Charlton Athletic host Reading in a huge clash in the race for the League One Play-Offs.
Victory will see Charlton climb as high as eighth depending on results elsewhere, whilst Reading can stay fifth with a win.
Team News
Charlton have no fresh injury concerns to report after their New Year’s Day trip to Crawley was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Kayne Ramsay (knee), Tayo Edun and Tennai Watson (both unspecified) remain absent.
Reading could welcome Amadou Mbengue back into contention after he missed their 3-1 win against Cambridge, due to illness.
Michael Craig (hamstring) is a doubt.
When is Kick-Off?
Charlton host Reading at The Valley on Saturday 4 January at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Charlton have won two of their last seven league meetings against Reading (W2, L5).
- Reading have won three of their last five trips to Charlton (W3, L2).
- Charlton have lost each of their last two meetings against Reading by a 2-0 result, albeit away from home.
- Nathan Jones’ Addicks have won their last two home games by 2-1 results, with Miles Leaburn scoring three of their four goals.
- Harvey Knibbs has scored three goals in two of Reading’s last three matches.
Prediction
Unbeaten in five games and currently six points off the last play-off spot, Charlton know that a win is a must if they’re to push for the play-offs especially after a clinically executed win over Wycombe last Sunday.
Reading though won’t be easy opposition after the Royals found their form again with nine goals in their last three matches, but one clean sheet in their last 11 league games suggests that their back line could be vulnerable to Charlton’s in-form attack.
Both teams however do look stronger in attack so I do expect a tough battle and a point apiece wouldn’t be a bad result at this stage for either team if can keep up the momentum until end of season.
Prediction: Charlton 1-1 Reading
Result: Charlton 0-0 Reading