Charlton face crucial away games at Derby and Ipswich in the space of four days.

Chris Powell will be anxious for his team to put the disappointing defeat by Palace behind them and end a three match winless streak. Losing, like winning, can quickly become a habit and the Addicks will not want to lose a third successive match.

Derby are just one place above their visitors and games at Pride Park this season have seen plenty of goals. The Capital One Cup game went to a penalty shoot-out after the Rams shared ten goals with Scunthorpe. They drew their opening home league game 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday before thrashing Watford 5-1 in their last outing at Pride Park.

Chris Powell has a number of decisions to make in terms of personnel and formation. Definitely missing will be metatarsal victim, Rhoys Wiggins. Chris Solly done well on the left after Wiggins’ departure, as did Lawrie Wilson who slotted in at right-back, but Powell is likely to give Cedric Evina the nod to replace Wiggins.

Formation wise, Powell will have to decide between a traditional 4-4-2, a diamond shaped midfield or 4-3-3. The players have not really adjusted to the diamond and with his midfield struggling, 4-3-3 could be the best option. However, Powell could be cautious after the two recent reverses and may stick with Friday’s 4-4-2 shape.

Bradley Pritchard has been finding it tough in the last couple of games and Danny Green would add natural width. Green made a good cameo appearance from the bench on Friday and could be given the nod. Dale Stephens was the best of the midfielders on Friday and is sure to start. He will probably be partnered again by Danny Hollands in the engine room.

Johnnie Jackson is another who has not been at his best so far this season and the skipper was far from pleased when he was withdrawn before the hour mark against Palace. Salim Kerkar is an ideal replacement if Powell wants to freshen things up but the manager is likely to keep faith with his captain. With midfield reinforcements likely to arrive sooner rather than later, tomorrow’s quartet will be striving to cement their places.

Bradley Wright-Phillips’ has stepped up to the higher level well but Yann Kermorgant has not yet been as effective as he was last campaign. Ricardo Fuller will be pressing hard for a starting berth but Danny Haynes is injured and will not be available.

Charlton could field this line-up:

Hamer; Solly, Cort, Morrison, Evina; Green, Stephens, Hollands, Jackson; Fuller, Wright-Phillips.

Subs: Button, Wilson, Dervite, Pritchard, Kerkar, Kermorgant, Smith.

David Phillips from West Sussex will be the man in charge.

Nigel Clough’s team have not had the start they would have wanted and Derby could become edgy if they do not make an early break through. If Charlton can frustrate their hosts early on, things could open up for them later in the game. The match will give them one of their better opportunities for a win on the road.