Successful football clubs are underpinned by solid home form, and a watertight defence.
Charlton’s record at The Valley this season has been excellent. They have won 16, drawn 5 and lost 2 of their 23 League One games on home soil.
The two games they lost were to Peterborough in August, and Coventry in early October.
Posh were flying high at the time, but had to rely on a hotly disputed 89th minute penalty to secure the three points. Coventry’s victory can best be described as a smash and grab raid.
Since then, the Addicks have gone unbeaten in 17 games.
Lee Bowyer’s side conceded just 15 goals at home all season. Coventry and Wycombe scored 2 goals apiece, but no other side scored more than once, and Charlton kept 10 clean sheets at The Valley.
Apart from a madcap 5-3 defeat at Scunthorpe at the beginning of October, no team has scored more than twice against the Valley outfit on their travels either.
The defence has evolved during the season. Anfernee Dijksteel is now arguably ahead of Chris Solly in Bowyer’s plans,and cult hero, Naby Sarr, has definitely displaced Jason Pearce as the club’s top left sided cental defender.
And Lewis Page’s long term injury allowed Rotherham loanee, Ben Purrington, to establish himself at left-back.
Patrick Bauer has maintained his hold on the right sided central defence position throughout the season.
If the defence can keep its form, with the strength in midfield, and the imperious Lyle Taylor up front, Charlton fans can look forward to an enjoyable play-off campaign.
TAGS: Charlton Athletic