Saturday 6 April 2013

Redfearn banks on experience

Leeds caretaker manager Neil Redfearn is banking on experience rather than younger players for this afternoon's clash at The Valley: Leeds

Chris Powell has an unchanged squad to pick from with Leon Cort (knee) and Danny Hollands (foot) remaining on the injury list. Striker Ricardo Fuller's dislocated shoulder is a concern and Haynes may well start. Charlton keeper Ben Hamer admits that it hurt being dropped for four games, but admits that he needed a kick up the backside and is now sharper (which seems to be the case): Hamer. One time Addick Neil Redfearn has no major injury worries as he takes charge of Leeds for the first time.

Outgoing manager Neil Warnock visited the training ground at Thorp Arch yesterday and made a farewell speech to the players, but Redfearn does not know what he said. Warnock is expected to concentrate on his market gardening for the forseeable future, so expect some passionate broccoli.

I hope we can avoid any chants about Jimmy Saville today: we are better than that. We should also bear in mind that Leeds fans have been commemorating a tragedy. Two Leeds fans were murdered in Turkey thirteen years ago, and the pain must still be very real for family and friends. If Leeds fans turn their backs in the first two minutes of the game, as has been suggested on Facebook, it is no sign of disrespect to us, but a commemoration of these two fans: Commemoration

Coral are offering odds of 5/4 on Charlton, 12/5 on a draw and 21/10 on Leeds. Leeds have won on five of their last six visits to The Valley. Charlton remain the only team in the Championship not to have scored in time added on and one can expect panic stations if it is then 1-1. The referee is from Warwickshire and I shall be round his house if he isn't up to the job.

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