Charlton fans may have to get used to abandoning their regular Saturday morning lie-in this October, with a series of early kick-offs on the horizon, starting with a home fixture against Bristol City.
City visit The Valley on Saturday for a 12.30 start as the Addicks return to Championship action following the international break. For Nathan Jones and the players the hope will be that they are a bit more awake than they appeared to be last time out. They went into the break on the back of a disappointing 3–1 early kick-off defeat at Cardiff, extending their winless league run to five games. Mind you, a few Addicks have been on winning sides during the international break. Conor Coventry, Tyreece Campbell, Ivan Mesik and Tyler Bindon have all enjoyed international success.
So, with the south west's Robins flying into SE7 for an early start, the question is a fairly obvious one: which early bird will catch the points? The visitors arrive at The Valley sitting just a point above Charlton after an encouraging start to life under Michael Skubala. The former Lincoln City boss took over at Ashton Gate during the summer and has so far overseen four wins, one draw and three defeats. Interestingly, the Robins have been marginally better travellers than hosts - taking seven of their thirteen points from their first four away games.
That included an impressive early September spell when they won 3–1 at Preston before following it up with a 2–1 victory at Burnley. Their momentum was checked by a heavy 4–1 defeat at Southampton and then a home loss to Skubala's old club Lincoln, but they bounced back before the international break with a 1–0 victory over Watford. Dominic Ballard scored the winner that night and is currently City's leading league scorer with three goals. The summer signing from Southampton is one of the City players Charlton will need to keep a close eye on.
Their main threat this season has been set pieces. Six of their goals have come from dead ball scenarios, joint most in the league. Charlton have only conceded one from set pieces so are well placed to keep the visitors out. The issue is that Bristol City haven’t conceded at all from corners or free kicks and Charlton haven’t created much in open play. Left back Rio Cardines is the man to watch. The youngster has been one of the breakout stars of the season so far and already has six assists to his name. He has a wand of a right foot and is a set piece specialist. Stopping him from cutting inside and isolating his man will be key.
Nathan Jones has been typically coy about player availability but Charlton fans have reason to be hopeful that Kayne Ramsay, Billy Koumetio, Will Mannion and Micah Mbick will be in the squad.
Results so far suggest that there isn't a great deal between the two sides with Bristol City on 13 points from their opening eight games compared with Charlton's 12 - although the routes taken to those totals have been rather different. While the Addicks remain unbeaten at The Valley, the Robins have proved particularly capable of picking up points on the road.
Something, perhaps, has to give on Saturday lunchtime and we hope that the return to fitness of key players will make the difference in favour of the home team.
Photo by Rhea Spencer-Newell