Wednesday are no walkover

It is remarkable to think that despite having a squad of only 15 senior players, and being under five transfer embargoes, Wednesday have six points from their first nine games in the Championship and were a whisker away from claiming victories against Birmingham City and Wrexham. Oh, and they knocked Leeds United out of the Carabao Cup too. All of this has taken place amid protests against the owner, Dejphon Chansiri, who has not been to a match all season.

Because of their transgressions, the EFL is expected to punish Wednesday with a points deduction, while the newly formed Independent Football Regulator is set to investigate the club and, in theory, could unseat Chansiri.

Wednesday’s academy had a fallow period but now the likes of 19-year-old striker George Brown (two goals in three league starts), 20-year-old Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles and 19-year-old centre back Ernie Weaver have grasped their chances, although the latter is now out for four months with a broken ankle.

HMRC has now filed a winding up petition against the club.

Relying on our own results

Louis Mendez has tweeted, 'Impressive how the majority of teams in the Championship relegation battle seemed to have morphed into a reincarnation of the 1970 Brazil side at the moment.'

Of course, fans have pointed out that we can't rely on the results of other teams, but I find it hard not to pay attention to them. It has, of course, given a new opening for pessimists.

One thing that seems to have escaped them is that our goal difference is far better than the other clubs in the relegation league, because when we have lost it has often been by one goal. I am also puzzled why no one ever factors likely points deductions into the discussions. I suppose it's the equivalent of 'I won't believe until I see it on the official site'. These things take time, but it doesn't mean that the EFL will not act.

When it comes to relying on our own results, we face a tough challenge at Hillsborough tonight where Sheffield Wednesday will be eyeing an opportunity to end their run of bad form which has seen them fall from promotion challengers to mid-table.

They managed a 3-3 draw at Birmingham on Saturday, although from what I could see from the highlights their defence looked suspect. Even so, we have conceded 48 goals against their 41.

Manager Garry Monk reckoned that the Owls were unlucky not to win at St. Andrews and said 'In terms of the performance it was more like ourselves. There was fight, passion and desire.'

Charlton will assess midfielder Darren Pratley, who had an injection in a back injury and missed Saturday's win against Luton. Jonny Williams (ankle) continues to be out.

The Addicks are five points above the relegation zone, having won three of their past five games.

Sheffield Wednesday are looking to win three consecutive league games against Charlton for the first time since September 1990 (four in a row). This will be Charlton's first away league match against Sheffield Wednesday since March 2016, when they lost 3-0 under Jose Riga.

Sheffield Wednesday haven't won any of their past seven games in the Championship (D3 L4), last going on a longer winless run between September and November 2014 (10). Charlton have alternated between a victory and a defeat in each of their last five league games (W3 D2). The previous three wins for the Addicks came across a run of 23 matches (W3 D7 L13).

When Lyle Taylor starts for Charlton in the Championship this season, the Addicks have won 54% of their matches (7/13) compared to just 14.

One thing is certain, it will be a massive game.

More injury woe for Addicks

Charlton will be without midfield pair Jordan Cousins and Johann Berg Gudmundsson for tomorrow's clash with in form Sheffield Wednesday after they suffered injuries against MK Dons on Tuesday. Ahmed Kashi (heel), Igor Vetokele (groin) and Cristian Ceballos (fibula) remain on the sidelines. Kashi is a real loss in my view as he added real creativity and skill to the team.

Wednesday are still living in the glow of their 3-0 victory over Arsenal. Their 1-0 win over Forest was more laboured, but they still have the quality to change a game, in particular by changing its pace. 0-0 against promotion chasing Brighton was a respectable result.

The Owls are 3rd in the form table and the Addicks are, needless to say, bottom. In the real table Wednesday are 8th, with the play off places in sight.

The CAS Trust preview says that Charlton are second only to Blackpool as the laughing stock of the Football League. They ask, do Wednesday just have to turn up tomorrow?: Gloomy outlook. I'm starting to wonder if I should turn up.

Our last four home games against Wednesday resulted in three draws and one defeat. It is difficult to see us getting even a draw tomorrow. Odds are: Charlton 27/10, Draw 12/5, Sheffield Wed 23/20.

Morale booster or distraction?

