Oxford v Charlton | Tue 16 Oct | 7:45pm KO | Match Preview, Predictions, News & Views

Oxford United v Charlton Athletic
Tuesday 17th October 2017 … 7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey)

Introduction
If each month in a Football season is treated as a benchmark then October is the month where the league table will finally begin to shake itself into some sort of resemblance for the season to come. For Charlton it appears as though it’ll be a season chasing promotion, whether that’s via the Play-Offs or automatically it remains to be seen, yet what does seem clear is the fact our slight September blip appears to be under control. This Tuesday night will mark the start of another double header away from the Valley, facing two of our current top six rivals… Beginning with a trip to Oxford United, who like last season, are flying high once more.

The Opposition
Name: Oxford United | Manager: Pep Clotet
Ground: Kassam Stadium

Charlton fans will certainly tell you that appointing a foreign manager to the Football League is a risky move, four men from the continent over recent years have tried to take the reigns at Charlton yet have failed. That doesn’t mean though it doesn’t work, just look at Huddersfield and David Wagner as an example – Another side who are reaping the rewards are Oxford United…


Forced to replace Michael Appleton over the summer, the Oxford board decided to take a different route by appointing the unknown: Pep Clotet as manager… At just 40-years of age, the Spaniard has experience within England (having been assistant at Leeds and Swansea) yet this is his first managerial position in four years and based on his start you have to wonder why he’s not been back in Management before now… Just four defeats this season (with a sole loss at home) for the boys from up the hill mean that they’re just two points behind their opponents going into this latest midweek fixture.

The lofty position by Oxford is certainly all the more impressive by the fact that key players were lost over the summer with key players: Chris Maguire, Jonas Lundstrom and Marvin Johnson all departing for pastures new. Yet those incoming have been just as impressive; James Henry included signing on a free from Bolton Wanderers whilst Jack Payne in midfield will be key to an Oxford attack, he was part of the Huddersfield fairy tale from last season and has experience at this level with Southend.

Charlton Team News
Once again the Addicks thankfully came through Saturdays match without any issues meaning that Jason Pearce remains out sole injury worry at present… Mark Marshall too was missing on Saturday (tight calf) which was a surprise to many yet Karl Robinson has confirmed that the winger should be involved at some stage tomorrow evening. Fellow new signing: Ben Reeves continued his return from injury with more minutes on Saturday so we should expect more of the same against Oxford.

Much was made about the height of Jay Dasilva over the summer and whether it would be a hindrance against the more physical teams yet apart from Doncaster on Saturday that hasn’t happened… Despite the issue; Naby Sarr proved capable during his cameo so the Left-Back position shouldn’t be an issue – Tariqe Fosu continued his impressive run by scoring yet again on Saturday… Can it continue, I guess we’ll find out!!


Prediction
With Oxford being in their second season since returning to this level you have to wonder how difficult this game will be yet our opponents wont be a walkover and see a tight match… Like last month we now enter a double header with two challenging games, defeat in either match will leave a lot of work later in the season!!