SHRIMPERS
It's a big one all right, and for all the effort and fight, with no little skill, showed at Norwich we still lost, however cruel. We need something from this game.
Fellow loanee midfielder Sanchez Watt missed the game due to a mild concussion, but was also back in training and Blues boss Steve Tilson will decide if he should be in the squad in what is officially the last game of his loan period. Expect Tilly to ask him to stay, we've hardly seen the young Gunner at his best.
Tilly told www.southendunited.co.uk: "Jean-Yves had trained after taking a knock in the eye and he is fit. Sanchez has had mild concussions and an ankle injury since he's been here so it has been a bit stop start. But he has trained today and we will have to see how he goes Friday night."
Whatever the injury situation I hope Tilly remains with the eleven that were on the field at Carrow Road when we scored. It looked balanced and felt right.
Jeff and Macca are a touch defensive in the middle yet whatever their form Charlton are no mugs and we have to stop Bailey's breaks into the box that we know so well.
Captain Adam looked so much better at centre half, and Malone made some useful runs from left back while looking a little lost in midfield.
The temptation may be to bring M'Voto back, who is a very good player, but no less a bruiser, ask the Frenchman, than Canary Grant Holt, got little change from Barrett and Baldwin Tuesday evening.
Laurent is a luxury we just can't afford at the moment but what a potential sub with 20 minutes left, while Scannell is just on fire.
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, Baldwin, Barrett, Malone, McCormack, Christophe, Scannell, Vernon, Paterson, Moussa.
Subs: Jack, Sankofa (or Watt), Herd, M'Voto, Laurent, Freedman, Spencer.
OPPOSITION
Defender Frazer Richardson was suffering with a tight groin strain before the game Tuesday evening. He did paly 70 minutes before being substituted so has to be considered doubtful.
If Richardson is not fit then Jose Semedo and Chris Solly are waiting in the wings after being on the bench against the Seagulls.
Fellow defender Grant Basey is out for the season with ruptured ankle ligaments.
3 | Colchester United | 32 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 49 | 31 | 62 | +18 | ||||
4 | Charlton Athletic | 33 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 34 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 57 | 37 | 60 | +20 | ||||
5 | Swindon Town | 31 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 33 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 53 | 38 | 59 | +15 | ||||
6 | Huddersfield Town | 32 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 58 | 33 | 57 | +25 |
Last time out - Charlton Athletic 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
Inigo Calderon scored the opener nine minutes before the break with a clinical counter-attack and Elliott Bennett netted a second on 78 minutes, before Akpo Sodje responded with a late consolation for the Addicks in injury time.
At the start, Brighton's on-loan striker Kazenga LuaLua fired just wide inside three minutes after creating space down the left.
Calderon's goal followed a frenzy of action in the Brighton penalty area. Akpo Sodje and Therry Racon had their shots blocked on the line for Charlton after some good work by Johnnie Jackson.
The visitors immediately broke with great speed and Gary Dicker fed over-lapping Calderon down the right to fire beyond Rob Elliott.
Bennett got the crucial second goal for the visitors with 12 minutes to play before Sodje netted a late consolation but the home fans greeted the final whistle with boos.
Charlton boss Phil Parkinson said after the game: "We are looking both ways in the table now. We need to get back that consistency we showed before Christmas."
(Report from www.skysports.com)
PREVIOUSLY
Fair to say Charlton have history on their side!
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REF
FIXTURES
Saturday, February 27th; (all kick-offs 15.00 unless stated): Brentford v Tranmere, Brighton v Exeter, Bristol Rovers v Colchester, Carlisle v Gillingham, Huddersfield v Leeds (12:30), Leyton Orient v Swindon, Millwall v Hartlepool, Oldham v Norwich, Southampton v Walsall, Stockport v Wycombe, Yeovil v MK Dons.
BET
To Win:
Southend - 23/10, Draw - 12/5, Charlton - 13/10.
The club is based at The Valley, where it has played since 1919, apart from one year in Catford, during 1923-24, and seven years at Crystal Palace and West Ham United between 1985 and 1992.
Charlton turned professional in 1920 and first entered the Football League in 1921. Since then, they have had four separate periods in the top flight of English football: between 1936 and 1957; 1986 and 1990; 1998 and 1999, and 2000 to 2007.
Historically, Charlton's most successful period was the 1930s, when the club's highest league finishes were recorded, including runners-up of the league in 1937, and after World War II, when the club reached the FA Cup final twice, winning in 1947.
The Addicks were relegated from the Championship in 2008-09.