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MATCH PREVIEW: Bristol City vs Charlton Athletic | Saturday 16th August 2025 - 3pm KO

ForeverAddicktedForeverAddickted
in General Charlton
Bristol City vs Charlton Athletic
Saturday 16th August 2025 - 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Benjamin Speedie

Introduction
Its been a near perfect start to 2025/26 for Charlton, two games into the new season, one in the League and one in the Cup, have resulted in two wins, albeit the latter against lower league opposition. We've also had four different goal scorers and are potentially seeing the next best thing to come through our Academy. Our focus though returns to the Championship this coming Saturday, and our first trip on the road, its these 23-matches that will really test our ability to hold our own at this level.

The Opposition
Name: Bristol City (1st) - Manager: Gerhard Struber
Ground: Ashton Gate
Last Week: Sheff Utd 1-4 Bristol City

The Super Computer must have been playing a bit of a cruel joke on Bristol City back in June, when it churned out the opening day fixtures in the Championship when they were handed the side that crushed them 6-0 in the Play-Off Semi-Finals just a few months ago... So I imagine there was a sense of revenge when Bristol City stormed out of the blocks at Bramall Lane putting a small amount of that disappointment to bed.

Even more impressive is the fact that Liam Manning, the man in charge last season, departed for Norwich over the summer. So to replicate that 6th place from last season will be difficult to replicate, especially as Bristol City (one of the few at this level now, to have not graced the Premier League) have a tendency to battle for mid-table... Enter; Gerhard Struber who in recent times has been part of the Red Bull family (with New York and Salzburg respectively). This though isn't his first spell in English Football, he'll be mostly remembered on these shores as being the Barnsley Manager to stage a remarkable escape to avoid relegation from this level in 2019/20, a stoppage time goal... the difference between Barnsley and Charlton returning to League One that season, where we'd remained until this summer!!

In terms of individuals and Bristol City have only made five signings (one on loan) so far this summer, so they're certainly happy with the standard of the squad... Striker: Emil Riis Jakobsen was brought in from Preston, whilst Scott Twine will be the one to watch out for, he's already got two goals this season, including a stunning free kick to open proceedings last Saturday.

Charlton Team News
The last time we graced Ashton Gate, we were cruelly denied a point thanks to a last minute winner that Bristol City journalists described as a moment better than sex... What Nathan Jones would make of a question like that, but I can't imagine his reaction would be overly different to that of Lee Johnson who was Manager of our opponents at that time.

What Nathan will have to contend with though, is the fact that plenty of individuals have taken their opportunity when handed to then in these two early games, so selecting an eleven wont be an easy job... Harvey Knibbs and Charlie Kelman though are lacking match fitness, so might have to deal with minutes from the bench, whilst Miles Leaburn has been pushing for a start. Elsewhere and there might be a slight concern about Josh Edwards, given his withdrawal against Watford, however given he stayed in the dugout, I imagine that swap was more precautionary than anything.

Kaminski
Ramsay - Jones - Bell
Apter - Coventry - Docherty - Edwards
Carey
Leaburn - Campbell

Substitutes: Mannion - Gillesphey - A.Mitchell - Costello - Anderson - Knibbs - Berry - Kelman - Olaofe
«134

Comments

  • usetobunkinusetobunkin
    Will take 0-0 for this one, that's what heart is saying, head however reckons 2-1. (Do hope I'm wrong!!) 
    See you all there!   
  • stoneroses19stoneroses19
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Another early Match Preview this week, don't get used to it, am off on my Holidays to Cornwall tomorrow, so wanted to get this out of the way before I can focus on other tasks :D
    Enjoy your holiday mate...but I do expect early previews for rest of season. Thanks 😉 
  • fenaddickfenaddick
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Another early Match Preview this week, don't get used to it, am off on my Holidays to Cornwall tomorrow, so wanted to get this out of the way before I can focus on other tasks :D
    Even early to comment on your own thread so I couldn’t make a joke about you being early. I’m in Cornwall too this week, enjoy and keep an eye out for any ships heading to the Premier League  
  • Char1t0nChar1t0n
    I've posted in other groups, but I do have a spare ticket for anyone looking to attend this match. No cost for the ticket, just inbox me for  further details.
  • BedsaddickBedsaddick
    Gonna be tough after their result against Sheff Utd but The Championship , is anything but predictable. If city underestimation us and we are on our game i can definitely see us getting something . 
    My heart says a 1-1 draw my head says a narrow loss 2-1. 
  • letthegoodtimesrollletthegoodtimesroll
    edited August 13
    Bedsaddick said:
    Gonna be tough after their result against Sheff Utd but The Championship , is anything but predictable. If city underestimation us and we are on our game i can definitely see us getting something . 
    My heart says a 1-1 draw my head says a narrow loss 2-1. 
    From the EFL highlights it looked like Sheffield United’s defence didn’t turn up and gave Bristol City their goals. Other than those incidences on Saturday and again last night when the ball was driven across our goal and fortunately no opposition player was close enough to divert it into the net our defence looks a lot more solid than Sheffield United’s did.
  • CrispyCrispy
    Think it will be the same team that started against Watford. Looking forward to this one and would take a point 
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  • Char1t0nChar1t0n
    Crispy said:
    Think it will be the same team that started against Watford. Looking forward to this one and would take a point 
    Yeah, give a boring, mediocre 0-0 :smile:
  • AndyGAndyG
    Even the optimistic me can’t see us getting anything from this game. I hope we start with Leaburn and Tanto as they seemed to gel last night and the added height in our box when needed is useful with mr stuck to my line Kaminski in goal 
  • PhilFor54PhilFor54
    Tanto for sure. He deserves a start and will be a big player for us this season I'm certain.
  • KettsJohnKettsJohn
    Take a draw all day here. Gonna be a real tough one. A win and we are in Dreamland. UTA
  • mascot88mascot88
    2-2 never give in - earning big respect from the City fans 


