Good Morning All Today brings our last match before the 14 day international break (boo). Trying to spoil the next couple of weeks for us will be Birmingham - a bit of a Championship enigma for the past couple of seasons. The league table suggests this should be a foregone conclusion with 6th playing 20th, but when you look at Birmingham's away results they've actually picked up some valuable points against tough opposition: Bolton (D) Brentford (D) Norwich (D) Millwall (W) Their Two defeats on the road were Middlesborough and a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Wigan. Whilst away from St Andrews they have conceded 12 in their 6 games (yet to record a clean sheet), scoring 8. Key Man - Demarai Gray. The tricky 18 year old winger made his debut last season against.. Charlton Atheltic, in a 1-0 home defeat. Since then he has begun to establish himself in the first team and his performances this season have caught the eye of several top flight clubs. He's scored one goal this season but is more known for his mazy runs. Injuries: Jonathan Spector Neal Eardley Lee Novak Gavin Gunning Matt Green Top Scorers: Donaldson - 3 Thomas - 3 Caddis - 2 Charlton Athletic On the back of a big 0-1 victory over league leaders Norwich in midweek, the Addicks will be looking to cement their place in the top 6, with an outside chance of finding themselves in either of the top 2 spots. Still unbeaten, the home form has been the best outlet of points for us winning 3, but drawing the last two (which included our first shut out against M'boro). Tal Ben Haim and Joe Gomez are missing and BP has confirmed Morrison will make his first league start of the season in the heart of defence. Another notable absentee is Gudmundsson who is still missing with a bad ankle, so expect Wilson to keep his place in the starting 11. Key Man - Igor Vetokele. Having not scored in the previous 5 games, Igor will be hoping to be back amongst the goals. No one can fault his contribution to the team recently, especially when asked to spearhead a one man attack - but Birmingham do concede on the road, so he'll be hoping to receive a bit more service than he has in the last 2 home games. Match Betting: Charlton 6/5 Birmingham 9/4 Draw 23/10 Prediction 2-1 Charlton. Vetokele and Bulot.
And I was so looking forward to cheering Jonathan Spector's glorious return... I'm confident of getting a point or three; every game this season I've bet on away team/Charlton ht/ft and Charlton/Draw and they've not come off - this is the day!
Logic dictates that we should win this, but logic scarcely counts in the Championship. Nervy 1-0 win with a Buyens goal.
Nice one, SuperC. We will either win 4-1 or lose 0-1. It definitely won't be 6-6, so don't waste your money, Kish. COYR!
It's just started bucketing here in Forest Hill and the forecast is for rain all afternoon. Hopefully we will have something to cheer!
Charlton BTTS - Win is 15/4 Charlton/Draw - 14/1 Igor Vetokele - 13/8 anytime scorer Those are my bets for the day. I've also included us in a 23/1 acca: Citeh Liverpool Charlton B'burn P'boro Bayern
Thanks, SuperChrissy and bonus points for flush left layout. Nine times I forecast us to lose and nine times we did better, win or draw. The only time I forecast a win, away to Rotherham, they drew. 100% record of incompetence. I don't want to jinx our chances of a win today so I will forecast a 1 - 1 draw. Normally I would have 100% faith in Morrison but he has been starved of playing time this season. Hope he scores our goal from a corner or free kick. At least we won't have Zigic or Macheda to worry about. Wilson instead of Gudmundsson is an improvement. Support striker is our weakness. Watched Ishmael Miller yesterday. He did more than Tucudean, Bulot, and Gudmundsson put together.
Afternoon all Charlton: Henderson; Solly, Wiggins, Morrison, Bikey; Wilson, Buyens, Jackson, Cousins; Bulot, Vetokele Subs: Moussa, Harriott, Fox, Tucudean, Thomas, Ahearne-Grant Birmingham City: Randolph; Grounds, Robinson, Edgar, Gleeson, Donaldson, Cotterill, Reilly, Arthur, Davis, Caddis Subs: Doyle, Packwood, Hall, Johnstone, Lee, Gray, Thomas As expected, Morrison comes in for Ben Haim. Other than that we're unchanged. Terrell Thomas makes his first appearance on the very youthful-looking bench. Ex-Addick Darren Randolph is between the sticks for Birmingham. COYA!
VETOKELE SCORES!!! Bulot does well down the left and plays a delicious ball in for Igor to head home. 1-0
Buyens loses possession and Donaldson races into the box, but his shot goes over. Buyens complains that he was fouled, but it was a lucky escape.
Arthur puts it in, but the goal is ruled out for offside as Donaldson touched it on the way in. Understandable given that he was standing on the line.
