Reading welcome the Addicks to the their first Premiership encounter at the Madejski Stadium tomorrow. It will be the first game that Charlton play with new manager Les Reed at the helm and they will certainly be looking to pick up some points to lift them from their slump at the bottom of the league.
But new manager or not, there is no escaping the fact that Charlton have not won away from home in over a year and Reading will be in high morale after last Sunday`s 3-1 turnaround against Spurs
Vital Quotes:
Steve Coppell on Saturday fixture:
‘In the majority of games this year we are going to be the underdogs but Charlton have struggled so far this season.
‘But they will be looking at it as a great opportunity to get three points by getting stuck into the new boys.
‘So both sides will have a similar kind of mentality and the importance of the three points is obvious.’
Les Reed in anticipation o f his first game at the helm:
‘I do not think the fans want to see a complete revolution.
‘They want to see a team which is passionate, well organised and appears to be well coached. That is what I intend to give them.
‘But I will make changes, and have the normal problems managers have in picking and dropping players.’
Reading Team News:
Coppell`s team has been in the news almost as much as Reed after the death threats saga at the Madejski Stadium this week. However it is unlikely to affect Sonko or Hunt involvement in the game. Sonko being a key player, and Hunt likely to get the nod with Bobby Convey still unavailable with a knee injury.
The Royals are of course without long-term injury victims Peter Mate, Aaron Brown, Simon Cox and Dave Kitson, but expect to see the flame haired striker scoring on MOTD soon as he is making a good recovery from his knee injury.
Graeme Murty seems to have rid himself of a shin injury picked up in midweek training and is should be captaining the side.
Expect Glen Little to play on the right wing after a dazzling performance against Spurs, while Leroy Lita will be in good contention to partner Kevin Doyle upfront after his promising display as a sub in the same match. However Seol Ki-Hyeon will be looking to stay in the team, and young prospect Shane Long shouldn`t be overlooked.
Reading are otherwise unlikely to change the backbone of their starting eleven which has seen very few changes since the beginning of last seasons campaign.
Reading squad: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Seol, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Doyle, Long, Lita, Gunnarsson, de la Cruz, Bikey, Oster, Federici.
Player to watch: Kevin Doyle
Kevin Doyle could fancy a couple of goals after scoring his first international goal for Ireland on Wednesday. Otherwise Sidwell is consistently good, and Murty and Little both shone against Spurs.
Charlton Team News:
Darren Bent is Charlton`s main concern, the Premiership`s joint top goalscorer was forced to pull out of the England squad that faced Holland due to a hamstring injury. It is thought likely that Bent will be travelling to Reading.
Jerome Thomas is expected to be recovered from a thigh injury and join the Charlton squad; Dennis Rommedahl is another who should be ready after recovering from a groin injury.
They are more likely then not to be missing Souleymane Diawara and Radostin Kishishev, both players are suffering from hamstring injuries.
Kevin Lisbie will certainly miss out, the forward is suffering from a shoulder injury. Meanwhile defensive options may be limited with Djimi Traore, Gonzalo Sorondo and Cory Gibbs all 50/50.
Midfielder Amdy Faye is one of the only Addicks certain to miss out, as he is suspended.
It will be interesting to see how Reed will shape Charlton with so little choice in his first game in charge.
Charlton squad: Carson, Young, Diawara, Kishishev, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Ambrose, M Bent, Holland, Hasselbaink, Reid, Thomas, D Bent, Andersen, Sankofa, Rommedahl, Pouso, Fortune, Hughes.
Player to watch: Hermann Hreidarsson
Ex boss Steve Coppell believes the Icelandic defender could be key in Charlton’s team.
Match Facts & Stats
Reading can climb the league and potentially reach 7th place with a victory against the struggling Lactics depending on other results.
The Addicks will be hoping to claim their first away league win over Reading since 1981. They last beat Reading in away in 1981, walking out 3-1 winners at Reading`s Elm Park. Since then they have failed to win in six encounters, drawing two and losing the other four. A victory could lift Charlton out of the relegation zone.
This is the first meeting between the two in almost ten seasons, lets hope for a memorable game.
Ref Watch:
Graham Poll, the infamous whistle blower takes charge. Lets hope he can do a good job.
Match Prediction:
Reading to walk out with a second victory in two games, 1-0 maybe even 2-1. Steve Coppell will be only too aware of the effect a new manager can have on a club and will, as ever, keep his players feet firmly on the ground.
