League One Weekend Preview, Game 14

After the highs and lows and highs of last weekend's recovery game against Carlisle, our heroes get the chance to blow it again this week in front of the tortured faithful at the Valley. Lacking any innate ability to find anything else to do when Charlton play at home and being in possession of a season ticket, I will trudge back with lowered expectations than the last time.

I have always enjoyed games against the Owls. A visit to Hillsborough makes you aware that this club are one of the true Sleeping Giants although, like us, the days when they could really compete (and win things) are almost beyond living memory. Nonetheless, their fans will turn out in numbers and the streets and pubs of SE7 will reverberate with South Yorkshire accents complaining about the price of a pint and homilies about why Yorkshire is the centre of the universe. Can't help liking them though.

The match itself promises to be a disappointment. They are unbeaten in six and have scored 12 on the road whilst only conceding 5. Looks like hard work all the way and I think we will do well to nick a point. Whilst we are all looking furtively at second spot, here's who the rest face.

AFC Bournemouth v Colchester United

Undefeated at home versus undefeated away here. Bournemouth will be warm favourites here but I am tempted to stick my neck out and go for Colchester to enjoy another away day. Odejayi crashed in two goals on Saturday and they have goals in Mooney and Shakespeare.

Prediction; 1-2

Bristol Rovers v Carlisle United

Close call this but home advantage to edge it. It could take Carlisle a while yet to get over the manner of their defeat last week.

Prediction; 2-1

Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday

I guess it could go either way based on last week's results but it's very hard to see how we might expect to win this after our last home game against decent opposition. I think our players fell under pressure at the Valley and things become unnecessarily difficult when we fall behind. I would love parky to be right in that we've turned a corner last week but I think we have a jutting glass chin at the moment. A draw is as much as I can go for.

Prediction; 1-1

Dagenham & Redbridge v Hartlepool United

The daggers have hit rock bottom but their home form is decent. They have to expect to roll over sides like Hartlepool when they come to the Smoke.

Prediction; 1-0

Exeter City v Brentford

Having taken another good home scalp, I fully expect Brentford to go missing at Exeter. they have the added excuse of an extended Carling Cup match against Premiership Birmingham last night which won't have done their little legs any good.

Prediction; 2-0

Huddersfield Town v Walsall

If this isn't a home win, I'll eat my hat. Walsall aren't great at the best of times but they are in a slump right now and being trounced 4-1 at home by Tranmere takes some doing. Out of confidence and out-of-luck.

Prediction; 3-0

Leyton Orient v Rochdale

In the reverse fixture here I couldn't look beyond Rochdale. However, I think the O's should see them off here. Like Dagenham & Redbridge, it's their home form that they will rely upon to keep them in this league.

Prediction; 2-0

Notts County v Southampton

Paul Ince for Notts County? Good luck. They obviously still have delusions of grandeur and a long way to go through denial before they come out the other side. In the meantime, expect Southampton to win again and move ominously close to the play-off positions.

Prediction; 0-2

Oldham Athletic v Plymouth Argyle

Oldham have been spluttering of late, as expected, but they still boast an unbeaten home record. Argyle have something of the part-pooper about them but this might be a bit too routine for them. Routine defeat I mean.

Prediction; 2-0

Peterborough United v Brighton & Hove Albion

League one Match-of-the-Day. Goal-fest in prospect as these two sides clash. Posh are in blistering form at home and Albion, as we know, are full of it. We made Albion look much better than they are and they might just find this too much.

Prediction; 3-2

Tranmere Rovers v MK Dons

MK Dons take their terrible away form to Tranmere whose home form isn't much better, however, they scored four at Walsall last week and will be hoping the hangover has worn off.

Prediction; 0-0

Yeovil Town v Swindon Town

A morale-sapping defeat for Swindon would do us Addicks nicely here before we pay them a visit on Tuesday. Swindon appear to be a lesser side than that which played such decent football last year and who were unfortunate victims of Millwall in the play-offs. I have to believe they still have enough about them to beat Yeovil, but what do I know?

Prediction; 1-2