Prospects against Forest

Tomorrow's game against Nottingham Forest is overshadowed by the planned protests with Charlton in the last chance saloon in terms of the prospects of new ownership.

However, there is a football match to be played. Forest manager Dougie Freeman is hoping to take advantage of the recent troubles at The Valley and turn the crowd against the team, although he may be confusing the team with the owner and his chief executive. However, he has vowed to 'take the hand brake off' and is going for an attacking strategy: Freeman's plan.

14th placed Forest have won just two games away from home this season and scored eight goals. However, they have drawn as many matches as they have lost.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Alou Diarra will have tests on knocks as Charlton struggle with injuries and poor form. Ademola Lookman's hamstring injury, Patrick Bauer's abdominal problem and Jordan Cousins' recent illness could put all of them out of the match.

Last year we beat Forest 2-1 at home and the year before that was a 1-1 draw. The Addicks have gone five games against Forest without defeat. In the reverse fixture last August Forest had 20 shots on target to Charlton's 10, but neither side could find the back of the net.

Odds are: Charlton 23/10, Draw 23/10, Nott'm Forest 6/5.

Unfortunately, the referee is the steaming Trevor Kettle. He will be remembered for having to apologise for just issuing a yellow card for a horror tackle against Grant Basey.

Forest pose tough test

Against Nottingham Forest tonight Charlton face a team that also won 3-0 on Saturday, demolishing Reading 3-0 away. Forest are currently top of the form table while Charlton are 8th. In the real table Forest are currently 9th, nine points off Norwich in the lowest play off place. However, under Dougie Freedman, they must fancy their chances of making up this ground before the end of the season.

Even so, Freedman is concerned that the rejuvenated Forest side may not have enough games left. The former Palace manager commented at the weekend that teams higher up the table kept winning their games.

Forest did not have it all their own way against the Royals. After initially controlling the game with their passing, Freedman said, 'In last 15 minutes of the first half, we were by far the second best team. We had to defend for our lives, keep our bodies on the line, and the keep the ball out of the net.' Forest took the lead in the 56th minute with a well-struck left-footed curling effort by Osborn from 30 yards out.' Osborn was the standout player for Forest, getting a mark of 8 from the Football League Paper.

The away encounter earlier in the season ended 1-1 and our recent record against Forest has been reasonably good. However, they will be looking to take all three points tonight or at least secure a draw. The bookies do not see our prospects as all that good (Coral): Charlton 2/1, Draw 9/4, Nott'm Forest 11/8.

Charlton have a couple of injury worries in Gudmundsson and Solly who suffered muscle strains in Saturday's match. Tal Ben Haim will face a late fitness test and Johnnie Jackson remains out for some time. Gudmundsson is our second leading scorer after Igor with seven league goals. The contribution that vice-captain Solly brings to the team in terms of effort, determination and skill needs no emphasis.

Some fans have been working themselves into a lather about season ticket prices for next season, pointing out that they have not in fact been frozen as the club claims, or at least only in comparison with post early bird prices last year. The raising of the senior concession from 60 to 65 had some fans spluttering in their Bovril, but it seems reasonable enough, particularly when the club clarified that existing season ticket holders in the 60 to 65 age range could continue at the concessionary price.

Once again the communication was poor, but it looks as if some fans are looking for any stick with which to beat the current regime while they wait for a resurgent Valley Party to march from Woolwich.

Much to my regret the time at which I will be leaving work today, and the lack of foresight of I K Brunel leading to a severed rail line, means that I will not be able to make tonight's game. I am going for a 1-1 draw.

Big match for both teams

Nottingham Forest will be looking to take an easy three points off Charlton tonight as they seek to blot out the memory of the 5-0 loss to rivals Derby. Something has clearly gone wrong at Forest and the answer for owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi was Billy Davies. With no wins in eight games and two points from 18, talk of automatic promotion in January has given way to real concern that play off qualification will not be achieved. Although Forest are just outside of the Championship play off places at 7th, they are bottom of the six game form table (Charlton are 13th).

Injury problems have played their part in the slump in form, but the Football League Paper commented after the defeat at Derby, 'Forest are in desperate need of a midfield. Guy Moussi and Jonathan Greening had all the mobility of a rock with eyes, and were utterly overrun. Henri Lansbury cannot return soon enough. But there were more fundamental problems here. No fight, no spirit, no heart or confidence.'

Forest are still without a host of players for Gary Brazil's first – and possibly last – game as caretaker manager. One time popular Addick Andy Reid is two to three weeks away with a hamstring injury. Both Kelvin Wilson (back) and Henri Lansbury (ankle) are nearing a return having taken part in training of late. Jack Hobbs (ankle), Chris Cohen (knee), Eric Lichaj (hernia), David Vaughan (knee) and Dexter Blackstock (knee) are all definitely out. Lee Peltier on loan from Leeds is expected to feature in defence.

For Charlton, Callum Harriott remains doubtful after an ankle knock kept him out of the game against Burnley on Saturday.

One might think that Charlton might have a chance to get at least a point out of the game. The problem is strikers who cannot score - and who do not get decent service anyway given the lack of a decent wide player. One only had to look at the quality of the cross and the finish for Burnley's first goal on Saturday.

