Charlton make the long trip to Hartlepool this weekend looking to maintain top spot in League One.

The Monkey Hangers are in poor form at Victoria Park, their last home win coming against Bury on 17 September. Since then, Mick Wadsworth’s team have lost to Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and Tranmere and Charlton will be hoping to extend their host’s misery.

Wadsworth has challenged his team to look at themselves after giving what he described as a, ‘poor, very poor,’ second half performance against Tranmere on Tuesday.

Hartlepool started the season brightly and were amongst the early pacesetters. The Addicks will have to be on their guard against conceding free-kicks around the edge of their penalty area with the dangerous veteran, Norberto Solano, in the Hartlepool ranks.

Chris Powell gave a strong hint at Thursday’s press conference that he will be fielding an unchanged team. When asked about the central midfield situation, he gave this response:

“Dale (Stephens) has played his part in us being where we are but it is about the squad and Andy (Hughes) has come in and contributed to two good wins.

“I’ve always said that if you do that, then you stay in. He’s done that.

“There may be games where, tactically, I may change it. I’ve done that this season and I’ve got to look at that.

“Anytime anything changes, what do you do? Are other players ready to play in different positions or come in and play their part? That’s happened.

“Hopefully Dale will be fine and he’ll get back in when the chance arises.”

That would seem to make it clear that Powell intends to start with Hughes tomorrow, though Stephens could replace Jason Euell on the bench.

Charlton could field this team:

Hamer; Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins; Green, Hughes, Hillands, Jackson; Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips.

Subs: Sullivan, Cort, Stephens, Wagstaff, Hayes.

Dean Mohareb from Cheshire will be the man in charge.

Hartlepool is always windy so the Addicks will have to adjust to the tricky conditions, but confidence in the camp is sky high right now, and Powell will be disappointed if his team does not take all three points.

Meanwhile, once Blackburn reached the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup, it was almost certain that Charlton’s match against Huddersfield would be broadcast by Sky.

The stellar League One fixture of the weekend was always going to be at risk once Sky announced their contingency plans to cover the possibility of the Stoke v Blackburn game having to be rescheduled. The next stage of the Carling Cup will be played during the week of 28 November and takes priority over Premier League games.