After another long and tiring working week, I am looking forward to a restful and largely uneventful weekend. I have a mate returning to Charlton this evening from his home in Northampton this evening for a few pints and tomorrow night it's a Thai meal for my wife's birthday with her twin sister down in Kent. Other than that, it's let's hope some of our promotion rivals falter ahead of the division's biggest fixture so far this when season when unbeatable Huddersfield Town put their unbeaten league record on the line in SE7. So, let's have a look for a few upsets...
Chesterfield v Sheffield United
The Spireites are rock bottom after a promising start to the campaign and are plainly struggling to make the adjustment to League One. The Blades will blow into town in numbers and with James Beattie back on board their bus, should be full of confidence.
Prediction; 0-2
AFC Bournemouth v Oldham Athletic
The Cherries are fighting back after a horrible start and their away form has hauled them out of the relegation places. their problem has been at Dean Court where they have managed only two victories. They get another chance here but Oldham might present a tough nut to crack after decent recent wins.
Prediction; 1-1
Bury v Preston North End
Preston fans will not be relishing this Hot-Pot derby. They are also wondering how they can release a player of Darel Russell's quality at a time when they have an injury list that is nearly as long as their recent losing streak. They are actually a point worse off than Bury as things stand and this could be a large application of salt to open wounds.
Prediction; 1-0
Carlisle United v Colchester United
Long trek for an inconsistent Colchester side who aren't enjoying away matches this season. I'll take the Cumbrians to shade it here.
Prediction; 2-1
Exeter City v Tranmere Rovers
The Grecians have steadied the ship and have limped out of the drop zone. Their home form is recovering and they could do us a mini-favour here against 9th placed Tranmere.
Prediction; 2-1
Hartlepool United v Yeovil Town
If Hartlepool can't win at home this time, they may as well give up. Yeovil are the only side in division yet to register an away win.
Prediction; 2-0
MK Dons v Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe look like they are intent on following Chesterfield back to whence they came. MK Dons are unbeaten at home and I suspect they will make short work of their M1 neighbours.
Prediction; 3-0
Notts County v Scunthorpe United
A decent home record and a poor away one? Home win, although I can see Scunny keeping this tight.
Prediction; 1-0
Rochdale v Brentford
Brentford were unfortunate not to get something off us last week and they will go looking here knowing that they have only lost once on the road. Uwe Rosler appears to be making his mark with Brentford and I think they will hang around the fringes all season. A fifth away victory would do very nicely Herr Kapitan.
Prediction; 0-2
Sheffield Wednesday v Leyton Orient
Should be a routine home win here but the O's have nothing to lose and they have been harder to beat away from Brisbane Road this year than at home. That unbeaten Wednesday home record won't last too much longer and the O's might go close here.
Prediction; 2-2
Stevenage v Walsall
Stevenage will get a nosebleed if their climb much higher. Walsall linger where they usually do and will do well to get anything here.
Prediction; 1-0
The Big Match, Monday
Charlton Athletic v Huddersfield Town
Both sides have strengthened in the week with loan signings and our defence faces a possible encounter with the Beast. If he plays, it will be interesting to see Michael Morrison go chest to chest with Jon Parkin. He's a player who has bullied us in the past but at 30 and with all that timber he usually carries, I am confident we can contain him this time. Jordan Rhodes is an altogether different prospect but I am expecting Bradley Wright-Phillips to steal the limelight. I called up to buy hospitality today but "everything has gone." A sign of the times on a Monday night with the Sky cameras in town. A dew is probably the smart money but this season looks like it will finally be the one we have been waiting for a win here on home turf will put us firmly in the Guvnors seat and should finally win Chris Powell a deserved Manager-of-the-Month title.
Prediction; 3-2
Chesterfield v Sheffield United
The Spireites are rock bottom after a promising start to the campaign and are plainly struggling to make the adjustment to League One. The Blades will blow into town in numbers and with James Beattie back on board their bus, should be full of confidence.
Prediction; 0-2
AFC Bournemouth v Oldham Athletic
The Cherries are fighting back after a horrible start and their away form has hauled them out of the relegation places. their problem has been at Dean Court where they have managed only two victories. They get another chance here but Oldham might present a tough nut to crack after decent recent wins.
Prediction; 1-1
Bury v Preston North End
Preston fans will not be relishing this Hot-Pot derby. They are also wondering how they can release a player of Darel Russell's quality at a time when they have an injury list that is nearly as long as their recent losing streak. They are actually a point worse off than Bury as things stand and this could be a large application of salt to open wounds.
Prediction; 1-0
Carlisle United v Colchester United
Long trek for an inconsistent Colchester side who aren't enjoying away matches this season. I'll take the Cumbrians to shade it here.
Prediction; 2-1
The Grecians have steadied the ship and have limped out of the drop zone. Their home form is recovering and they could do us a mini-favour here against 9th placed Tranmere.
Prediction; 2-1
Hartlepool United v Yeovil Town
If Hartlepool can't win at home this time, they may as well give up. Yeovil are the only side in division yet to register an away win.
Prediction; 2-0
Wycombe look like they are intent on following Chesterfield back to whence they came. MK Dons are unbeaten at home and I suspect they will make short work of their M1 neighbours.
Prediction; 3-0
Notts County v Scunthorpe United
A decent home record and a poor away one? Home win, although I can see Scunny keeping this tight.
Prediction; 1-0
Rochdale v Brentford
Brentford were unfortunate not to get something off us last week and they will go looking here knowing that they have only lost once on the road. Uwe Rosler appears to be making his mark with Brentford and I think they will hang around the fringes all season. A fifth away victory would do very nicely Herr Kapitan.
Prediction; 0-2
Sheffield Wednesday v Leyton Orient
Should be a routine home win here but the O's have nothing to lose and they have been harder to beat away from Brisbane Road this year than at home. That unbeaten Wednesday home record won't last too much longer and the O's might go close here.
Prediction; 2-2
Stevenage v Walsall
Stevenage will get a nosebleed if their climb much higher. Walsall linger where they usually do and will do well to get anything here.
Prediction; 1-0
The Big Match, Monday
Charlton Athletic v Huddersfield Town
Both sides have strengthened in the week with loan signings and our defence faces a possible encounter with the Beast. If he plays, it will be interesting to see Michael Morrison go chest to chest with Jon Parkin. He's a player who has bullied us in the past but at 30 and with all that timber he usually carries, I am confident we can contain him this time. Jordan Rhodes is an altogether different prospect but I am expecting Bradley Wright-Phillips to steal the limelight. I called up to buy hospitality today but "everything has gone." A sign of the times on a Monday night with the Sky cameras in town. A dew is probably the smart money but this season looks like it will finally be the one we have been waiting for a win here on home turf will put us firmly in the Guvnors seat and should finally win Chris Powell a deserved Manager-of-the-Month title.
Prediction; 3-2
3-2 home win ? I would be elated with that scoreline! I've fought the temptation of sloping off home and watching the game with a cold beer on my sofa, and have big plans to get the train to my office in Woolwich, pop down the pub for pre match dinner and a few beers and then on to the Valley. So a five goal thriller to our good would be superb. (having said that I'd also gladly settle for a single goal win with the winner scored in themlast minuten bouncing in off of Kemorgants bottom.
ReplyDeleteI'll take the three points, but the Manager of the Month title? Thanks but no thanks. Who needs that sort of jinx in the run up to christmas?
ReplyDelete