Charlton vs Fulham preview, predictions & possible XIs
Fulham’s quest for automatic promotion takes them across London to face Charlton Athletic in the Championship this week.
The Cottagers are currently third, four points behind Leeds United, and will be looking to put pressure on Marcelo Bielsa’s men who haven’t been in great form.
They have a good chance to do this, coming up against a Charlton side struggling near the relegation zone and without a win in four Championship matches.
Read on for our Charlton vs Fulham preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Charlton vs Fulham and where can I watch live?
Competition: Championship
Venue: The Valley
Date: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Kick-off: 7:45 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): Sky Sports Red Button
Last five meetings: Charlton vs Fulham
05 October 2019: Fulham 2-2 Charlton (Championship)
20 February 2016: Fulham 3-0 Charlton (Championship)
04 October 2015: Charlton 2-2 Fulham (Championship)
07 April 2015: Charlton 1-1 Fulham (Championship)
24 October 2014: Fulham 3-0 Charlton (Championship)
Aggregate Score: Charlton (DLDDL) 5-11 Fulham (DWDDW)
Ones to watch
Charlton: Andre Green
Among the many injury blows Charlton have suffered this season, goalscorers Macauley Bonne and Lyle Taylor are currently absent. In the past two matches, Andre Green has been the replacement and got off the mark against Preston North End at the weekend.
Though he would usually play on the wing, circumstances saw the Aston Villa loanee lead the line against Preston alongside Josh Davison and that is a role he is likely to reprise against Fulham.
Green will be hoping to build on that goal in midweek to keep his place in the team when Bonne and Taylor return; if he does score against Fulham, he’ll do his chances of successfully doing so no harm.
Key stat: Andre Green has taken two shots for Charlton in the Championship, scoring once.
Fulham: Anthony Knockaert
With Aleksandar Mitrovic injured, Fulham needed someone else to step up and get the goals when they faced Middlesbrough on Friday; Anthony Knockaert was that man.
It was only the Frenchman’s third league goal of the season but added to a mini-uptick in form that has yielded two in three games across all competitions, with Knockaert having also found the net against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
The second half of the campaign will be big for Knockaert in deciding where he will be playing next season, whether it be with parent club Brighton or another Premier League side (potentially Fulham). So the Frenchman will want to fill his boots against a weak Charlton defence.
Key stat: Anthony Knockaert has been directly involved in seven Championship goals this season.
Team news
Charlton
Charlton have been struggling with injury problems recently and, as a result, have had to rely on younger players in big matches.
Predicted XI: Phillips; Lockyer, Sarr, Oshilaja; Matthews, Pratley, Oztumer, Dempsey, Doughty; Green, Davison.
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Fulham
Fulham are still without Mitrovic, who missed the win over Middlesbrough with an ankle injury, so could continue with Bobby Reid up front. Aboubakar Kamara is another option, as Charlton boss Lee Bowyer suggested in his pre-match press conference. Knockaert is expected to be fit after being taken off late on in that win.
Predicted XI: Rodak; Odoi, Hector, Ream, Bryan; Onomah, McDonald; Knockaert, Cairney, Cavaleiro; Reid.
Squawka prediction
The previous meeting between these two sides resulted in an exciting draw. But, based on last Friday’s utterly dominant display against Boro, Fulham should have too much for their London rivals this time around.
Even without Mitrovic, the Cottagers proved they have enough to get passed struggling teams and that’s exactly what Charlton are. The Addicks will undoubtedly miss the influence of Conor Gallagher and their youth will eventually fall even if they do put up a fight.
