Ram raid

Charlton face an on form Derby County at The Valley tomorrow. The Rams currently top the Championship form table, having won their last five matches. They have the best away record in the league, having won six matches and lost just two. Away from home, they have scored twice as many goals as they have conceded (twenty against ten). In contrast, the Addicks have scored just seven goals at home and conceded nine.

Last Saturday, the Rams demolished Blackpool 5-1, albeit that once again the temperamental Tangerines had a player sent off and had a make shift defence with two central defenders suspended for earlier offences. Chris Martin scored a hat trick for the home side. John Eustace was judged to be a 'midfield dynamo' who kept the Rams ticking over in the middle. Craig Bryson was also strong in an impressive midfield display.

Charlton will be without suspended skipper Johnnie Jackson.

Somewhat surprisingly, Derby haven’t won at Charlton since a Premier League victory in September 1998 with the last two encounters ending in draws:

• Charlton Athletic 1-1 Derby County (December 29, 2012) – Jamie Ward’s 72nd minute penalty cancelled out a first half strike from Danny Haynes as the teams shared the points.
• Charlton Athletic 2-2 Derby County (December 15, 2008) – Derby escaped with a point as Nathan Ellington scored in the last minute to level the scores. Ellington also scored Derby’s first goal, converting a penalty.
• Charlton Athletic 1-0 Derby County (January 29, 2002) – Chris Bart-Williams scored the decisive goal for Charlton in this Premier League clash on a Tuesday evening. The Addicks side contained current manager, and former Ram, Chris Powell. Malcolm Christie and Fabrizio Ravenelli failed to score for Derby. John Gregory was appointed as the new Derby manager the next day.
• Charlton Athletic 2-1 Derby County (January 30, 2001) – Youl Mawene scored an own-goal and Scott Parker got on the scoresheet as Derby fell to defeat at this Tuesday evening game. Craig Burley scored the Rams’ goal. Caig had to come on as substitute goalkeeper after Kiely picked up an injury and did a good job.
• Charlton Athletic 1-2 Derby County (September 12, 1998) – Paulo Wanchope and Francesco Baiano scored a goal each to help Derby to all three points at the Valley. The Rams did pick up five yellow cards during the match, with Igor Stimac and Stefanio Eranio amongst the names in referee Mike Reid’s book. Sir Clive Mendonca scored a penalty for Charlton in the 89th minute.

Odds: Charlton 11/5, Draw 13/5, Derby 6/5.

One might think that it was not worth making the journey from Warwickshire with the cards stacked against the Addicks. However, Charlton are sometimes at their best when their backs are up against the wall. Having said that, I fear an away win.

Rick Everitt's elves will be out and about selling Voice of the Valley around the ground before the game. The theme of this issue is the Greenwich Peninsula stadium.

Clough calls for last stand against Addicks

With faltering Derby County still not safe from relegation, Nigel Clough has called for one last stand to take three easy points off bottom club Charlton on Saturday:
Clough

Given their dubious defence, Derby may not find their ram raid against the Addicks as easy as they think. Charlton are now unbeaten since they went down 2-1 to promoted Wolves. It seems to me that this is a case for an attacking 4-4-2 formation to add some excitement to the game and unsettle Derby.

Morale at the Rams has been boosted by the return of their 'secret weapon' Luke Varney from a loan spell at the Owls. Varney is reported to be fighting fit, but whether he knows where the goal is remains uncertain. But, of course, like all former players, he could score against us.

Brakes hope to do the ton on Saturday when they face Leighton Town away in their last game of the season. A win would give them 101 points, a good total, although there have been five worrying defeats during the season.