Match Day Thread Bristol City vs. Charlton Athletic

Date: Saturday, 26th December 2015
Kick Off: 3:00pm
Venue: Ashton Gate
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It seems that not even the spirt of Christmas could have lifted our players, which their penultimate fixture before the big day ended in a predictably predictable 4 - 0 loss away to Burnley; despite Burnley's fine opening to the season had struggled to score over the last four games. Our form is seemingly shot under inexperienced and relatively unknown 'interim' coach Karel Fraeye, who is mustering only 0.81 points and conceding a massive 2.5 goals per game. It is no surprise that many of our fan base are believing that we are sleepwalking to relegation. There has been rumblings that the Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust will be participating in the upcoming protests, as a latest poll of 625 participants revealed that 90% backed protests against the regime that any initiatives that they are conjuring up such as target 20k now seems like a fairy tale. Let us hope that we can start to accumulate points before the new year is out. Give our putrid away following to date, I cannot see many fans making the 332 mile round trip this boxing day, which is a shame given that during previous seasons we had relatively good turn out.

Having a think back to previous boxing day games, we had exciting games, such as Cardiff last season, with a superb solo goal from Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson to rescue a point after Callum Harriott was shown red after twelve minutes gone; the thrilling 3 - 2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion during our 2012/2013 campaign a game in which, produced a fine performance by Laurie Wilson. The 2011/2012 League One promotion campaign saw us come from behind twice against Yeovil Town for Danny Green to score the winner in the 90th Minute. One of the more nail biting moments in a Boxing Day match was rescuing a point against Swindon Town, when Miguel Llera score in the 98th minute to the chorus of '9 men, we only had 9 men' as Sam Sodje and Deon Burton were both sent off in the first half.

To go back even further, I have seen us beat Chelsea on Boxing Day, 4 - 2, but that now seems a lifetime or three ago!

The Opposition
Steve Cotterill has been in charge now for around 2 years at Bristol City. During his time at the club, he's delivered promotion from League One (after winning the league) and won a Football League Trophy. This is their first season back in the Championship and have like us struggled this season. Currently there is two places and two point difference between the clubs moving into the boxing day fixture, and no doubt Steve Cotterill relishes the opportunity to play out of form Charlton at this point in the season. He believes that a win for Bristol City will cut us adrift from the other teams in and around the relegation zone. He's also called on their fans turn up the volume and make Boxing Day a tough and hostile one for us.

Current Form

Bristol City definitely have the better form going into this match having accumulated two draws and one win, in addition to having the more difficult run of games between the two teams, having played QPR, Hull and a revamped Blackburn Rovers under Paul Lambert. Apart from our rare win this season against Birmingham, we have failed to win away from The Valley in ten out of our eleven matches, the last few being heavy defeats of over three goals conceded.

Boxing Day Form

**italics denotes boxing day games moved due to policing, snow cancellation or televised

Thought that I'd do something special, as Boxing Day is pretty much anything goes and a right pain when it comes to accumulators. Between both Bristol City we have accumulated the same goals scored and point across the last ten Boxing Day fixtures. During the last ten games, the teams have not met on 26th December, but it appears that we have the better Boxing Day form over the last couple of seasons. Whilst this is not a reflection of this season, we appear to have the better defence.

Head-To-Head

It's quite clear to see that we have been the better of the two teams, that over the 59 clashes between the Bristol City and Charlton Athletic, 52% of these has resulted in a win in our favour. During the 2012/2013 season we done the double over Bristol City, in a closing day fixture (4th May) which saw the team relegated into League One. Prior to this season, the last time the two sides met was in the 2008/2009 campaign Bristol City done the double over us, in a season which we suffered similar fate, being relegated into League One. Due to being in different leagues, there has only been six games over the last nine years.

