Charlton Athletic v Reading Saturday 5th April 2014 3pm Kick-Off Referee: Andrew Madley Well well well… Another victory for new Manager Jose Riga on Tuesday night has seen the Addicks once again move three points further from the final relegation spot (currently occupied by Barnsley) and closer to the teams slightly above them, indeed should Charlton take maximum points from their fixture this Weekend and Birmingham lose against Doncaster then they’d find themselves in the dizzy heights of 20th position and I think then the physios will be passing round the oxygen masks rather than oranges as Charlton move to higher altitudes… What a difference one save, one goal can do!! Of course I’m talking not just about the sublime finish from Reza Ghoochanneijad (first Iranian scorer at the club, first goal for Reza since joining from Standard Liege etc… a goal that partly gave us three points against Leeds United midweek) yet also the amazing save from Ben Hamer to deny Leeds from the penalty spot in injury time, there are certainly moments that define a season… could that be the crucial moment that saves Charlton’s season and ensures Championship survival for another 12-months at least. Well unfortunately this is Charlton Athletic we’re talking about… We’ve been in this situation before, a 4-0 win over West Ham United (in our final Premier League season) meant fans went home that day thinking we were safe from relegation yet Football can be a cruel sport and ironically it was West Ham who survived come the end of that season whilst the Addicks were relegated and began this long exile from England’s top division… So like that day, we’ve won the battle yet not the war just yet… We’ve nine fixtures remaining and we need to be at our best to get points from each and every one of them beginning this Saturday at home to Reading 03.12.2013 – Reading 1-0 Charlton If there was a match we’ve lost this season due to our bad luck then the away match at Reading has to come close as that fixture… Denied a clear penalty early in the First-Half (which would have surely resulted in Reading going down to 10-men), things got worse for Charlton within minutes as Reading took a 1-0 lead through Billy Sharp, although the Addicks put in a battling display in the second half there was no way through to the Reading goal and the points stayed in Berkshire that evening. Reading at the Valley Of course am not the messiah (and no I’m not a very naughty boy either) so if I get this wrong then please don’t stone me… It’s been 20 years since Reading came away victorious at the Valley a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Simon Osborn and Michael Gilkes with a consolation from Mark Robson… Unfortunately that season was also the last time that Reading did the double over the Addicks with another 2-1 victory coming at Elm Park. Reading this Season Reading have improved as the season has gone on this year with Nigel Atkins trying to reach the Premier League with his second club (after guiding Southampton up a few years ago)… they currently sit in 6th place so occupy the final Play-Off spot yet only three points separate them from Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town and Brighton and Hove Albion in the places beneath them. So on to the stats and in terms of the Form Guide Reading currently sit in 11th in the League, three places and a point behind the Addicks who are up to 8th after their win over Leeds... In terms of victories on the road for Reading they’ve won nine matches whilst losing on six occasions, four matches have been drawn whilst Alex McCarthy has kept five clean sheets. In terms of goals, the Addicks will need to keep a close eye on Adam Le Fondre (13) and Pavel Pogrebnyak (11) whilst Neil Blackman is next on the scoring charts with (4)… Reading’s biggest win on the road this season was a 3-0 victory over neighbours Millwall whilst their biggest defeat was a shock 5-2 drubbing at the hands of our good friends Sheffield Wednesday (the shock being that it was Wednesday’s first win of the season)   Charlton Team News As mentioned in the last Match Thread the big news against Leeds United was the fact that Yohann Thuram refused to travel as he wasn’t getting any game time (and I think after that match its clear why Ben Hamer is) so it’ll be interesting to see if he returns this Weekend or whether Dillon Phillips continues as backup (whilst Nick Pope can only be recalled if a Goalkeeper is injured) In terms of the rest of the pitch I’d be surprised if there is any change in the back line after the Addicks kept yet another clean sheet in midweek whilst Reza Ghoochanneijad should keep his spot in the starting eleven following his first goal for the club. Possible Side to Face Reading Hamer Wilson – Morrison – Dervite – Wiggins Cousins – Poyet Ghoochanneijad – Ajdarevic – Jackson Obika Substitutes Bench Phillips – Nego – Wood – Harriott – Petrucci – Pigott – Sordell A4L’s Prediction: 1-0 (Ghoochanneijad)
I can't imagine how grovelling the letter of apology from Thuram would have to be to get on the bench after refusing to attend a match, and frankly I don't want him after that. Gonna be a toughie (again) as this lot need points too, so we need the defence to be at it's meanest, and Church to be at his furthest. After tuesday, logic at the Valley sings of an away win, but Jose's got the boys into a semblance of a team, so I'll go for a 1-1 draw.
I like that team. However I can't see us winning this, because we only seem to win on Tuesdays now. 0-1.
hi, friendly Royals fan here; RR's Match Presentation Charlton v Reading in case you'd like a peep: http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/10063801/1 Lots of info for both Royals & Addicks fans and fullest respect for Charlton. I put down a 1-1 draw in our predictions ...
Great work again A4L. I think you've got the right team and the right bench except for Green, who I think Jose has given up on, and we have a winger there already. So it has to be Petrucci in his place as a CM option. Another 0-0.
TRAVEL UPDATE: We're told that there will be no trains travelling to Charlton Station via Blackheath tomorrow due to engineering works. Good idea to make alternative arrangements if that's your usual route. ‪#‎cafc
Thanks FHB... Completely forgot about Petrucci... Have put him on the bench in place of Green (Seems Riga has also given up on Church) In terms of trains its because of a derailment between Charlton and Blackheath on Wednesday... Because of the day and age we now life in it'll probably take 10 managers standing around discussing how best it should be done whilst they watch (they'll call it observing) a Polish guy (Hence why Piotr wont be playing Saturday) do all the work
0-3 to Reading Le Fondre is probs my fave striker outside the top flight and we only score in a tuesday
I am sure Riga will start with Church if fit. Despite all the abuse he is our top scorer and should really be up for this one against his old club. I think Ghoochanneijad has had his moment in the sun and may not score again this season. Like one of those desert cacti which flowers for one day every other year. And Church puts in so much other work to give others a chance. I cannot see Reading giving us the freedom of the park like Leeds did. Reza on the bench and no Sordell or Green.
Rumour is that Thuram refused to travel because he was tipped off that an unfortunate accident involving banana skins had been arranged to happen at a service station en route.
I'll take a draw from this match and a win on Tuesday. Or vice versa. Four points will be an excellent return. 1-1. I wish you all a safe journey.
Afternoon all Charlton: Hamer; Wilson, Wiggins, Morrison, Dervite; Harriott, Cousins, Poyet, Jackson, Ajdarevic, Church Subs: Phillips, Ghoochannejhad, Sordell, Obika, Wood, Petrucci, Fox Reading: McCarthy; Gunter, Obita, Pearce, Gorkss; Williams, Guthrie, McAnuff (C), Drenthe; Pogrebnyak Le Fondre Subs: Federici, Kelly, Bridge, Morrison, McCleary, Blackman, Robson-Kanu So Vol was wrong when he said Riga had jettisoned Church as he returns to the starting line-up (Riga going for the Curse of the Former Player). Harriott starts too, and Reza drops to the bench where Phillips replaces the in-disgrace Thuram. No sign of Pigott. COYA!
