Preview: Charlton Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers – prediction, team news, lineups.

Charlton Athletic host Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon, seeking for a win that will certainly propel them into the Championship’s top half.

Meanwhile, Blackburn travel to The Valley in 18th place, albeit with a game in hand as they await the outcome of last weekend’s abandoned match against Ipswich Town.

 

---

 

Match preview

 

After five games without a win in all categories, a trip to Sheffield United, who had recently welcomed back Chris Wilder as manager, seemed like a big job for Charlton.

Instead, the Addicks held their own at Bramall Lane, scoring a suckerpunch goal in the 90th minute through Tanto Olaofe.

That strike moved Nathan Jones’ team up six places in the standings, and even at this point in the season, it appeared to be a goal with potential for beneficial effects.

Olaofe’s goal was Charlton’s fourth in six games since returning to the second tier, and the club has relied heavily on a strong backline that has only conceded five goals.

Three of those came in the same game against Queens Park Rangers, while Charlton shipped the other two in three home meetings against Watford, Leicester City, and Millwall, earning four points in the process.

 

 

Blackburn are still stinging from the late abandonment of their game with Ipswich last Saturday, when they were leading 1-0 and had a player advantage with 10 minutes remaining.

The soggy field at Ewood Park is likely to force the game to be replayed in its entirety, much to Valerien Ismael’s frustration as he and his players await the EFL’s ruling.

If they had completed the victory, Rovers would have made it three victories in four, having defeated Hull City and Watford on away ground without surrendering a goal.

There have only been 10 goals in Blackburn’s five matches thus far, and Ismael may take comfort in having the joint-third best defensive record, although having played one fewer game.

Only Todd Cantwell has scored more than once for Blackburn in the Championship this season, with his third goal against Ipswich on the verge of being ruled out by officials.

 

Charlton Athletic Championship form:

 

 

Charlton Athletic form (all competitions):

 

 

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

 

 

Blackburn Rovers form (all competitions):

 

 

---

 

Team News

 

 

Olaofe will believe he has done enough to be recalled to the Charlton attack at the expense of Tyreece Campbell or Charlie Kelman.

Kanye Ramsey, who served a one-match ban, will also be considered for a return to right-back or right wing-back, but James Bree may keep his post.

Barring any fitness difficulties, Ismael may see little cause to change a Blackburn side that put the club in a solid position against Ipswich.

Augustus Kargbo and Andri Gudjohnsen were deployed as the front two on that occasion, with Yuki Ohashi on the bench. Hayden Carter and Sidnei Tavares will seek to return to the squad after injury.

Charlton Athletic’s likely starting lineup: Kaminski; Burke, Jones, Bell; Bree, Carey, Coventry, Docherty, and Edwards; Campbell, Olaofe Blackburn Rovers’ likely starting lineup:

Toth; Miller, Wharton, McLoughlin; Alebiosu, Gardner-Hickman, Tronstad, and Hedges; Cantwell; Kargbo, Gudjohnsen

Read more on Straightwinfortoday.com