The record against Forest is a poor one. Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in the last seven meetings in all competitions, winning four. Charlton's last win was 3-0 at home in the old Division One in January 2000. The home side are unbeaten in the last four meetings at the City Ground in all competitions, winning two. Charlton's last win there was 1-0 in the Premier League in October 1998.

The odds reflect the reality of the situation: Forest 5/6; draw 5/2; Charlton 10/3.

Relegation league v. promotion league

Something odd has happened to the Championship this season. The gap between the last play-off place and relegation was 14 points at the end of last season. The gap is 14 points this season after fewer than 10 games. This time last year we had nine points rather than five but were in the same league position (20th).

Unlike last season's even and competitive contest one is already seeing the formation of three divisions: a promotion league; a relegation league; and a 'we may not make the play offs but at least we won't get relegated' league. Tonight at The Valley one of the promotion league teams meets one engaged in a battle against relegation.

Looking at The Football League Paper scores for the game at Burnley, no player got the very low scores that were justly awarded for the performance against Millwall. The lowest scores (5) were for Lawrie Wilson whose play was inhibited by the yellow card he received and Cameron Stewart 'who struggled to make his mark'. The top score went to Mark Gower 'who shielded his defence well in the first half and always looking to drag his team forward.

Forest have drawn two, lost one and won one on the road this season. Chris Cohen is rated as 'consistent, energetic and a fine positive passer of the ball.' His surging run from the deep got Forest their penalty against Derby on Saturday.

For the Addicks, it looks as if Jacko has done his hamstring again, although the BBC says it is a groin injury. Cort and Solly are still both out, while Bradley Pritchard is doubtful after being concussed at Burnley. Whether Kermorgant is fit to start could have a big impact on the outcome of the game.

We last won a match against Forest in 2000. Charlton have not managed a clean sheet in the 16 home league games, and have kept only one in the last 24. We know from the 5-4 win against Cardiff last year that the Addickted can get behind their team when their backs are against the wall and they may need to tonight.

Forest's win against Derby led to the dismissal of Nigel Clough who has had to work with limited resources and rely on the development of youth players. It sounds a bit familiar and there are those at Charlton who think that Chris Powell is part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

Forest make deadline day loans

Nottingham Forest have made two deadline day loans. Striker Billy Sharp has been brought in from Southampton and midfielder James Coppinger from Doncaster. Both players were at Doncaster when Forest manager Sean O'Driscoll managed there: Forest

Both players will be available for the match against Charlton this afternoon. Given that Forest were already known for the sharpness of their attack, this poses some tactical dilemmas for Chris Powell. Should he play cautiously and defensively or should he try to exploit apparent defensive weaknesses? I would expect him to go for a 4-4-2 and try to match Forest, but they may well be too strong for the Addicks.

Not so merry men

When No.1 Iceland Addick Olafur Johansson was living in the UK he was disappointed to find that Nottingham Forest's ground was not in Sherwood Forest and he was not greeted by the merry men and Maid Marian.

Forest may not have that much to be merry about this season. The forecasters all put them mid-table in the same territory as Charlton, one at 11th and two at 13th.

Forest made an unbeaten start to the season, including a creditable 2-2 draw at Bolton last weekend, but then went down 1-4 at home to Wigan Athletic in the league cup. Indeed, it could have been worse if the referee had not shown his sympathy by failing to award two clear penalties against the home side.

Forest have made nine signings over the summer, Henri Lansbury being introduced to the crowd on Tuesday after his £1m capture from Arsenal. The new Kuwaiti board has invested £5.5m so far in players. But a number of key players have departed such as Garath McCleary and Chris Gunter to Reading.

Manager Sean O'Driscoll thinks that Forest have assembled a stronger squad than last season and they will only get stronger with time. He has not ruled out further signings before the transfer window closes tomorrow: Forest

However, although they play a crisp passing game, they have defensive weaknesses. Mauro Boselli has been voted Wigan's worst ever foreign signing by the club's supporters, but he was granted the freedom of the six yard box to open the scoring against Forest.

The defence also let them down by conceding a soft second goal against Bolton. Sordell was allowed to run from the middle of the park and put in a long ball which glanced off the post which should have been dealt with by one of the centre backs.

Keeper Lee Camp is a study in hesitancy and allows himself to be bullied in the air. Halford is error prone and Maloney suffers from nervousness. Former Stoke man Danny Collins is by far the most solid defender. Harding is competent but uninspring. Guedioura was lucky not to get sent off against Bolton after a bad tackle and was dropped against Wigan, McGugan has a great shot, as does Cox who scored from 30 yards into the top corner against Wigan Blackstock isn't prolific but he works hard and can unnerve defenders.

Former Addick Andy Reid, now available in a new slimline version, is one of their best players. Against Bolton he evaded two defenders to score a fine goal and worked hard to support the forwards. Against Wigan he controlled a pass superbly before shooting inches wide.

Forest fans are too busy expressing their starstruck admiration for the Massives and their dislike of Derby to have much of a view about Charlton. Forest had a poor home record last season, winning only six games.

This match is not going to end in a 0-0 and 2-2 would seem a safe prediction. However, Forest may not find the Charlton defence easy to unlock for all their skill up front and it's just possible that the Addicks could grab all three points.