashire lad
    thanks FA - appreciated
  • ShootersHillGuruShootersHillGuru
    Us in extra time.
  • oohaahmortimeroohaahmortimer
    edited May 18
    0-2 to the O’s 
    passing it around on the deck from the O’s will take our aerially dominant defence apart and they’ll run out winners .
    I can’t see any life where we nick a third Wembley play off win and 4th play off success
    we’re due a final loss and here comes number one 

    fuck off you miserable git , sorry just saying how I see it going
    too many cagey crabs in our team and if Berry doesn’t play then another lump of attacking guile will be missing , TC needs his battery recharging and to remove himself from Grimmers pocket. 
  • RothkoRothko
    oohaahmortimer said:
    0-2 to the O’s 
    passing it around on the deck from the O’s will take our aerially dominant defence apart and they’ll run out winners .
    I can’t see any life where we nick a third Wembley play off win and 4th play off success
    we’re due a final loss and here comes number one 

    fuck off you miserable git , sorry just saying how I see it going
    too many cagey crabs in our team and if Berry doesn’t play then another lump of attacking guile will be missing , TC needs his battery recharging and to remove himself from Grimmers pocket. 
    Yeah definitely remember them doing that twice this season
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  • stoneroses19stoneroses19
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Starinnaddick said:
    I know that Godden, Berry and Hylton have all been involved in play offs and Curtis Fleming was in the Cup Final with Borough but Orient have Pratley who was with us in 2019 and Swansea in about 2011. Have either of us got anyone else with Wembley experience? 
    Maynard-Brewer was in the "squad" when we won in 2019 as you see him involved in the celebration for Bauer's goal - Gillesphey and Docherty have got experience of winning promotion from League One

    Edwards has experience in the Scottish Play-Offs with Dunfermline. 
    I always forget how long Maynard-Brewer has actually been with us.
  • ValiantphilValiantphil
    Is it our first time playing a match with VAR  in use ?
  • oohaahmortimeroohaahmortimer
    Scoham said:
    oohaahmortimer said:
    0-2 to the O’s 
    passing it around on the deck from the O’s will take our aerially dominant defence apart and they’ll run out winners .
    I can’t see any life where we nick a third Wembley play off win and 4th play off success
    we’re due a final loss and here comes number one 

    fuck off you miserable git , sorry just saying how I see it going
    too many cagey crabs in our team and if Berry doesn’t play then another lump of attacking guile will be missing , TC needs his battery recharging and to remove himself from Grimmers pocket. 
    If Berry’s missing I expect Gilbert would start again, and he’s definitely not a crab.
    Yeah , he’s a lightweight show pony who hit a couple of decent crosses against Orient … 
  • oohaahmortimeroohaahmortimer
    I’ve come out of betting retirement to lay us winning I think it’s more an evens game than us odds on (thankfully I’m really shit at gambling ) 
  • oohaahmortimeroohaahmortimer
    the previous times we played them they’d lost their previous two league games and we needed injury time winners to beat them ….

    This time they’ve been showing a bit better form so it’s a different animal 

  • swords_aliveswords_alive
    I've got a dilemma as I too fancied Orient and got 7/1 for them to be promoted, now being offered cash out. Don't know whether to take it and enjoy the game or let it run to get the compensation value. First world problem really i suppose.
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