Club Updates
There has been no updates for the upcoming fixture against Bristol City. However, through the News Shopper and South London Press, we have a few injury concerns:

"Patrick Bauer looks set to miss [...] Boxing Day clash at Bristol City [...] and Portuguese striker Ricardo Vaz Te is touch and go. [...]Holding midfielder Ahmed Kashi is unlikely to play again this season" Read Full Article by Clicking Here

"The club are hopeful that Ademola Lookman and Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson [...] will be fit to return" Read Full Article by Clicking Here

Team Lineup
With our now critical injury crisis, I can see some of the academy players called up with fielding something like below:

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Odds

It looks like Bristol City are odds on to win this game, given our shocking away performances this season. If you're feeling optimistic, given that many of our performances end in 3 - 0 or 4 - 0 losses, the bookies currently have these up for 14/1 or 33/1 retrospectively.

Fixtures and League Table

Some key fixtures for us are: MK Dons vs. Cardiff, Rotherham vs. Bolton. Some tasty fixtures over Boxing Day is Brentford vs. Brighton and Hull vs. Burnley

Outcome
I don't think that we're going to win this game. Bristol City are a team in a similar position. I think that this is going to end up being a boring 0 - 0 draw. A point would be more beneficial for Bristol City, whereas we need the win to start getting out the relegation zone, and I don't think that either team will want to jeopardise any points at the moment.

Needless to say, #COYR #COYA

 

I'm going on Boxing Day, and will try to post a few thoughts after the game.

Must win game.

Bristol City are one of the sides we must finish above to stay up.

 

We have lost quite easily to the teams around us, there is no reason for this not too change.

 

I'm expecting another heavy defeat. I hope WAggy scores against us.

 

I'm very appreciative that you still put such effort in to these pre game reports considering the crap we are being served. I think I speak with everyone when I say thank you.

For the game - it will be a reprieve for Steve Cotterill who may now last to January and use the openers wealth to push for survival.

Meanwhile, we are left with Fraeye. And a rubbish squad. And a rubbish owner. And a rubbish CEO.

2-0 Bristol.

 

Given that Foxes are an endangered species on Boxing Day, I am hoping that we don't see our one today.

I am also looking forward to seeing Carol's latest revolutionary formation - maybe we will get a variation of the 4-0-6 he tried against MKD and Bolton ?

That will be me done then until Colchester away, although I will go to the Valley for protests if our fans grow some balls.

 

Let me predict Carol's Post match ...

"We were the better team for the first 10 minutes and then Bristol City scored, my players seemed to lose heart when they looked at me for inspiration but they quickly realised I was a complete idiot who has no idea how to change tactics during a game, I asked my assistant for his recommendations but as he has never played/worked in England before he also was of no help.... finally I turned to Jase for advice but he just said that he wished he was still in charge of the U21's and that I was on my own"

"Further, I will be offering Katrien my resignation in the morning"

 

Fox - who was torn apart by Burnley - retains over the impressive THD?

4 strikers on the pitch when conceding goals is our main problem.

A defensive partnership where one went public in their criticism of the other.

Charlton Athletic 2013- Line up

Hendo
Solly Lennon Diarra fox
Reza cousins JJ lookman
Big Crap Vaz Te

 

I cannot remember a weaker Charlton team for a league match.

 

Maybe not, but have you seen a team that smiles this much? That's what really matters.

 

Sarr on for the injured Diarra.

 

Half hour gone, and not a single goal in the Championship in nine matches. That must be a record.

 

We are fortunate to have such strength in depth.

 

Bristol 1-0

 

It's 4-2-4. Worked OK for Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

 

What a shower of ****e we are. Diarra is a big miss for us. Naby Sarr alongside Harry Lennon, expect more goals in the second half for Bristol City.

 

But not Charlton 2013 in 2015

 

Brizzle miss a pen. They are fully in control by the sound of it.

 

Tony Watt apparently having a blinder.

BBC say the fee Cardiff will pay is £1million. Or as I prefer - half a Nabby Sarr.

 

1-1

Scenes - Harry Lennon