Brentford are a team comfortably becalmed in mid table. They will not be contesting the play-offs, nor will they be scrapping at the bottom.
They are the sort of team that managers of sides with something to play for like to meet. A greater desire for points should give their side the edge.
The Bees are performing as many sides in their situation do, their results are sketchy. They have won just one of their last seven outings at Griffin Park.
Some Charlton fans will party their way to the game by boat, for what could be their final visit to Griffin Park, before Dean Smith’s side relocate to the Brentford Community Stadium.
Griffin Park is a ground that is loved by most visiting fans, the pubs on each corner of the ground being a major attraction. Sadly, one of them has recently closed, but there are still three for fans to mingle in.
Jose Riga is likely to have Jordan Cousins available again, but will still be without Johnnie Jackson, Chris Solly, Igor Vetokele and the suspended Harry Lennon. Hat-trick man, Yaya Sanogo, has recovered from the bout of cramp he suffered at the end of the Reading game, and is fit for selection.
Riga will have to decide whether to persist with three central defenders, or revert to a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation.
The head coach could opt for this line-up:
Henderson; Motta, Teixeira, Johnson. Yun; Gudmundsson, Cousins, Diarra, Bergdich; Makienok, Sanogo.
Subs: Pope, Fanni, Fox, Ba, Harriott, Lookman, Ghoochannejhad.
The referee will be Brendan Malone from Wiltshire.
Riga will be hopeful that his side can take advantage of Brentford’s non-desperation for points. If the Addicks can grab a win, it will set up a real humdinger of a game against Milton Keynes Dons at The Valley on Tuesday.
Many Charlton fans would have liked to have seen Andy Hughes join the club’s coaching staff when he retired. Hughes was a combative midfielder and a real motivator.
After leaving The Valley in the summer of 2014, Stockport born Hughes coached at the Leeds academy.
In December he joined Rotherham as first team coach, but has now agreed to link up with Alan Pardew’s backroom team at Crystal Palace.
TAGS: Charlton Athletic