Charlton face Sheffield Wednesday in the postponed FA Cup tie at Hillsborough tonight. Many Charlton fans have become excited at the possibility of winning there and at Sheffield United, leading to a FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. I would doubt whether we would beat both Sheffield teams and there is a chance of a draw tonight which would lead to more congestion in our fixture schedule and probably another postponement of the crucial home game against Barnsley.

I always think that 'either or' choices between relegation and Cup progress are overstated. Of course, there is the risk of tiredness and injuries to a squad that lacks real depth, but wins of any sort can boost confidence and help to create momentum. As Rhoys Wiggins puts it in The Times this morning, 'If we can get another result [after QPR] against Sheffield Wednesday, that will add to the belief, give us all a big lift and we have a lot of games coming up. It would be good to get on a run. If the FA Cup is a distraction, it is a good distraction.'

I couldn't get to the QPR game as I was on my first holiday break with the whole family since 2005, but I gather that controversy about Yohann Thuram-Ulien continues. Having seen the television excerpts, I saw that he made one good save and nearly got caught out with a bad error. The Football League Paper gave him the lowest score of any player, a 4, although the Sunday Times gave him a respectable 6.

Let's deal with the conspiracy theories first. It is being said that Powell is being told to play Thuram-Ulien and one reason is that he could be No.3 in the French world cup squad. If that is the case, France must be short of goalkeepers. I think that a more convincing reason is that Hamer was judged not to be fully match fit on Saturday but could well be in goal tonight. If it is Thuram-Ulien I wish that Charlton supporters would back him up rather than barracking him. For better or worse, he is in goal.

Incidentally, I would like to be a fly on the wall when Katrien issues footballing instructions to Chris Powell! I just can't see it happening. What is becoming evident to me is that Katrien is much more than her master's voice and this smart lawyer is very much in charge at The Valley. She is, however, showing a proper lawyer's caution when responding to any direct questions from fans.

What of the Owls? Well, they also having some momentum, having defeated Huddersfield 2-0 away on Saturday. They are up to 15th in the table, but significantly are 7th in the form table. Their record at home in the league is, however, a bit patchy: won five, drawn three, lost seven. However, the chance of going on to defeat their steel city rivals and reach a semi-final at Wembley will be a big incentive.

After the Huddersfield victory manager Stuart Gray hailed his side's defensive qualities, but also highlighted their prowess in counter attack with the ability to be up the other end of the pitch in six or seven seconds. He felt that his side kept their shape after a disappointing first half during which they were frustrated by Huddersfield's diamond formation.

I won't attempt to forecast the outcome of this match, although a win for the Owls must be the most likely result, but Charlton have a good chance. Odds do not look good for us but are probably realistic: Sheffield Wed 10/11, Draw 12/5, Charlton 3/1.

Away draw specialists head for Valley

Sheffield Wednesday are something of away draw specialists, having drawn six games on the road, the latest being the 0-0 at Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day. However, they have improved somewhat under caretaker manager Stuart Gray, winning two of their last five matches. Before Boxing Day, they were ahead of Charlton in the form table.

Before the draw at Blackburn they lost 1-2 at home to Bournemouth. As Gray admitted in his post match interview they were caught out by sloppy defending for both goals. Keeper Damian Martinez was beaten at the rear post for the second goal but not helped by the defence. One time Addick Miguel Llera was particularly poor, struggling to cope with Grabban's pace and was wasteful in possession.

When the Owls were promoted from League 1 with Charlton they became media darlings and it was predicted that they would go straight through to the Premiership in one season. Instead, they ended up 18th, but continued to attract the crowds, with the second highest average attendance in the division (24,078). This season so far that figure has dropped by 3,000.

This is the 50th meeting between Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday in all competitions. Charlton have won 17, Wednesday have won 20 and there have been 12 draws so far. Sheffield Wednesday completed a League double over Charlton in the Championship last season, winning 2-1 at the Valley after a 2-0 win at Hillsborough. There has never been a 0-0 draw between the teams at The Valley, though there was a 3-3 draw in 1958-59 and a year before that a 4-4 draw in 1956-57.

Johnnie Jackson is available for the Addicks after suspension, but may start on the bench.

Charlton often play at their best against better teams and they may find it hard to secure a back to back home win. I am going for a 1-1 draw.

