New Charlton manager Nigel Adkins is tasked with a south London derby in his inaugural match in charge when the Addicks travel to Plough Lane to take on AFC Wimbledon on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
The 56-year-old was unveiled by the club on Thursday morning – just three days after Lee Bowyer’s shock resignation – before taking his first training session at Sparrows Lane alongside Johnnie Jackson, who has retained his role as assistant manager.
Jackson’s managerial debut was a prosperous one as the Addicks came from 2-0 down to defeat Bristol Rovers 3-2 at The Valley, and Adkins will be hoping for more of the same to consolidate Charlton’s position in the play-offs ahead of the international break.
AFC Wimbledon, meanwhile, are enduring a wretched run of form and find themselves in the midst of a relegation battle. Mark Robinson’s side have now gone six games without tasting victory – four of which have been draws – with goals seemingly hard to come by having scored just three times during this period.
Team News
Adkins has a near-full set of Addicks to choose from, with Adam Matthews (hamstring) and Ryan Inniss the only absentees (quad), though Charlton’s Good Friday trip to Doncaster Rovers has been earmarked as a return date for the defensive pair.
Jake Forster-Caskey, who was rested against Shrewsbury Town, came through unscathed during his goalscoring return in midweek to the joy of his new manager as the midfielder continues to be the team’s talisman.
Robinson is optimistic on the availability of Dons duo Darnell Johnson and Callum Reilly who were both withdrawn on Tuesday night with minor knocks, while the club await scan results from Reading to discover the extent of loanee goalkeeper Sam Walker’s knee injury.
The Wombles will, however, be without a host of players, with Shayon Harrison (ankle), Ethan Chislett (Achilles), Zach Robinson (hamstring), Paul Kalambayi, Jack Madelin and Corie Andrews all missing out.
Opposition Player To Watch
Joe Pigott
The 27-year-old, who spent four years at The Valley after graduating from the academy in 2012, has already returned to haunt the club once this season, and will be hoping history can repeat itself at the weekend.
Pigott has shouldered the goalscoring burden on his own for the Dons for large parts of this season and has proved himself to be a dependable outlet in their bid to survive in the third tier. The striker’s 13 goals make him the club’s top scorer by some margin, with Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Ryan Longman in second with five.
Head-to-Head
The south Londoners have met on 10 previous occasions; both sides boast four wins apiece, with the remaining two games ending in draws.
The reverse fixture last December saw the Addicks win 5-2 in SE7. Conor Washington fired the Addicks ahead after 37 minutes, but quickfire goals from Joe Pigott and Daniel Csoka saw the visitors go into break in the ascendancy.
Forster-Caskey equalised just after the hour-mark before super subs Jonny Williams, Chuks Aneke and Ben Purrington completed the Charlton comeback in emphatic fashion.
Saturday’s meeting will be Charlton’s first trip to the new Plough Lane since the Dons returned in early November after a 29-year wait, though the Addicks’s last trip across the capital in February 2019 was a fruitful one, with goals from Naby Sarr and Igor Vetokele cancelling out Michael Folivi’s opener.
