Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday Saturday 01 November 2014 3pm Kick-Off After spending the majority of the season in hiding what a match to return for… You could say that there are three types of matches in a season when it comes to importance, the two obvious ones are firstly the standard matches, the games against Blackburn Rovers or Middlesbrough, a match with little importance, the second type is the Derby, these are extremely important especially when you think of Millwall, the third type of match maybe isn’t so obvious yet it’s the fiercely contested game between two sides who have history yet miles apart geographically (Gillingham v Swindon Town for example)… In Charlton’s case one of the most contested fixtures of late has to against our opposition this Saturday: Sheffield Wednesday. Looking back through the history books you could probably say the feud started in 1999 when the Owls relegated Charlton from the Premier League in our first season back in the top flight, yet it was in our League One title winning year that the main tension has been built from… With the Addicks as run-away Champions one Wednesday Player (Gary Madine) decided to come out saying that Charlton were the most undeserved Champions in England that season (despite no team gaining more points) and since that day war has been declared between the two sets of fans… Of course it didn’t help last season when the Addicks twice returned from Hillsborough with wins under their belts and ultimately blocking a Sheffield Derby in the FA Cup on one of those occasions… Oh well never mind. Returning to Championship action though and after a glorious unbeaten start to the season, the Addicks have struggled since the last International Break, two defeats out of three (both coming on Weekend Dates), mean that the last time Charlton tasted success on a Saturday was over a month and a half ago against Watford. THE EX-ADDICK – PAOLO DI CANIO This week’s link between the two sides is probably a player that most people will forget actually played for Sheffield Wednesday, of course Paolo Di Canio’s most famous moment came in a Wednesday shirt; after being sent off in a game against Arsenal, Di Canio’s furious reaction saw him push Referee: Paul Alcock to the ground earning him an eleven match ban. DI Canio would only spend two years at Hillsborough, and departing Sheffield in 1999 he would go on to appear for London Rivals: West Ham United in a four year spell, in 2003 he came south of the river on a Free Transfer to Charlton Athletic and although he would spend just one year at the Valley his presence on the pitch almost guided the Addicks into Europe for the first time (Only for someone to move mid-season to Chelsea). Paolo would spend the last four years of his playing career in Italy before returning to England as a Manager at League Two: Swindon Town, in his first season he took the Robbins back to League One and would ultimately leave the club in 2013 over a dispute (Classic Paolo style), joining Sunderland in late 2013 he would save them from relegation yet only five games into the following season he would be sacked and has been out of work since. LAST TIME Picking a match out of random, I have to look no further than last season’s second match at Hillsborough in the Championship between these two sides… with Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 after a matter of minutes, and the Addicks struggling to avoid relegation an inspired comeback which involved Marvin Sordell scoring his first hat-trick for the club meant the Addicks would win the match 3-2 and return to London with three points. CHARLTON TEAM NEWS Injuries have become one of the main problems for Charlton over recent weeks, struggling with a small and young squad Bob Peeters has lost; Igor Vetokele… Johann Gudmundsson… Rhoys Wiggins… Stephen Henderson… Chris Solly… Frederic Bulot and Joe Gomez to injury at some point in this campaign. There does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel though… In his weekly press conference, Peeters has confirmed that Vetokele, Gudmundsson and Wiggins could all return this weekend, although the one player most Addicks will have their eyes on this weekend will be Karlan Ahearne-Grant who could be set to make his full home debut for the Addicks after an impressive outing against Fulham last Friday night. POSSIBLE SIDE TO FACE SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY Henderson Solly – Ben-Haim – Bikey – Wiggins Wilson – Buyens – Jackson – Cousins Tucudean – Ahearne-Grant SUBSTITUTES BENCH Pope.. Fox.. Onyewu.. Harriott.. Moussa.. Gudmundsson... Vetokele PREDICTION Charlton Athletic 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Jackson.. Ahearne-Grant)
Great to have you back, A4L. And I still say that Alcock should have yellow-carded himself for diving when di Canio pushed him. The team mostly picks itself barring one or two injuries, but I expect Moussa to start instead of Ahearne-Grant. Bulot's injury should mean that Harriott keeps his place on the bench. I said after the Fulham game that our luck had run out, and so I predict 1-2 to the Owls. So far this season we haven't had to sit and watch away fans celebrating a win, which was the norm last season, but without Vetokele up front I can't be confident.
With Morro gone on loan today, is Joe still injured? If so who's going to be our CB on the bench? Can't stand Wednesday, dislike them more than Millwall for some reason, THE MASSIVE! is probs what p!sses me off. Anyway, in an ideal world it would be a 6-0 drubbing, but it will either be a really iffy 1-0 win or a 1-3 loss sadly. Need Igor to play
Super stuff A4L, we've missed these If Igor doesn't start then I would play Tucudean with KAG up front. Bob says JBG isn't ready to play a whole game so I guess Wilson will continue on the right, with Cousins out to the left again to accommodate Buyens' return. I think we can win this. Sheffield Wednesday are in an awful run of form (although, having said that, we are the kind of club against whom teams in bad form get that result they desperately need). 1-0, Buyens with the goal.
Updated the Substitutes Bench to include new Defender: Oguchi Onyewu I reckon we've signing him as he'll be happier sitting on the bench as backup (i.e. not had much luck over recent seasons) whereas Morrison has been constantly playing so wont be enjoying the change in fortune
When I've been pessimistic - we've won or drawn. When I was optimistic against Fulham - we got thrashed. I really don't know what side will turn up, but we know sheff weds is always tough, if not pretty. As much as I dislike them, they are always well organised and expect the same tomorrow. I think it will be another game where we conceed too much possession but manage to gain a point. 1-1
Afternoon all Charlton: Henderson, Solly, Wiggins, Bikey, Ben Haim, Moussa, Jackson, Buyens, Cousins, Tucudean, Ahearne-Grant Subs: Pope, Gudmundsson, Harriott, Onyewu, Vetokele, Wilson, Fox Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Mattock, Loovens, Semedo, Palmer, Nuhiu, Maguire, Drenthe, Lees, Helan, Maghoma Subs: Kirkland, May, Taylor-Fletcher, Coke, McCabe, Lee, Dielna So after a good performance coming off the bench at Fulham KAG earns a starting place alongside Tucudean. Igor is back on the bench for now, as is JBG, with Moussa retaining his starting spot. Onyewu starts as a sub. Former Addick Jose Semedo plays for the Owls. COYA!
I go for 1-1. Cannot expect more with our powder-puff attack. We really need to win, though. Maybe our last chance of a win until we play Blackpool on Dec 13th.
At the other end Nuhiu dives to try and reach a curling cross, but it's just too far in front of him.
Drenthe goes on a careering run from the right and fizzes a low, left-footed shot just wide of the far post.
Goal for Wednesday. Drenthe drives at the defence with options left and right dragging our defenders away. He ploughs on and shoots left-footed from outside the area into the bottom corner. 0-1
Long ball to KAG on the break, he eventually shoots left-footed but Westwood holds on at the second attempt.
