In focus: Charlton Athletic match preview

Take a closer look at the latest stats and facts in our match preview ahead of Town's Sky Bet League One clash with Charlton Athletic.

Charlton Athletic's first season back in Sky Bet League One following relegation from the Championship last year currently sees the Addicks sitting in eighth position in the league table - sitting just one point behind sixth-placed Portsmouth. Lee Bowyer's side will have aspirations of achieving promotion back to the second tier but face stern competition from Oxford City and Accrington Stanley who are chasing a spot in the top six - both teams sit just one point behind the London club.

The home side's form has taken a rise in the last three Sky Bet League One fixtures, having won two and drawn one. Chuks Aneke and Conor Washington lead the line for the home side, and the pair have notched a combined 22 goals this season. However, Town also come into the fixture off the back of a 2-0 win over Rochdale away from home, as the Shrews look to string another set of positive results together.

Nickname: The Addicks,

Founded: 190 (115 years ago)

Stadium: The Valley

Capacity: 27,111

Chairman/owner: Thomas Sandgaard

Biggest win: 8-1 v Middlesbrough, Division One, 12th September 1953

Biggest loss: 1-11 v Aston Villa, Division Two, 14th November 1959

Highest League finish: Division One champions: 1999-2000

Read Aaron Wilbraham's thoughts ahead of the tie...

Interviews 11 March 2021

Aaron Wilbraham previews Town's fixture with Charlton Athletic

The Manager - Lee Bowyer

A former Charlton academy graduate, boss Lee Bowyer first returned to The Valley at the beginning of 2017 as a member of Karl Robinson’s coaching staff.

Canning Town-born Bowyer started his playing career in SE7. After progressing through the club’s youth ranks, he made his first-team debut against Swindon Town in the Coca-Cola Cup on September 21st, 1994, with his league debut following four days later.

He made 58 appearances for Charlton, scoring 14 goals, before moving to Leeds United in 1996. Capped once by England’s senior team, Bowyer would also represent West Ham United, Newcastle United and Birmingham City in the top flight, and Ipswich Town in the Championship.

During his first two years as a manager, Bowyer has already achieved promotion from Sky Bet League One having taken the Addicks up via the 2019 Play-offs. However, Bowyer was unable to keep the club in the division.

Goalkeeper - Ben Amos

Charlton completed the loan signing of experienced goalkeeper Ben Amos from Bolton Wanderers on July 29th, 2017 and the keeper returned to the Valley for a second loan spell at the start of the season.

The 29-year-old is a former Manchester United academy graduate and spent last season with South London rivals, Millwall, on loan.

Amos started his career at Old Trafford and would go on to represent the Red Devils in the Champions League, the League Cup and once in the Premier League.

While with United, Amos enjoyed domestic loan stints at Peterborough United, Oldham Athletic, Hull City, Carlisle United and Bolton Wanderers, before joining the latter permanently in July 2015.

Midfielder Darren Pratley

The experience and know-how of Darren Pratley was added to Charlton’s ranks following the midfielder’s release from Bolton Wanderers last summer.

The Addicks secured his services until the end of this season following his seven-year spell at the Macron Stadium where the former Trotters skipper made 203 appearances.

He had previously represented Swansea City whom he joined in 2006 and remained for five years, scoring 31 goals in 199 appearances and helping the Swans to promotion to the Championship in 2008 and the Premier League in 2011.

The midfielder’s senior career started at The Valley when he came off the bench for Fulham against Charlton for his debut in 2003 and he has since gone on to play just under 500 senior games.

Pratley provided much-needed knowledge and experience to a young Addicks side both in training and on the pitch. scoring four times in 34 outings for Charlton last season, his biggest moment in a Charlton shirt last season was undoubtedly his extra time equaliser in the play-off semi-final in front of the Covered End.

Forward - Chuks Aneke

Chuks Aneke became Charlton's second summer signing of 2019 after spending three seasons with MK Dons.

Starting his career off at Arsenal, Aneke spent 13 seasons with the North London side. He learned his trade on loan spells with Stevenage and Preston North end before enjoying a successful double spell with Crewe Alexandra where he made 55 League starts, scoring 20 times during his time with the Alex.

Upon returning to Arsenal, Aneke was released by the club and joined up with Belgian club Zulte Waregem only to see his two years there hampered by injury. He made 41 appearances scoring four goals for the club.

Aneke then returned to England, joining League One MK Dons. At Dons, Aneke enjoyed something of a career revival, he was instrumental in them being promoted back up at the first time of asking, scoring 19 goals in 41 appearances in the 2018/19 campaign. So far this season, the forward has been a key cog in the Charlton frontline with 13 goals from 12 starts up top.