'We will stop Charlton's danger men' vows Jones

Sheffield Wednesday has vowed to stop Charlton's 'danger men' at The Valley today. Jones admits that he is in a relegation struggle and that the Addicks have good players who get forward well and are composed. I wasn't sure I recognised the Charlton side from this description, so perhaps this is some subtle psychological tactic to talk up the opposition. Read more here: Wednesday

Elsewhere, Emmanuel Frimpong has joined Fulham on loan for the rest of the season.

Addicks to beat drop

Charlton will escape the drop to League 2 this season, according to the season preview in Four Four Two. However, they will finish 18th, just above the drop zone. (At least that's what they said in the print version: now a web version has changed their forecast to 4th!)

Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday are forecast to occupy the automatic promotion places. Preston, Leyton Orient, Scunthorpe and Carlisle will contest the play offs. I'm not sure I buy into the idea of Orient as the surprise package, for all of Russell Slade's qualities. And I see Carlisle as destined for mid-table mediocrity while I would put Sheffield United higher than 7th.

The magazine comments, 'you have to spread the net far to find a Football League ground where the general vibe is as negative as it's been at The Valley in recent years.' However, 'South-east Londoners Chris Powell [?] and Bradley Wright-Phillips have the passion to taken Charlton back up.'

However, Powell is warned, 'he might have to abandon any ideals of slick football in faviur of a style that is more agricultural. Much to prove.'

Trevor Wood in the fan file fears 'dull football and more mid-table mediocrity.' Nevertheless, he reckons we can finish in the top six if we find a decent back four. He names Peter Varney as unsung hero at the club.

Wednesday 'inconsistent'

Sheffield Wednesday have been too inconsistent this season says winger Gary Teale, but he denies that they are more comfortable playing away where they do not face the high expectations and boo boys of the home crowd: Wednesday

It's quite interesting to look at some of the comments made by fans on this article which say that the wingers are 'awful': so much for Teale. They also claim that Wednesday have the best defence in the division and this leads them to play very defensively. Draw anyone?

Wednesday captain and charm merchant Darren Purse received his fifth yellow card of the season against Bournemouth and cannot play on Saturday.

Three wins against top clubs

This weekend saw all three teams I support win against top clubs (and Rushden and Diamonds, whom I still keep an eye on, beat rivals Kettering away in the FA Cup). Now, admittedly, Carlisle weren't exactly a top club, but the last two times we won there, we got promoted.

Last night Coventry Blaze faced Belfast Giants, unbeaten all season, at the Skydome. With a disciplined performance, Blaze came away 2-0 winners.

Leamington put the brakes on Truro's title bid. Expectations at the New Windmill Ground are realistic, as we know that it will be two of the three City clubs that will be promoted: Cambridge, Salisbury or Truro. (I leave aside Oxford who are at the other end of the table as they live in the shadow of Oxford United).

Which leaves Charlton. I have some sympathy with the view put forward in the Hill to the Valley blog that there is so much negativity surrounding the club that it almost becomes an argument for getting rid of Parky. But it is still a very open league.

We are starting to score goals and reports from those who were at Carlisle suggested that Semedo and Racon actually looked effectively together. The worry now is in central defence with Doherty looking a liability and Dailly possibly fading a little. With seven goals conceded in two matches, there must also be some questions about Elliot. He does make some good saves, but he is also inclined to hesitate and lacks confidence in commanding his area.

Sheffield Wednesday are facing a winding up order later this month and a £2m lifeline cheque has not arrived. Centre forward Neil Mellor noted that when the money situation concerned the team 'we went on a bad run. And ever since we got the news that the money was coming, we seemed to have picked up as well.' The money has not come in and manager Alan Irvine said, 'I don't see too many teams who have fantastic runs when there are problems off the pitch.'

The Owls are nor claiming that a takeover deal with a Dubai-based company may be concluded this week - or not as the case may be.

If we can tighten up defensively, we might just be able to beat Wednesday. Unfortunately, I have to attend meetings in Madrid at the weekend. But then given the negative atmosphere at The Valley, that is probably not too bad a place to be.

Carlisle defeat could seal Parky's fate

The Carlisle evening newspaper is arguing that a defeat for Charlton on Saturday could seal Parky's fate: Parky

Of course from a psychological point of view this puts greater pressure on Charlton, but it could encourage them to raise their game, given that there is no evidence that Parky has lost the dressing room.

The home match against Sheffield Wednesday is surely more significant.