Charlton Athletic will return to EFL Championship action on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Bristol City to The Valley, with both sides looking to build momentum after contrasting finishes to September.
The Addicks have gone five league games without a victory and slipped from the top of the table to ninth, while Bristol City head into the contest sitting sixth and having ended September with a narrow win over Watford. With just three points separating the two sides, this could have significant implications for the playoff race.
Nathan Jones’ Charlton made an excellent start to the campaign but have struggled to maintain that momentum. The Addicks began the season at the top of the Championship, but their failure to win any of their last five league matches has seen them fall to ninth. September produced three draws and two defeats, including a 3-1 loss to Cardiff City in their final game before the international break.
The encouraging aspect for Jones is that Charlton remain defensively competitive as they have conceded just 10 goals in eight Championship matches, a record bettered by only four teams in the division. Their ability to keep games tight has allowed them to remain within touching distance of the playoff positions despite their recent lack of victories.
The problem has been converting those tight games into wins and three draws during September demonstrate how often Charlton have remained competitive without finding the decisive moment. They will therefore hope the return to The Valley can provide the spark required to turn their form around.
On the other side, Bristol City have made a relatively encouraging start under Michael Skubala. The Robins currently occupy the final playoff position, with four victories, one draw and three defeats giving them 13 points from their first eight games. Their latest Championship fixture produced a much-needed response to successive defeats. Dominic Ballard scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Watford, giving Bristol City an important three points before the international break.
Skubala will be particularly pleased that his side managed to respond after the heavy 4-1 defeat against Southampton and the subsequent narrow loss to Lincoln City. A victory at The Valley would give Bristol City back-to-back league wins and potentially move them into the automatic promotion places.
History also provides encouragement as the Robins have lost only once to Charlton since 2013, suggesting this is a fixture in which they have generally enjoyed considerable success. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Charlton have avoided any fresh injury concerns during the international break and can potentially name the same XI that started the defeat to Cardiff City. William Mannion, Kayne Ramsay and Collins Sichenje remain unavailable, but otherwise Jones has a relatively settled squad.
Oliver Skipp is expected to retain his place in midfield, providing additional composure and defensive protection alongside Coventry. Meanwhile, Tyreece Campbell should continue in a wide attacking role. His pace and ability to attack spaces could be important if Charlton look to transition quickly.
Charlton’s 4-2-3-1 should allow them to remain compact when Bristol City have possession while still providing four clear attacking outlets when they recover the ball. The Coventry-Skipp partnership will be particularly important. Rather than both midfielders pushing forward, one can remain behind the ball while the other supports attacks.
That should help Charlton avoid being exposed by Bristol City’s transition game. The hosts may also look to attack the space around Cardines when he pushes forward. Campbell could be instructed to make aggressive runs into that channel, forcing Bristol City to decide between protecting the full-back and maintaining their central defensive shape.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Okonkwo; McNamara, Jones, Bindon, Mesik; Coventry, Skipp; Alli, Grant, Campbell; Leaburn
Bristol City enter the match in relatively good health compared with last season. Luke McNally is close to a competitive return after his lengthy recovery from a serious knee injury and could provide another defensive option after scoring in last weekend’s friendly against Crystal Palace. Brian De Keersmaecker also scored from a free kick in that fixture and could make his competitive debut.
The biggest attacking selection decision concerns Dominic Ballard, who is pushing for another start after scoring the winner against Watford. Rio Cardines is expected to return at full-back and will be one of the most important players to watch tactically after producing six assists already this season.
Bristol City’s 4-2-3-1 should give them a similar numerical structure to Charlton, making the battle between the two midfield pairs particularly interesting. The Robins could look to use Cardines aggressively from full-back, allowing him to overlap and create crossing opportunities while the winger moves inside.
That could create problems for Charlton’s defensive structure, but it also carries risk. If Cardines advances too far, Campbell could attack the space behind him on the counter. Jason Knight should also be important between the lines. If he can receive behind Charlton’s midfield two, Bristol City could force the hosts’ centre-backs to step out and create gaps for Ballard.
Ballard himself offers a natural focal point. His movement across the front line could prevent Charlton’s centre-backs from settling into comfortable positions.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Tickle; Tanner, Eile, Atkinson, Cardines; Williams, Randell; Hirakawa, Knight, Wallace; Ballard
The Bristol City full-back has already registered six assists this season, more than any other player in the division according to the supplied match information. That makes his contribution from the right side one of the most obvious attacking weapons in this fixture. His positioning could determine how Bristol City attack The Valley. When Cardines pushes forward, he can provide width and deliver crosses, while also allowing the winger ahead of him to move into more central areas.
Charlton will need to decide how aggressively they want to track him. Allowing him time and space could give Bristol City a consistent source of chances, but pushing too high to contain him could leave space for Bristol City’s forwards to exploit. His duel with Charlton’s left-sided players could therefore have a major influence on the game.
harlton’s defensive record and home advantage should make them difficult to beat, but Bristol City’s stronger recent momentum and excellent record in this fixture make the visitors capable of taking something from The Valley.
