Charlton bring the curtain down on the regular League One season this Saturday when The Brewers visit The Valley.
Before the game, supporters are invited to the Fans’ Bar for a special photographic Exhibition of Fan Diversity, celebrating the vibrant and inclusive community that defines Charlton Athletic. It’s a fitting way to mark the final men’s league fixture of the campaign before the drama of the play-offs takes over.
On the pitch The Addicks are safely through to the play-offs along with Wycombe and Stockport and we cannot finish lower than fifth. We can come fourth if we beat Burton alongside a win for either Wycombe or Stockport in their encounter at Adams Park. Fourth place would mean that we play the first leg of the semi-final away to the loser of the Wycombe v Stockport game. If Stockport and Wycombe draw, we would finish fifth unless we beat Burton by seven goals. If we did manage that we would leap to third place. If we fail to beat Burton we finish fifth. Fifth place means we would be at home to Wycombe in the first leg. Fourth or fifth means the game will be on Saturday 10th with a 7.45pm kick off and the second leg will be on Thursday 15th at 8pm. All this will guarantee a few nail biting moments and sleepless nights but Saturday's game offers a rare moment to breathe as nothing is absolutely crucial; a "free beer" game, if you like.
Stockport’s strong finish suggests that they’ll cling onto third place, meaning a semi-final date with Wycombe — a team Charlton dismantled with ease just a few weeks ago. As every supporter knows however, the play-offs are a lottery, and momentum often counts for little once the whistle blows.
Burton can also approach the afternoon with some relief, having secured their League One place with a point against Wigan on Tuesday. Having started the season disastrously — picking up just five points from their opening 13 matches and spending five months marooned in the bottom four — The Brewers have pulled off a remarkable late escape since Gary Bowyer took over as manager. They have rallied as a unit when it mattered most. They aren't packed with big names, but their spirit and resilience have once again seen them through, making survival something of an annual tradition at the Pirelli Stadium.
This will be the 12th meeting between Charlton and Burton since 2018, a statistic that neatly sums up our club’s recent history — solidly placed in the third tier. In the more recent head-to-heads, the Addicks have had the upper hand too: six wins, three draws and just two defeats. However, without any disrespect to our visitors, most fans will be hoping Saturday marks the last encounter for a while. The aim now is to leave League One behind, hopefully for a little bit longer than we achieved in the pain of the pandemic season. We're certainly in good shape to emulate Lee Bowyer's side's 2019 achievements at a point when arguably nobody in the play-offs is quite as strong as the sides we faced back then. Stockport though could prove formidable opposition at or on any stage.
First, however, there’s a chance to enjoy a more relaxed afternoon at The Valley and raise a glass to what’s still to come.