A Must Win Game?

Just thought I'd tell everyone that we're slap bang in the middle of an easy run. Not so you'd know it really after 4 points dropped in two sucessive 1-1 draws but then both games saw the Addicks down to 10 men because of the 2 red cards and having to hold on for the point.

Anyway, in case you hadn't noticed we're on game 3 out of 5 against 'easy' opposition. Hull, Norwich, Leicester, Colchester, Blackpool - you couldn't ask for better fodder to face during a three week spell that also includes the cup game against West Brom. But once we get that 6 game in 3 week run out of the way, it really starts to get a bit difficult again.

Starting with Watford away on January 19th until the return of Watford at home on February 16th, we've got ourselves a 5 game run where only Sheff. Wednesday away could be termed 'easy'. Apart from the two games against Watford, there's also the home derby against Palarse, currently surging painfully up the table, and another home fixture against 3rd placed Stoke that beat us 2-1 earlier in the season.

It all means that today and the next games against Colchester and Blackpool have to be won if you are not to lose touch with the top two altogether.

So what's the thoughts about today's game?

First to go was Dave over at drinkingduringthegame with a 1-1 draw forecast closely followed by Wyn Grant with another 1-1. And not to disappoint Killer himself also forsees a 1-1.

So its been left to Pedro45 to show some spirit and plump for an Addicks 2-1 win. And finally its our very own newyorkaddick who also sees a 2-1 away win.

So nobody anticipates a defeat today and its not surprising when you consider the history. We haven't lost in a game played on 29th December since 1982 against QPR, 25 years ago. And in the 4 games we've played since then on that date we've scored no less that 13 goals and it surely has to be one of the most prolific days in Charlton's history with 30 goals scored in the 12 games and 9 wins out of the 12 games.

All this combined with our unbeaten record at the Crisp Bowl after one game played there and Leicester's inability to win consecutive games at home since August 2006, that's 32 home games ago, should mean that a defeat is out of the question. And its a 1-0 win for me with Lloyd Sam getting his second goal of the season and his first since the game at Coventry exactly 3 months ago.