Tomorrow afternoon sees the first league game for Crewe Alexandra in six months as they will play against recently relegated Charlton Athletic, the clubs meeting for the first time since the 1999/00 season.
Last Season:
Last season saw Charlton start off the season quite well with 6 wins from the opening dozen games, sitting in 7th place at that point before a run of a single win in 18 games saw them drop down the table towards the relegation zone. They would sit in 18th place heading into the final 7 games but would go winless in those and be relegated by a point following a 91st-minute winner for Barnsley in their game at Brentford.
They would go out of the Carabao Cup on penalties to Forest Green Rovers in Round 1 and to West Bromwich Albion in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup, both in home games.
This season:
They have played 2 games so far this season, a 2-1 defeat at AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy and a 3-1 victory at Swindon Town in the Carabao Cup (to set up a trip to West Ham United on Tuesday night).
Transfers:
Charlton have made 5 signings in total with defender Lucas Ness joined from Met Police, midfielders Alex Gilbey and Dylan Levitt (loan) signed from MK Dons and Manchester United respectively while forwards Conor Washington and Hady Ghandour joined from Hearts and Totting & Mitcham United. They have let 4 players leave permanently.
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 0
Charlton Wins: 4
Draws: 0
Biggest Alex Win: n/a
Biggest Charlton Win: 3-0 at The Valley in March 1998
Last Meeting:
Charlton Athletic 1-0 Crewe Alexandra, 15th January 2000
Graham Stuart got the only goal of the game in the 13th minute.
Alex: Kearton; Lightfoot, S. Wright (Tait 74), Macauley, D. Wright; Bignot, Street (Cramb 86), Lunt, Sorvel; Jack, Rivers
Charlton: Kiely, Shields, Brown, Rufus, Konchesky; Newton (Salako 72), Stuart, Kinsella, Robinson (Todd 88); Pringle, Hunt
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: Semi Ajayi, David Button, Neil Etheridge, John Phillips, Paul Rachubka
Defenders: Darren Anderson, Madjid Bougherra
Midfielders: Chuks Aneke, Danny Hollands, Danny Murphy, Simon Walton
Forwards: Nicky Ajose, Joe Anyinsah, Simon Church, Chris Dickson, Danny Haynes, Paul Hince, Rob Hulse, Luke Varney
Officials:
The officials for this game have been announced here with Graham Salisbury the referee, Danny Gratton and Ravel Cheosiaua are his assistants with Paul Marsden the fourth official. Here are the Crewe games that have been refereed by Salisbury in the previous 5 years:
- Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Luton Town (14th January 2017) – Lowe
- Crewe Alexandra 2-2 Mansfield Town (5th August 2017) – Porter (2)
- Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Luton Town (25th November 2017) – og
- Swindon Town 4-3 Crewe Alexandra (27th January 2018) – Ainley (2), Wintle
- Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Bury (13th October 2018) – Kirk
- Oldham Athletic 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (16th February 2019) – Ray
- Morecambe 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (29th February 2020) – Ng
Opposition View:
I asked Charlton supporter Dan Finch for his thoughts going into the game and looking at the season ahead.
How would you describe last season for the Addicks?
We had a difficult year last season, we had a tiny squad and were crippled by injuries. January struck and our recent takeover turned out to be a bust we were put into a transfer embargo and on the last day, our squad couldn’t quite save us from the drop (no thanks to Lyle Taylor).
We are still under said embargo so we literally have 15/16 first-teamers and 3 of them are keepers. So our only injury is our skipper Jason Pearce.
What is the position that you think needs strengthening before the transfer window shuts?
You name a position we need it. We are without a right-back and any wingers. 2 central defenders, striker and a backup left-back. Bowyer has indicated he may want 6+ new players before the window shuts.
What would be the team that you would pick for the game if you were in charge?
Amos
Lapslie Barker Oshilaja Purrington
Pratley
Morgan Gilbey
Williams
Bonne Washington
Aneke off the bench could be a threat
Who is the danger man for yourselves?
I think it has to be Jonny Williams, a Welsh international and former Premier League midfielder. He ran league one ragid in our play offseason and be was barely fit! Honorable mentions to Alex Gilbey and Macauley Bonne
What would be a successful season for Charlton this term?
Well, number one is to be a football club in the foreseeable future. Hopefully, a new takeover is on the horizon and we can bulk up this squad and if it all goes to plan then playoffs are a minimum.
