Tensions mount ahead of six pointer

Tension is building ahead of tonight's six pointer with Yeovil Town at The Valley. The Glovers can score goals, something Charlton have difficulty in doing. The Addicks really need to score first. The last time they came from behind to win a game was against Brighton and Hove Albion on Boxing Day.

Reza Ghoochanneijhad and Jon Obika could return to the forward line. The strikers started the 1-0 defeat by Reading on the bench with boss Jose Riga admitting he had one eye on Tuesday night's relegation six-pointer.

Yeovil will assess goalkeeper Marek Stech before naming their team. Chris Dunn deputised in the 2-1 win at Blackpool while the Czech recovered from illness and will keep his place if Stech does not recover.

Top scorer Ishmael Miller is no longer at the club following a bust up with manager Gary Johnson, but the Glovers boss is placing his faith in Manchester United loan player who scored the winning goal at Blackpool on Saturday.

The away fixture was a 2-2 draw. Charlton are unbeaten in the last seven meetings, winning five. Yeovil's only win in nine meetings in all competitions was 1-0 at The Valley in the League Cup in August 2008, meaning that The Addicks have won four out of five meetings at The Valley.

Yeovil have won four games away this season, drawn six and lost ten. They have scored 23 goals away from home, 10 more than the Addicks have scored at The Valley. Charlton are currently 13th in the form table and Yeovil 19th.

Odds are: Charlton 19/20, Draw 5/2, Yeovil 11/4.

Yeovil hoping for point

Yeovil managed to beat Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday with a deflected goal which they admitted was lucky. With striker Dean Bowditch possibly injured after he limped off mid-week, I interpret the comments here as suggesting a defensive strategy and playing for the point, or perhaps getting lucky and winning by the odd goal: Glovers

We really need three points out of this encounter and I have enough confidence in Chris Powell and the team to say that we can nick it 2-1.

With Windsor & Eton going out of business during the week, Leamington's home fixture against them has been cancelled, putting more pressure on cash flow at the New Windmill Ground. Brakes have organised a friendly against Kettrin' but given falling attendances recently, it is uncertain whether it will pull in the crowds.

Glovers hunt buffalo

One of the challenges of being in League 1 is that you have to try and beat twice a season clubs whose main object in life is not to get relegated and whose season is enlivened by claiming a scalp off a big club.

Glovers supremo Terry Skiverton is in the hunt for Charlton's scalp: 'We're starting to hunt clubs above us that are much bigger than us - why not start to go after them? I think the best hunt is when you get the biggest buffalo, and it starts on Saturday with Charlton. We're going to sharpen our spears and our arrows and we are going to start chasing them now.'

On loan Bristol City keeper Stephen Henderson is performing well for the Glovers who beat Plymouth Argyle 1-0 in a scrappy mid-week encounter: Glovers

The 12th man

There's been an interesting debate on the Glynne Jones list this week about whether Charlton fans have been moaning too much. One view is that they have been remarkably tolerant in the circumstances, with the complaining being limited to professional moaners and a bit of booing at full time.

My view is that the atmosphere is (perhaps understandably) quite fragile and there is a tendency to pounce on the first misplaced pass or become edgy if we haven't scored after 20 minutes or, even more so, if the other team scores first, as is too often the case. Let's hope they've been working on how you defend from a corner at the training ground this week.

Parky is in no doubt about the importance of the crowd. 'We really need our supporters to get right behind whatever team I pick from the first minute to the last,' he said. 'A few of the lads have almost been trying too hard, so we need to relax everyone and settle down. The crowd can play a massive part. If they want to help get our season back on track, they need to be patient and really get behind us.'

He continued: 'Obviously, we'd like to score first, but if we don't, we've got to react in a calmer fashion than we did against Bristol Rovers.'

There has been some talk of a need for a reversion to 4-5-1 given that that seemed to work in the early part of the season. However, after a while, fans were calling for a Plan B and Parky responded.

It's true that Burton has not seemed happy with his strike partners and has been rather anonymous in recent matches. However, I wonder if his hernia problem is bothering him and if he is fit enough or in sufficient form to play up front on his own, even with Shelvey in the hole? On the other hand, Akpo Sodje has not impressed in recent outings.

Yeovil often look like a Spurs 'A' team, but we have our own answer in the former of Johnnie Jackson, at one time seen as a great hope at White Hart Lane. I wouldn't rely on any of my forecasts, but I am going for a disappointing day for moaners anda 2-1 win for Charlton.

Yo, it's Yoville!

Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton celebrates one year as manager of the Glovers today and is looking forward to taking three points at The Valley tomorrow to mark the occasion. He thinks that Bristol Rovers played 'really well' against Charlton, but is hoping for an away win: Yeovil

Phil Parkinson has revealed that Trevor Kettle, Monday night's referee for the game at Bristol Rovers, rang him this week to apologise for not realising the full extent of the horror tackle by Dominic Blizzard on Grant Basey.

'To his credit, the referee, Trevor Kettle, rang me on Tuesday and was distraught,' said Parkinson. 'He'd seen the challenge on the television and said he hadn't realised how horrific it was, and that it should have been a straight red.

'Trevor wanted to know how Grant was, and it was good that the referee accepted his mistake. I have to say it was one of the worst tackles I've seen. It was a terrible challenge and it certainly didn't help us.'

Yeovil preview

It's yours truly Paul May doing your match preview today and I will be given you a match report tomorrow. I'm looking forward to consuming some of the local brew before the match. No surprises about the name of one of the fan sites: Ciderspace

When non-league teams were effectively kept out of the Football League, Yeovil Town were the leading non-league team, famous for their giant killing exploits on their sloping pitch. The ground has now moved to an industrial estate.

I don't know much about Yeovil itself, but I do remember that helicopter firm Westland Yeovil used to have a team in the Western League. Paddy Ashdown used to be the MP and got assaulted once when he went into the town on a Friday night. The police rebuked him for going there which maybe says something about the local ambience.

The Glovers have down well to get into League 1 and stay there on relatively small attendances. For a team like them, taking scalps from 'big' clubs like Charlton is what gives meaning to their season.

Yeovil are currently mid-table and have only lost one game at home this season, although they have drawn three. They are something of draw specialists as they have also shared the points away three times. They have only scored two goals fewer than the Addicks at home, but have let in three more.

Their most prolific goalscorer is defender Ryan Mason who has put four in the net. Andrew Welsh has provided the most assists, seven in all. Player-manager 'Skivo' is the fans' hero, but is unlikely to appear. Midfielder Kieran Murtagh is also highly rated. Dutch defender Stefan Starn was rated as an exciting addition to the dressing room after he was let go by Oldham.

Frazer Richardson is not available for Charlton which is a blow as I rate him as one of our most influential players. It's also difficult to know who to replace him with as Omosuzi has failed to impress. Youga can play there, but he is not as comfortable as in his normal position. Other suggestions have been Semedo and even Christian Dailly.

Elliot is not fit yet, which probably means Ikeme in goal although many fans would prefer Randolph.

This is not going to be easy, but it is the kind of match we need to win. I am quite confident and am looking for a 2-1 win for the Addicks.

If you see me there, say hello.