Charlton v Barnsley | Sat 1 Feb | 3pm KO | Match Preview, Predictions, News & Views

Charlton Athletic v Barnsley
Saturday 1st February 2020 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: John Brooks (prev. games: Charlton 1-0 Leeds)

Introduction
Football returns for Charlton fans this weekend after a break of almost two weeks – FA Cup commitments would see our tie with Fulham brought forward, in what was a deserved draw, we saw the signs that the Addicks can yet pull way from the predicament they currently find themselves in. This Saturday we welcome fellow strugglers: Barnsley to the Valley, it’s a game where three points could prove to be vitally important, yet with another three months of football to go, it’s not a game where our future will be decided!!

The Opposition
Name: Barnsley (23rd) | Manager: Gerhard Struber
Ground: Oakwell
Previous Result: Barnsley 2-2 Charlton Athletic

It was early in the season when these two sides would meet; the Addicks with maximum points after two games would travel to Yorkshire in good spirits; Barnsley themselves would play the role of hosts as a team who hadn’t lost at home in over a year – When the full time whistle was blown you’d struggle to argue that a 2-2 draw wasn’t a fair result, our opponents showed the sort of form we’d seen from them in League One, whilst it was a typical performance from a Charlton side starting the season strongly.

For the Tykes though, it was just one of a handful of points they would pick up for a number of months… A run (similar to that of our own at present) would see Daniel Stendel sacked with the relatively unknown: Struber entering English Football for the first time… Yet the Austrian could be a shrewd choice, he would guide Wolfsburger AC (not the Volkswagen works team) to their first Europa League campaign before being lured to the Championship.

With his appointment in November; results had slightly improved, a 4-2 defeat at Portsmouth last weekend in the FA Cup could be a blow to the confidence of a team who’ll be desperate for three points, and even then will it be enough? – Our opponents this weekend stole three points in our last relegation six pointer, yet it would be the Yorkshiremen who would return to League One

Proof that win or lose on Saturday… Nothing gets decided this early with so many games left!!

Charlton Team News
When the clocks chime 11pm tomorrow night we’ll finally be able to bear witness to the Charlton squad that will guide us to the end of the season –One thing that will be obvious is that both Steve Gallen and Lee Bowyer will be working round the clock to bring in reinforcements, the former should enjoy any rest he can get before starting all over again in a few months time!!

In terms of current squad availability we can finally look like a team rather than a day care centre; Sam Field the latest to return to match day contention, you’d think that Chuks Aneke could also have some involvement; the Milton Keynes Dons signing has found his shooting boots after four goals in two games for the U23s