The games are coming fast and furious and tomorrow Charlton travel to Blackburn to face the team one place below them in the Championship table. I suppose there is some risk that weather conditions could see the game called off, but I expect it to go ahead.
My best memory of Ewood Park was a 1-1 draw that saw us promoted back to the Premier League. Andy Hunt played up front that day
Blackburn have done better away from home than at home this season. They have won just two at home, drawn three and lost seven, the latest being a 0-2 defeat by Wrexham. According to their coach they were lacking in energy.
They are running on empty, fractured by a long injury list and the residual effects of a baffling and chaotic summer transfer window. Rovers are short of quality and the head coach appears to know it.
They lack enough attacking potency or enough players who have proved they are good enough at Championship level. Rovers have some players who are consistently capable but not enough to make significant progress - so much of that appears to rest with botched recruitment and player sales.
Academy products stand out in a team without its top goalscorer Andri Gudjohnsen for several weeks, and one that does not feature striker Makhtar Gueye at all - fully fit but left out completely in favour of players making the bench who were unheard of until winter began.
Gueye does not run enough in training to warrant a place in the squad according to Rovers boss Valerien Ismael, who really did not hold back when asked about the Senegalese player.
New Charlton 'discovery' Rankin-Costello was, of course, a summer signing from Blackburn and the Lancashire lad has pledged to give his all against his former employers.
CAS Trust are billing this as the first away game of the new quarter century, perhaps a reminder I could do without as I look forward to my 80th year. Their assessment is that Blackburn will be 'tough physical opponents', but I am not expecting any protection from the referee: https://www.castrust.org/2026/01/first-away-game-of-the-new-quarter-century/
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