Charlton at The Valley

Charlton Athletic vs Bristol City
Match Preview

Alan Pardew's Charlton Athletic host Bristol City this evening in what is a huge six pointer for both sides. With genuine hopes of an automatic promotion themselves, Charlton will seek to be the first team to do the double over Bristol City this season with a win at The Valley. Having been on the wrong end of a bizarre 5-3 hiding at Blackpool a fortnight ago, The Addicks responded by pulling out a great away perfomance in the 2-0 win against Sheffield United. Currently lying in fifth, Charlton are seven points adrift of Stoke City in second place, so winning this game will be seen as crucial.

HOW THEY LINE UP

They operated in a 4-5-1 versus Sheffield United, with experienced Nicky Weaver in goal, on-loan right back Greg Halford, who was recently criticised by Pardew after the below par performance against Blackpool, and on the left hand side of defence is Kelly Youga, whom City had on loan two seasons back, but has improved since then. The centre halves will be McCarthy and Sam Sodje, who some will remember from his Brentford days.

Although, they played with 5 in midfield last week, it seems Pardew fancies a 4-4-2 formation against City, with Darren Ambrose on thr right, Jerome Thomas on the left and Zheng Zhi and Matty Holland completing a very experienced midfield, a midfield in fact that was utilised in the Premier League.

Up front is the bustling Chris Iwelumo, who scored the late winner at Ashton Gate, and the intelligent Varney will offer a different threat.

LATEST NEWS

Charlton players Scott Sinclair, Ben Thatcher and Lee Cook all completed a reserve game this week and will be pushing for a place in the starting line up. Algerian international Madjid Bougherra is out with a knee injury. It is rumoured Sinclair could be handed his full debut, so Brian Wilson will face a different challenge than that of Pedersen at the weekend.

CITY NEWS


A delighted Gary Johnson will surely name an unchanged starting eleven. If a 4-4-2 is Pardew's preferred formation Nicky Carle should have space to link the midfield with Adebola. Wilson, who stood in for Bradley Orr against Hull magnificently faces the threat of Jerome Thomas or Scott Sinclair, and the battle of Iwelumo and McCombe could prove crucial. Charlton will be a threat with direct set pieces, including Greg Halford's long throw ins, so Basso's decision making needs to be spot on. Johnson was quoted today as saying he wants Murray to be involved in the 16, a sign of Sproule's recent inconsistency.


LIKELY LINE UP


Basso

Wilson McCombe Fontaine McCallister

Sproule Elliott Johnson McIndoe

Carle

Adebola


I am hoping for a point in this tricky tie. As with many away games this season, City will look to soak up early pressure and gradually take hold of posession. Charlton have let out a battle cry of this being a must win game, and that brings pressure, if City stand firm we can come away from the Valley with an away point. However, an early goal could set the tone for another away day horror show. A 1-1 draw with another Adebola strike would be fantastic. C'mon the reds!!!


TRIVIA


If Youga does play for Charlton Athletic this evening it will be the first time he has played against us since Scunthorpe United lost 2-1 at Ashton Gate in the early part of this season. Perhaps Lee Trundle could pull his magic daps out of his boot bag at The Valley tonight and produce another glorious winner like he did in that tie?

Ross Verbals