Match Preview: Charlton Athletic

THE VALLEY | 22ND JANUARY 2019 | 19:45

Image: Tom Sparks

Our Focus turns to tonight’s London derby at The Valley as Scott Parker’s black and white army take on Lee Bowyer’s Addicks.

The scenario this time around is completely different to the meeting at the Cottage earlier in the season. Charlton’s confident, in-form, surprise start to 2019/20 has fallen off a cliff through a combination of bad luck with injuries and a busy Christmas period taking its toll on a small squad.

Meanwhile, the stakes couldn’t be any higher for Fulham. Leeds look to be falling apart again and they are doing their best to take the Baggies with them! All of a sudden, this league is wide open and the once upon a time, 12 point gap is now just a fantasy. The reality is, we could actually win this division! No ifs, no buts, no opportunities missed. This is a vital game and a must-win to keep the pressure on the rest of the promotion-chasing pack.

Got no plans this evening? Get yourself down to The Valley, it’s pay on the gate and your football club needs you. COME ON YOU WHITES!


Head To Head

  • Fulham wins 25 | Draws 24 | Charlton wins 22.
  • Excluding the Football League Trophy where we played our U23’s, Fulham are unbeaten in the last 11 matches against Charlton.
  • Fulham have scored in 17 of their last 18 matches against the Addicks.
  • We have drawn our last 4 League trips to The Valley. 1-1 (x2) and 2-2 (x2).
  • In 34 away matches against Charlton, our record reads 7 wins | 13 draws | 14 losses.
  • Our last victory at the Valley was a 0-1 win on the final day of the 2002/03 season. Louis Saha scored a penalty and Jason Euell missed one for the home side.

Charlton Athletic in 2019/20

  • League Position: 19th.
  • League Form: LDLLW.
  • Goals: 37.
  • Conceded: 41.
  • Average Possession: 47.4%.
  • Top Scorers: Macauley Bonne (8), Lyle Taylor (7) Conor Gallagher (6).
  • Form Table (Last 6 Matches): 20th (5pts).
  • Discipline: 66 Yellows | 0 Reds.
  • Clean sheets: 4.
  • Their last clean sheet was on the 19th October in a 3-0 win over Derby County.
  • Both teams have scored in 18 of their 28 league games.

Players in Common

Image: Joe Giddens – EMPICS/Getty

Paul Konchesky

Fulham: 122 apps, 2 goals (2007-2010).

Charlton: 169 apps, 6 goals (1997-2005).

Harry Arter, Darren Bent, Hameur Bouazza, Terry Bullivant, David Button, Lee Cook, Neil Etheridge, Emmanuel Frimpong, Vic Halom, Mark Hudson, Claus Jensen, Paul Konchesky, Tony Lange, Danny Murphy, Peter O’Sullivan, Elliot Omozusi, Scott Parker, Darren Pratley, Leroy Rosenior, John Salako, Alexey Smertin, Jim Stannard, Michael Turner, Tony Warner & Paul Went.

Sam’s View (@SamCole2468)

With Leeds and West Brom dropping points on almost a weekly basis it is time for us to take advantage. With Charlton, we will face a different challenge than our previous opponents Middlesbrough. While Boro’ were going through a patch of good form, Charlton despite early promise are in grave danger of relegation with a deep-rooted injury crisis not helping their cause. It will be a case of taking our chances and being ware of a counter attack than having a war for possession.

With doubts about the fitness of Sessegnon, Reed, Kamara, and Mitro definitely ruled out, I don’t think we should risk any of them in this fixture. I also don’t think that Kongolo should start having joined recently and I don’t see any need to rush him into the line-up. The only change I would make to our team is bringing Stef Jo back into the team for Onomah to reignite the midfield that famously got us promoted. I also think that Johansen as well as being one of the best midfielders in the league has attributes that would make him well suited for this game.

I think that if we play as we did in the first half this week then the goals will come, and we will win fairly comfortably. A 3-0 victory is in order with Knockaert continuing his goalscoring form and Decordova-Reid bagging two.