Charlton have failed to win any of the four games since Lyle Taylor and Karlan Grant were in harness together.
A combination of Taylor’s suspension, and the sale of Grant to Huddersfield, means the duo have played together for the last time.
The Addicks have looked toothless in attack, and Taylor’s return last week fell flat. He had a frustrating afternoon, picked up his ninth yellow card of the season, and is one booking away from a two match suspension.
Despite the poor run, Charlton remain in the play-off places, but with games against Doncaster and Portsmouth following Saturday’s trip to Wimbledon, they really need to turn their fortunes round.
Chris Solly was rested against Blackpool last week, and Tariqe Fosu did not even make the bench.
Krystian Bielik is still suspended, though Jason Pearce is fit again, but Bowyer may want to give him a little longer to recover.
Joe Aribo made a welcome return against Blackpool and had a fine game.
The Addicks have problems in attack, especially when Taylor is not at his best. Igor Vetokele looks a shadow of the player he once was, and Josh Parker has done little to impress thus far.
This will be Taylor’s first game at Kingsmeadow since his switch to The Valley in the summer. He will obviously want to do well, but will have to be careful not to be booked.
Bowyer can ill afford to be without him with two difficult games following this one.
Charlton could look like this:
Phillips; Solly, Bauer, Sarr. Purrington; Cullen, Reeves, Aribo, Williams; Taylor, Parker.
Subs: Maxwell, Dijksteel, Pratley, Lapslie, Marshall, Fosu, Vetokele.
The referee will be Chris Kavanagh from Manchester.
Wimbledon are rock bottom, but have won their last two games. Former Addick, Joe Pigott notched a hat-trick in the thrilling 4-3 win at Rochdale in midweek.
This is a game that Charlton simply have to win……at a ground where they have never tasted victory before.
TAGS: Charlton Athletic