MATCHWATCH : Charlton athletic (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday January 4 2025, 3pm
Where : The Valley, Charlton, London, SE7 8BL
Capacity : 27,111

Back on the road again for yet another examination of Reading’s generally poor away record, though at least the club can currently boast the fact that it’s got a 100% win record away from home so far this year.

Charlton are one of the better teams in the division, despite sitting 6 places and 7 points below Reading in the current table, and given the general cr@press of Reading on the road over the last 2/3 seasons this is not going to be anything other than a very difficult game.

The Valiants have 1 defeat in their last 6 league games and are unbeaten in 5 including 3 straight victories averaging 3 goals a game. Charlton’s last home game was a 2-1 victory over Wycombe on Sunday last and their game at Crawley on New Years Day was postponed so, on top of everything else, they’re going to be as fresh as possible.

Strikers Miles Leaburn and Matt Godden are the immediate threats while Luke Berry, Greg Doherty and Tyrese Campbell are proving very effective from midfield. The Charlton defence too has been chipping in with goals so this is going to require quite some attention to detail from the management in setting Reading up as well as the players bringing their A game along.

Mbengue will presumably have recovered after his fight with food poisoning and Abrefa is now officially back on the “can play” list although has been replaced on “the other” list by Craig’s sore hamstring. Biggest issue hanging over the club though remains the threat of other clubs acquiring any one of a number of the club’s players (eg Tiler van Dijk) at any time this month.

Lastly, unless Reading and (hopefully) Wolves can persuade the FL otherwise this will be (if selected) Chem Campbell’s last game for Reading as his loan is up on 5th January.

Referee

Scott “1 Reading win in 5” Oldham

Previously

28 Sep 24 > Reading 2-1 Huddersfield Town
20 Apr 24 > Burton Albion 3-2 Reading
03 Feb 24 > Oxford United 1-1 Reading
21 Oct 23 > Charlton Athletic 4-0 Reading
07 Apr 23 > Reading 1-1 Birmingham City

Historically

Just 21 visits to the Valley in over 100 years. Reading were regular opponents of this mob from SE London until 1935, then Charlton caught the ambition virus and weren’t seen again until 1980. It's 7 Reading wins to 10 for Charlton from those visits. Reading have won 2 of the last 3 league encounters there by 1-0 and 4-3 but every so often come up with real stinkers, like last season’s 4 goal embarrassment.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[PieEater]

Last year there was some wierd prematch appreciation for a bald old guy in a large cream coat, who turned out to be some sort of East End gangster. Did he die shortly afterwards?

[stealthpapes]

Last year there was some wierd prematch appreciation for a bald old guy in a large cream coat, who turned out to be some sort of East End gangster. Did he die shortly afterwards?

If it's Dave Courtney, he went home and killed himself that day.

I woke up to find multiple texts checking in, just in case.

This was also the nearest I saw it come to kicking off between Reading fans. Someone was heckling the players. Someone the other side of me shouted "they're just kids, they're only seventeen", this voice cried out "they're EIGHTEEN" and I think the mocking laughter indicated how ludicrous it sounded.

I think that was the nadir, really. Poisonous atmosphere at the end and not because I'd eaten oysters for lunch.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Shrewsbury was the nadir, but this was one of the really toxic moments along with Orient.

Anyhow, I think this will be a "game too far" performance like Stockport. Our 1st halves against Mansfield and Cambridge were pretty poor, so probably due a game where we're 3 down by HT.

[Snowflake Royal]

The line up will be interesting, especially defence.

Will Craig, Abrefa, Ahmed or Holzman play RB?
Will Mbengue, Dean or Holzman play CB?
Will Garcia or Kanu play LB?

Plus how is Camara? What do we do if he's out as seems likely? If Craig was fit, would you push him into midfield and play Knibbs left, or just play Garcia at LW? Or Wareham, Osho, or Sackey? Or Okine-Peters?

It's tricky, especially for a not easy away fixture.

[blythspartan]

I have wondered if Rushesha could ever do a job at RB as I’d prefer to see Craig in midfield (if fit).

If we can get a draw I’ll be delighted as 10 points from 4 games would be great. I can’t be greedy as 9 from 4 is really good too.

[Sutekh]

I have wondered if Rushesha could ever do a job at RB as I’d prefer to see Craig in midfield (if fit).

If we can get a draw I’ll be delighted as 10 points from 4 games would be great. I can’t be greedy as 9 from 4 is really good too.

Rushesha was a right back at Swansea.

[blythspartan]

I have wondered if Rushesha could ever do a job at RB as I’d prefer to see Craig in midfield (if fit).