  • killerandflashkillerandflash
    A tough game, crucial we don't give away any direct free kick opportunities like Doc did on Saturday, as Twine is a brilliant free kick taker.

    I suspect the strike force will partially be chosen on match fitness, but in a game where we'll be under the cosh, it's crucial we have someone who can hold the ball up to relieve the pressure, so either Miles or Tanto to start up top.
  • ShootersHillGuruShootersHillGuru
    Always a tough place to go and off the back of that 1 - 4 win at Sheffield Utd I think Bristol City will be oozing confidence. I wonder if they will be this year’s surprise package. Keep it tight and don’t concede early and grow into the game will be I think our strategy. Hopefully we’ll come away with something but I suspect we won’t. 2 - 0 to BC.
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  • Lazy_eye_metaphorLazy_eye_metaphor
    I'd be delighted with a draw for this one,
  • blackpool72blackpool72
    Excellent preview as always FA. 

    I think most if not all of us would settle for a draw in this match , and that's what I'm going for.
    2 2 with Charlton scoring a late equaliser when we introduce our game changers. 
    Leaburn and Jones with the goals.

    Enjoy your holiday  mate.
  • cabblescabbles
    Hopefully the focus will be on frustrating them given their great win last week and it being their first home game of the season.  For me this sets the tone in terms of fixtures for the majority of this season, an established Championship side, much tougher than what we were used to last season and a prime example of the ‘stepping up’ that will be required by the team.  

    As it’s the second game of the season and we’re coming off the back of 2 wins with a lot of new players, I imagine effort and concentration will be high.  It’s going to have to stay high given the level of opposition, and I expect us to be as solid as we were last season, but a bit more emphasis on what we do when we get the ball to make sure we’re not under the cosh too much.

    keep a clean sheet and who knows.  I’d bite your hand off for 0-0 now if it were offered to me.  We just need to scrap for every point until we get to 52/53.  Simple as that 
  • eastterrace6168eastterrace6168
    edited August 14
    I think this one will be a good test for how we approach away fixtures, shame Godden is still sidelined, but feel we have enough to get at the very least a point out of this, but for some reason, my expectations are higher, my own feelings are leaning towards a win, maybe by a couple of goals, 0-2 or 1-3, but looking forward travelling home victorious, hopefully Kelman will break his duck for us with a goal...or two...
  • HoldkneebombHoldkneebomb
    Ref sounds quick
  • eastterrace6168eastterrace6168
    Dartaddick said:
    Going to the game with my son.  It is my first away game in twenty five years and his first.
    Hope you enjoy the day mate, and your son sees enough to want to go again, sure we will give it a good go...
  • BrazilianceBraziliance
    edited August 14
    We won't be conceding as many as Sheffield United you'd like to think, although, we are susceptible to an away tonking (Rotherham, Peterborough, Wrexham) and I am expecting one at some stage.

    Got some real quality Bristol City, player for player we don't really match them. Think we will really struggle in the midfield (which will be the theme a fair few times this season) Randell & Knight is a very good pairing. Jason Knight imo is a quality mid in this league, can do it all, and is pretty relentless.

    Would start Kelman and Tanto. We won't get many chances so we need to hope one of them chances falls to the best finisher at the club.

    Heart says a tough 1-1, head says a learning curve game for us and we lose 2-1. Should be a good day out either way 👍🏻
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