Martin Thompson (left) in action for Brakes against Colchester United
After their 2-1 defeat at bogey team Stourbridge on Easter Monday, Leamington have little realistic chance of overhauling Evesham United for the one automatic promotion place. Moreover, key player Josh Blake broke his jaw in the encounter with the Glassboys. Although he played on he had to go to hospital afterwards to have a metal plate inserted and will be out for the rest of the season. With other players missing (including two on holiday) Jason Cadden has recalled Martin Thompson (Clunesie) from the Bardsmen.
Nevertheless, Leamington are firmly anchored in second place with a good lead over the team in 7th (Chavtown). They should be in the play offs and they may well win through. In any event coming 2nd in your division in a promotion season would be a considerable achievement and is better than a relegated team ending up mid-table.
It is, of course, all still to play for, at least arithmetically. If they can beat Wolves today, Charlton will be still be in contention for 6th place. However, as I get the train out of Leamington this afternoon and look across the fields to the distant New Windmill Ground I will be bound to ask myself, is my long journey to London and back (it's quicker to get to Blackpool or Burnley) worth it? Or should I have stayed in Leamington to watch the Brakes take on the Villagers (Bishop's Cleeve)?
Charlton has tried to boost morale with an inspirational message from Jerome Thomas, but I can't overlook the fact that in our last four outings we have scored only two goals and both of those have come from defenders. I don't entirely blame the strikers the service from midfield is poor.
I saw Wolves play us at Molineux and they effectively demolished us. Will today's match put a rare smile on the face of Mick McCarthy? Away from home, Wolves tend to be draw specialists, drawing eight, winning five and losing only five. I fear another draw today which would mean little hope of a play off place.
In a bid to boost our chances, senior match analyst Hooch the Pooch has allocated lucky spaniel Monty Martin from Blewbury, Oxon to cover the match as match analyst. 'Monts' became even more excitable than usual when he heard the news.
1 comment:
Wyn, you would be better off watching the brakes - myself I may opt for Welling. Charlton just aren't worthy of support at the moment. The manager , the players and the board are all equally to blame for an appalling season. Today's result effectively kills of any hope of a play off place. I think the bubble has finally burst on the Charlton fairy tale and it is very hard to take at the moment. It looks as if we are set to become an average Championship side and, considering how bad this league is, one has consider how many games it will be worth paying to watch next season. I appreciate what the present board has done for the club, but we need a large case injection if we are to progress and that just doesn't seem likely to happen in the near future.
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