Tough start, easier finish...

Excited Charlton fans were slapped around the face today with a disappointing opening game away at Accrington Stanley. No disrespect to Andy Holt's admirable club, just that most would have preferred a plumb opener at a new ground against one of the promoted or relegated sides. I guess our poor season last year meant that we weren't held up as a particularly attractive fish for any of the new boys. Sad, but that's what happens when you get settled in a division and have a mediocre season.

At least we will face Wayne Rooney's relegated Derby County in our first home game, unless they are wound-up in the courts today. They could survive today and still be docked 15 points for effectively going into relegation, depending on whether a buyer can cover all of their debts.

Our second away match at big-spending Sheffield Wednesday will be an early test of our promotion credentials and then we face Plymouth Argyle at home. Wednesday were beaten Play-Off contenders last season and Argyle missed out finishing seventh.

The flipside, is that our run-in looks decent from here. The last six home games are Accrington Stanley, Wycombe Wanderers, Shrewsbury Town, Burton Albion, Morecombe and Port Vale. We finish away at Cheltenham Town.

October could be a crucial month for us with Oxford United, Portsmouth, MK Dons and Ipswich Town all visiting the Valley. 

My only other observation is that we appear to have only five midweek (Tuesday) fixtures - last season I think it was double that. Perhaps this has something to do with World Cup in November/December and a reduction in international weekends as a result?