Friday 20 September 2013

Kermorgant could return - but doesn't

Yann Kermorgant may have recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury to play in tomorrow's derby against Millwall at The Valley. Unfortunately, he didn't and Pigott takes his place. Chris Solly remains a doubt after missing the last four games with a knee injury and isn't in the line up and fellow defender Leon Cort is also carrying a knock. Cameron Stewart is pushing to make his full debut after the on-loan Hull winger scored the Addicks' goal on Tuesday night on his first appearance as a substitute. However, he remains on the bench, perhaps just as well given his record in seeing off managers discussed in the Daily Mirror today.

Andy d'Urso, the banker from Billericay, is the referee which is not good news for either side. How he is allowed to referee such a crucial match defies belief. It will be no surprise if there is an errant red card.

Charlton have failed to score in their last three league games against Millwall, since the clubs shared eight League One goals at the Valley in December 2009. Millwall have won twice as many away league games against Charlton than they have lost (W14, D12, L7). It's 17 years since Charlton last beat their rivals: 2-0 at home in the second tier in March 1996.

On-loan Leeds striker Steve Morison could start for Millwall after scoring in their 3-1 win over Blackpool. Otherwise, Steve Lomas is likely to stick with the side which secured a first league victory of the season.

Former Addick Nicky Bailey did not distinguish himself in last weekend's 1-5 home defeat by Derby. He was apparently completely outplayed by Hughes and Bryson who 'waltzed around him at will' according to the Football League Paper. Bailey at least got a score of 4, but Martyn Woolford and Shaun Derry got unusually low scores of 3. Of Derry they said, 'With his greying hair, the 35-year old was a relic among the youthful buzz of Derby's midfield.'

Lomas has brought in 23-year old Leicester City striker Martyn Waghorn on a three month loan. The former England under-21 international had last season disrupted by an appendix problem and found it difficult to recover his form.

Odds (Coral) are: Charlton 11/10; Draw, 12/5; Millwall, 12/5.

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