Charlton go into the game with Preston North End on Tuesday evening in twentieth place and without a win in eight games. The team have only taken two points from the last twenty one available and confidence is low.
Preston missed out on automatic promotion in the final game of last season when they were beaten 1-0 at Colchester. However, they bounced back in style and, having seen off Chesterfield in the semi-finals, they destroyed Swindon 4-0 at Wembley.
They have found life difficult in The Championship and have won only one of their eleven games so far (1-0 at MK Dons). They have managed draws with Middlesboro, Rotherham, Bristol City, Wolves and Cardiff but have been beaten by Sheff Wed, Brentford, Derby, Hull and Ipswich. The 0-0 draw they achieved at home to Cardiff on Saturday lifted them off the bottom of the table above Rotherham and Bolton and to within two points of Charlton.
Much has been said about Charlton's injury problems, particularly in attack but Preston will come to The Valley without their two most potent strikers. Jermaine Beckford - scorer of a hat trick at Wembley in May - is likely to be out for months with a knee injury. Joe Garner, who has scored over 50 goals for PNE in the last two seasons, was sent off in the 19th minute of their recent game against Wolves and will be serving the last of a three game suspension on Tuesday evening. We are also unlikely to see CAFC old boys Kyel Reid and Paddy McCarthy. Reid is on loan to Bradford until November and McCarthy, who arrived on loan from Palace on October 3rd, was injured 10 minutes into his debut.
Charlton's defeat at Reading was no disgrace, although the manner of it (2 shots at goal in 90 minutes) has left some supporters fuming. We will find out on Tuesday whether Luzon will have a stronger hand to play in terms of players returning from injury, particularly in attack. In defence, the team will be weakened by Bauer's one game suspension but this is a game which Charlton really must win. If they could then gain another three points from Brentford on Saturday they would suddenly be a mid-table side looking forward to becoming stronger as the injuries heal. Failure to win is likely to mean them entertaining Brentford from a relegation spot.
Preston are likely to concentrate (initially at least) on being hard to beat and a small crowd at The Valley will be quickly disenchanted if the away team take control. The presence of Johnnie Jackson in the team should ensure that discipline and spirit are maintained but what we really need is one or two flashes of brilliance from JBG or Tony Watt to lift everyone.