Nottingham Forest v Charlton Athletic 3pm Kick-Off - Saturday 6th December 2014 Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire) INTRODUCTION After the missing the last two match previews due to illness⦠Am happy to return for this Saturdays match between two sides, who had they faced up against each other earlier in the season would have created an intriguing match⦠Of course our opposition this weekend is none other than Nottingham Forest. Up until 18 October (my Birthday ironically), neither team had suffered a defeat yet with Nottingham Forest appearing on Sky Television against Cardiff City in an early kick-off their unbeaten run would end in a 2-1 defeat, leaving Charlton as the sole undefeated team in the Championship⦠Unfortunately the privilege of being in that position would last only a few hours as the Addicks would go down 1-0 against South Coast side: AFC Bournemouth⦠Since that day both teams have slowly started to slide down the table, Forest have since lost a total of five matches whilst the Addicks have only lost three (level with Ipswich Town as the two teams with the fewest defeats in Championship Football still this season). Of course last time out the Addicks once again had the privilege of having lost the fewest games all to themselves, and with Ipswich Town coming to the Valley in an early kick-off last Saturday, the run looked to continue⦠Sadly due to poor finishing from Charlton that wouldnât be the case and Ipswich would steal all three points with the last kick of the game from new loan Striker: Noel Hunt. Nottingham Forest on the other hand would also be suffering another defeat last Saturday as they travelled to resurgent; Birmingham City, yet there is hope for the Addicks this Saturday as Nottingham Forest didnât only lose 2-1 yet have subsequently lost Britt Assombalonga to suspension following the Strikerâs deliberate hand ball to keep out a Birmingham effort. Ultimately with these two sides sitting in 9th and 10th in the league, with both on 28-points⦠Anything can happen. THE EX-ADDICK Todays feature opposition player will thankfully be unable to line-up against Charlton this weekend, with injury keeping Andy Reid out until at least the New Year⦠Starting his career at Nottingham Forest; Reid would go on to make 150-appearance at the City Ground before a high profiled switch took him to White Hart Lane and Tottenham Hotspur, the move didnât work out though and after just one season would move to pastures new. His next club in 2005 would be none other than Charlton Athletic⦠Signed by Iain Dowie alongside such players as Andy Faye and Djimi Traore, Reid would be seen as one of the bright lights in an otherwise dark season at the Valley which saw Charlton relegated from the Premier League â In the following season, Reid would go on to impress once more (albeit in the Championship) which saw a January move to Premier League Sunderland⦠Further spells followed with Sheffield United and Blackpool before Andy Reid returned to his first club; Nottingham Forest in 2011⦠Andy Reid would only make 38-appearances for the Addicks yet will always be remembered fondly by the fans, a feeling shared with Andy Reid scoring (yet refusing to celebrate) when returning to the Valley last season in what was a 1-1 draw. CHARLTON TEAM NEWS Following the usual Thursday Press Conference⦠Bob Peeters can confirm that Yoni Buyens, Stephen Henderson and Rhoys Wiggins will all miss out through injury (although Rhoys has begun his rehabilitation so should hopefully return soon) â Other than that it simply remains to see which team Peetersâ decides to pick against Nottingham Forest this Saturday⦠Callum Harriott could retain his place up front alongside Igor Vetokele whilst Nick Pope, despite conceding late on against Ipswich should keep his place in Goal following a string of fine saves⦠LINE-UP Pope Solly â Ben-Haim â Bikey â Fox Gudmundsson â Coquelin â Jackson â Cousins Vetokele â Harriott SUBSTITUTES BENCH: Etheridge... Gomez... Onweyu... Wilson⦠Bulot⦠Tucudean⦠Ahearne-Grant PREDICTION: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Charlton Athletic (Vetokele)
Hope you're feeling better mate Forest away is always a tricky one - in recent years it's been dependant on what forest side turns up. They seem to be on course to be the under achievers again this season, which hasn't surprised me as I don't rate Pearce as a manager. I'll be making the journey up as my midland family are big forest fans - unfortunately I'll be in the home end. I'm feeling quite bullish about this one. I think at a minimum it will be 0-0, but hoping we can nick a goal. I'd be surprised if igor has a few more opportunities like last week and spurns them again. A back to the wall 0-1.
Nice to see the return of a well written and well considered thread on this site I too am travelling up on Saturday, but will be in the away end along with our other 250 regulars. Big game for us and for Bob Peeters. The faintest of indications that the wheels are starting to come off.
Great to have you back, A4L. A very strange season. For the first part we were not playing particularly well but luck was on our side and we were getting results. Now it's the other way round and I'm not confident. I think Bob has to stick with the Harriotts up front, and hope that he and Igor can form a partnership.
Is it the faintest indication the wheels are coming off? From the last 3 games we've won 1, drawn 1 and lost 1 - conceeding 1 and scoring 1. To be honest, it almost mirrors the last few months - with the exception to a heavy defeat at Fulham. I think we've played well in recent weeks, we really just lack a second striker. I thought the Harriotts did well against Ipswich, but he just snatched at a few too many chances and needed to have his head up a little bit more. A good away win at Forest and it will be business as usual. Couple of decent bets for the game: Under 0.5 is 8/1 Charlton at 4/1 seems big IMO. Charlton first goal 19/10 Charlton 0-1 - 11/1
Afternoon all Charlton: Pope, Solly, Fox, Ben Haim, Bikey-Amougou; Gudmundsson, Cousins, Coquelin, Jackson (c); Vetokele, Harriott Subs: Etheridge, Wilson, Gomez, Onyewu, Buyens, Pigott, Bulot Nottingham Forest: Darlow, Lichaj, Mancienne, Fryatt, Lansbury, Fox, Lascelles, Antonio, Ince, Paterson, Osborn Subs: De Vries, Wilson, Hunt, Blackstock, Vaughan, Burke, Tesche So we're unchanged from the side that lost to Ipswich. Pigott and Buyens replace Ahearne-Grant and Tucudean on the bench. COYA!
The corner is worked short. Gudmundsson swings it in and Bikey gets to the ball just ahead of Darlow, only for his header to go well wide.
Cousins does well to get away from a few Forest players before Lansbury brings him down. Yellow card.
That goal came from a fantastic crossfield ball from Gudmundsson which Cousins did well to control before feeding Harriott.
Jackson is down injured and has to go off. Wilson comes on for him. Solly takes the captain's armband.