If we can get a draw I’ll be delighted as 10 points from 4 games would be great. I can’t be greedy as 9 from 4 is really good too.

Rushesha was a right back at Swansea.

Ahh right, I didn’t know that. I have thought he’s done okay when I have seen him play, but he rarely plays in a league game.

[tidus_mi2]

Not really sure what to expect of Charlton, got a few good results lately but before that they were on a pretty poor run. Would they have benefit from keeping the momentum in a winnable game against Crawley, or do they benefit more from the rest now and playing the Crawley game later?

[Hound]

That’s an impressively pessimistic preview for a team in 5th place!

But yeah going to be proper tough this one. Don’t fancy our chances

As pointed out decisions to be made. Kanu looked stronger at LB than Garcia. I didn’t think Holzman had a great game but Noel kept him on for 84minutes. Assuming Camara out. Hoepfully we can squeeze another game out of Savafe, Knibbs and Wing in the midfield

Not convinced Mbengue will be over the illness, wipes you out those things.

Think it’ll be

JP
Abrefa Dean Bindon Kanu
Wing
Campbell Savage Knibbs Garcia
Smith

Button Holzman Wareham Rushesha Sackey some other kids

Would be nice to see Yiadom or Kelv E at a stretch but think they’ll not risk them yet. Esp as it looks bloody cold

[Sutekh]

I have wondered if Rushesha could ever do a job at RB as I’d prefer to see Craig in midfield (if fit).

If we can get a draw I’ll be delighted as 10 points from 4 games would be great. I can’t be greedy as 9 from 4 is really good too.

Rushesha was a right back at Swansea.

Ahh right, I didn’t know that. I have thought he’s done okay when I have seen him play, but he rarely plays in a league game.

Yes, he’s not really kicked on since joining Reading. Would have expected more from him given the chaos here but not sure if he sees himself as a RB or midfielder although the management here seem to see him in midfield. Has had a succession of minor injuries which is probably what has kept him down the pecking order rather than just not being good enough. Hoping the remainder of this season will lead to a positive outcome for both him and the club.

[Hound]

For arguments sake as zero chance I expect, but if we kept Bindon etc and got Yiadom, Dorsett, Ehibhatiomhan, Akande, Craig, Mbengue all fit and added to the squad by the next league game , we’re not in bad shape. Could definitely see us hold on to top 6 - though we’ve a really interesting month ahead with Stockport, Orient, Charlton, Huddersfield all coming up

[Snowflake Royal]

I have wondered if Rushesha could ever do a job at RB as I’d prefer to see Craig in midfield (if fit).

If we can get a draw I’ll be delighted as 10 points from 4 games would be great. I can’t be greedy as 9 from 4 is really good too.

Rushesha was a right back at Swansea.

Ahh right, I didn’t know that. I have thought he’s done okay when I have seen him play, but he rarely plays in a league game.

Yeah, I thought he fitted RB much better from the bits I saw early on, but recently he has seemed better as a midfielder.

Definitely an option at RB.

[Snowflake Royal]

I know our away form has been poor for ages. But it's currently actually pretty good.

WLDDWD

9 points from 6 games, including a draw against then top of the table.

[Sutekh]

I know our away form has been poor for ages. But it's currently actually pretty good.

WLDDWD

9 points from 6 games, including a draw against then top of the table.

It is indeed, hoping we have turned a corner and can hold out for at least a point but we’ve had moments where we think the away form is picking up before only to sink back into the same old.

Don’t think we can ask for much more from the players though after the last 3 games esp. the hard work in getting good wins against a better team at home then away at a much more basic side. Now we’ve got another better side but away, so will be a real test, but the aforementioned morale will hopefully help greatly esp. if it can be channelled well by the new management.

[Snowflake Royal]

3 wins on the bounce is definitely a duff result can't be far away territory.

Then again, Noel was heavily involved in both McDermott's late season 8 game winning streaks which catapulted us up the table.

Could he do another one, now as manager?

[The Cap]

Not really sure what to expect of Charlton, got a few good results lately but before that they were on a pretty poor run. Would they have benefit from keeping the momentum in a winnable game against Crawley, or do they benefit more from the rest now and playing the Crawley game later?

My thoughts as well, tidus. That being said, how many times have we written the lads off, only for them to dig deep and produce a positive result. There seems to be a growing confidence and momentum that, given the general circumstances, is quite remarkable really. And a 2,500 turn out is also a solid support.

[tidus_mi2]

Either way, hoping for an improvement on last season.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Expect this'll be one game too many for our wafer thin squad. Heavy defeat and over reaction incoming.

[Hound]

They got undersoil heating there? Assuming so