Date: Saturday, 5th December Kick Off: 3:00pm Venue: American Express Community Stadium Karel Fraeye's men make a short trip down to the seaside, to meet an undefeated Brighton and Hove Albion side that has seen recent luck since the appointment of Chris Houghton, an experienced manager in both the Premier League (Norwich and Newcastle) and Championship. This would have been most times a sold out away games, but it seems under our current ownership, we have struggled to fill the away end, to an extent that tickets will be sold on the day. Many meetings have occurred since our days in League One, not many of them for good for us, and it is seemingly that the two teams come May will be heading in opposite directions. In other news, we have seen two managerial changes occur in the Championship with Reading sacking Steve Clarke and highly rated Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebaink taking over the helm at Queens Park Rangers. There are a few names that are being thrown into the hat to take over at Reading, the favourite being Nigel Pearson, though not one mention of Guy Luzon. The Opposition Despite their unbeaten run, it has been announced yesterday that Brighton & Hove Albion are running at £10million losses for the year. If promotion by Chris Houghton this year is not successful, this could see some of their big players leave come the end of the season. In comparison to our attack, they are bolstered by experienced players such as former M.K. Dons and Hammer Sam Baldock and Bobby Zamora (who's always scoring). Given their run of form, this will be a game they'd be expected and probably win comfortably despite most of their wins this season being by a goal margin. In their line up we would also expect to see former Addick Dale Stephens starting for the seagulls, another one of our players sold by Duchâtelet destined for the Premier League. Current Form ** Statistics based on previous five league fixtures So far on our travels in the last five games we've only managed to score two goals, coming from games against Cardiff and our only away in this season against Birmingham. Given our defensive frailties and inexperience, highlighted during our live game on Sky against Ipswich Town, it is no wonder our goal difference is such, or continue to lose games 3 - 0. Head-To-Head Since 2009, after circumstances saw both teams in the same league, Charlton has had a rather abysmal record against Brighton & Hove Albion, only securing two wins out of ten occurrences. The wins occurring under Phil Parkinson's time, the other in a nail biting 3 - 2 victory on Boxing Day under Chris Powell. Since Duchâtelet has taken over we have failed to beat Brighton & Hove Albion, conceding on average 2 goals per visit. Club Updates: Head Coach Press Conference Team Line Up Whilst Jackson is travelling with the team, and despite woeful performances of players like Simon Makienok and Morgan Fox, we will probably start to see Ricardo Vaz Tê, I hope alongside Reza Ghoochannejhad and a few minor changes. It seemed that we only came alive when they came on, post-Jackson injury. please log in to view this image On a sad note, the diamond has not been working for us, and I still think it won't work in this game. Odds Massive odds against us, but given our opponent it is unsurprising. League Table & Fixture Outcome Don't need to spell this one out... 0 - 3 loss. Back The Team, Hate The Regime! #COYR #COYA
Looks like nobody is going for a charlton victory again... I must admit I'm going to chuck on a few quid at btts charlton win as 15/1 is a HUGE price. I know the stats back the odds up, but what's s fiver between friends. As for my actual prediction - I see us being 2-0 down at half time. Undecided if they get a third, or if we hold them in the second half, from which Carol will take "great heart" from. 2-0 Brighton. Maybe a sending off for good measure.
Depends if we play with the same character we showed last week, but if we do, and assuming JJ will not start, I can see Brighton filling their boots. So I'll go for a 3-0 defeat. The frightening thing will be KF being interviewed post defeat.
Maybe make a game of what Carol will say. I'll go first: 1) we played very well once Brighton took their foot off the gas when scoring their second.
We should get the run around tomorrow BUT Brighton have to lose a game sometime, coupled with having not won a game by more than a one goal margin all season, I'm going for a miraculous win with our only shot on goal and my bet at 6/1 comes in.
On paper our team looks capable of scoring a goal or two, but looks very vulnerable at the back. Our only hope is if Henderson has a daft day.
Not sure, FHB. From the team in the original post there can't be more than 5-6 goals scored in that side?
China's team has 4 attacking players, but I don't think they'll all play. Reza deserves a start, and Vaz Te has to start, so I think Lookman will be benched, either Jacko or Ba will play.
CHARLTON | Henderson, Solly (c), Bauer, Lennon, Fox, Diarra, Cousins, Ghoochannejhad, Gudmundsson, Lookman, Vaz Te #cafc SUBS | Pope, Sarr, Holmes-Dennis, Ba, Charles-Cook, Ahearne-Grant, Makienok #cafc Why has Holmes- Dennis been dropped. Good to see Harry Lennon playing. Looks like a very attacking formation.
I thought TH-D had done enough to displace Fox at LB. He's certainly got a lot more to offer going forward but as Dickp says this is an attacking line-up for an away game, maybe TH-D will start a home game.
