Weekend Championship Review

Another hammering at the bookies I'm afraid. The Championship remains relatively unpredictable even after 11 games played. The number of draws remains high and every week we get several complete reverses of form e.g. Wednesday scoring four to win at Stoke and Colchester netting three to beat West Brom. For the record, I only managed two correct results this week (Sheffield United and Watford) although I was within a goal of five other correct scores.

What with England going down in Paris and Lewis Hamilton losing it in Sao Paulo (you can't see him being handed the World Championship on a technicality) it was a depressing end to a disappointing sporting week. We will have to hope for better next month when the final games of the European qualifiers are played.

At least Charlton have a chance of bouncing back and lifting spirits this week. We need to avoid two bad results in succession this season if we are to maintain hopes of automatic promotion. Plymouth Argyle are going well and had a confidence-boosted 1-0 over Coventry at Home Park at the weekend. Hopefully, a long trip on a Tuesday night to a partisan Valley will prove too much for them. We need Andy Reid firing on all cylinders and surely we won't waste all of the opportunities we create again.

On Saturday we play bottom-of-the-table, managerless QPR and have to expect to win this comfortably. London derbies are rarely straightforward but an early goal might be all we need to break their resolve and we could make it a long day for them. We are also due to give someone a beating by four or five and this week would be as good as any.

We will need to match West Brom as they have every prospect of picking up six points themselves as the entertain Blackpool and then Norwich at the Hawthorns. Bristol City are also at home twice against Southampton and then Stoke City. Southampton were outplayed at home by Cardiff yesterday but managed to hang on to an early lead and nick the points. After the goals they have been shipping when going behind, they run the risk of a hiding at City. Hopefully Stoke will put up a better fight on Saturday after their disappointing home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.

That leaves Wolves and Watford, both of whom face two away games. Wolves go to Cardiff and Ipswich and I can't see them coming through those unscathed. Watford are flying but will have to negotiate Coventry City and then Palace on Monday evening. An opportunity then for us to make some ground here.

Remember, the Royal Oak has re-opened and waiting times for a pint should be shortened due to the extension of the bar as well as the pub. Landlord Clive Still is a long-suffering QPR fan, so expect him to be hiding in the cellar after the game on Saturday.