Opposites attract this weekend as high-flying Charlton cross swords with basement-battlers Cambridge.
Charlton’s American owners could be forgiven for thinking that we’re already on a pre-season tour of the United States. Last week brought Lincoln — of the Nebraska connection — and this weekend it’s the turn of Cambridge, Massachusetts; or at least, their namesakes. Yet before thoughts can turn to the summer, there’s serious business to take care of in the university city, where the Addicks will look to consolidate their place in the Ivy League of the play-off places.
In contrast, Cambridge are teetering on the brink of the drop, with only a faint lifeline keeping them in the survival conversation. Neil Harris returned to The Abbey Stadium in late February and two immediate wins inspired some hope but subsequent defeats to Stevenage, Wigan, Blackpool and Peterborough left them thirteen points from safety. Since then they have recovered and held Wrexham to a 2-2 draw in their last home game but they are still seven points adrift with only five games to play. Defeat on Saturday could just about seal their fate which is when teams can be at their most dangerous. Even with a win, their troubles are compounded by the fact that Bristol Rovers, in 20th place, have three out of their next four games at home.
In comparison, the Addicks play three of their last five games away from home, including tough assignments at Wycombe and Wrexham. Automatic promotion now seems a bridge too far as Wrexham's win last weekend leaves them eight points clear in second but the play-offs appear to be almost certain after Bolton and Huddersfield lost on Tuesday. With the jostle for position likely to go to the wire, every point and performance counts. Last time out against Lincoln, the team showed real grit in their second-half comeback but badly missed Tyreece Campbell and Lloyd Jones. With the play-offs looming and automatic promotion now unlikely, there may be no need to rush key players back. The bigger priority is momentum and a win at the Abbey Stadium would go a long way to keeping it alive.
Saturday’s encounter also sees a couple of familiar faces in the Cambridge ranks. Club captain Michael Morrison is a name Addicks' fans will remember fondly from the Chris Powell years (2011–2014) but another notable figure from that era - Academy graduate Jordan Cousins - has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Lyle Taylor, another player with history at both clubs, is, after a quiet spell at Cambridge, now at Colchester with Jack Payne and Manny Egbo. Will Mannion and Lloyd Jones have of course travelled in the opposite direction and we hope that Jones will be fit. Nathan Jones is giving nothing away about him or Tyreece Campbell: "“We haven’t rushed these because they're two of our best players. It’s not that stage of the season yet, but we want to get all our best players back.”
The hosts will probably have a Hoddle on the bench - teenager George Hoddle, cousin of Glenn - but he is yet to break into the first team and is unlikely to feature this weekend.
For Cambridge, this Saturday is all about survival. For Charlton, it’s a game that should be won and an opportunity to keep the pressure on Stockport for the fourth place finish that would guarantee a home play-off semi-final second leg on May 15th.