Charlton are aiming for their fifth league win in a row. Its been such a long time since that’s been said I’ve had to check a number of times to make sure I wasn’t in a land of make believe.
Turns out I’m not, we really are top of League One (Alphabetically) and we really are making the 222.8 mile trip (thanks AA Route Planner) up to Prenton Park in Tranmere looking to gain a maximum season total of 15 points from five games.
So, what can the Addicks expect from a team managed by twelve game Charlton Legend and Rap Superstar John Barnes?
Well, currently Tranmere sit in 21st place in League One with 3 points out of a possible 12. They have won one game and lost three, with only Wycombe Wanderers, Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton showing worse results in the season so far.
However, their one victory this season was against Gillingham, a side who, on the opening day of the season put five past Swindon. They met Tranmere in their second game of the season, goals ensued and the Rovers celebrated a 4 - 2 victory.
Gillingham haven’t won in the League since.
Tranmere played Bolton on Tuesday in the Carling Cup 2nd Round, the result, 1 – 0 to Bolton; a team who by all accounts are expected to achieve a (“boring”) mid table Premier League position this year.
By all accounts so far, getting our certificate for putting seven goals past an opposition isn’t going to happen tomorrow.
With more than 3,000 Addicks travelling the relatively short journey to Leyton Orient for the last away fixture it is highly unlikely that the travelling support will be anywhere near as large this time around. That said however, with the form the Addicks are currently showing, Charlton Mad have every confidence that the away support will be able to once again help Phil Parkinson’s men return to SE7 will all three points in tow.
In team news, Frazer Richardson and Jose Semedo sat out training at the start of the week with hamstring injuries, but are both expected to be fit for Saturday and following the departure of Andy Gray to Barnsley and the reported 6 - 2 demolition of Crystal Palace by the reserves on Tuesday both Tamer Tuna and Izale McLeod are, according to Parky, pushing for a starting eleven position.
As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” as a result I believe Phil Parkinson will name an unchanged team of:
GK: Rob Elliott
LB: Kelly Youga
CB: Christian Dailly
CB: Miguel Llera
RB: Frazer Richardson
LM: Nicky Bailey (c)
CM: Jose Semedo
CM: Therry Racon
RM: Lloyd Sam
SS: Jonjo Shelvey
CF: Deon Burton
Subs: Darren Randolph, Chris Solly, Scott Wagstaff, Matt Spring, Tamer Tuna, Izale McLeod, Stuart Fleetwood
Come on you Addicks!
P.S. Follow us on twitter too for all your Charlton needs twitter.com/charltonmad