Charlton v Preston North End
The final game of three successive matches for Charlton against promotion contenders comes in the form of Preston North End at The Valley on Saturday (3pm).
After a spirited 2-2 draw away at Reading, the Addicks were unfortunate to go down to a 2-1 defeat at league leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday.
Zheng Zhi had scored his first goal for Charlton in over a year to cancel out ex-Addick Chris Iwelumo's opener, and Rob Elliot then brilliantly denied Sylvan Ebanks-Blake from the penalty spot.
But Ebanks-Blake - a scourge of Charlton for several seasons now with both Plymouth Argyle and Wolves - was to have the last laugh when his shot looped off makeshift centre-back Matt Holland and past the despairing dive of Elliot.
The loss saw the Addicks slip further adrift at the foot of the Championship and, with 14 points now separating Charlton from safety, Phil Parkinson admitted afterwards that his side's chances of survival were 'slim'.
Time is running out for Charlton and, ahead of the visit of North End, just eight games remain this season.
But while there is still a chance of survival, hope still remains, and Parkinson said at Molineux: "All I can concentrate on from now until the end of season is making sure the lads wear those shirts with pride, like they did today. And we will do.
"We've got some good players and obviously it's my job to make sure they roll their sleeves up and compete, which they did, and then relax and play on the ball."
The opposition
Jon Parkin claimed a crucial 72nd-minute winner to hand North End their 14th home victory of the season as Coventry City were beaten 2-1 at Deepdale last Saturday.
Preston had collected a solitary point from their three previous Championship outings, but in-form Parkin notched his fourth goal in as many appearances to secure a vital win in their hunt for promotion.
Coventry led in the 17th minute when Stephen Wright's cross-cum-shot was converted by Clinton Morrison, but Preston equalised when Sky Blues defender Ben Turner headed into his own net.
And the Lilywhites claimed victory with 18 minutes remaining when Parkin showed outstanding poise to capitalise on an awful clearance from Sky Blues goalkeeper Keiren Westwood and rifle home a fine left-footed finish.
It was his 10th goal of the season and his ninth for Preston since joining the Lancashire outfit from Stoke City last August.
Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan insists in-form striker Parkin, who played under Addicks boss Parkinson at Hull City, can continue confounding his critics as the race for promotion intensifies.
Parkin is nicknamed 'The Beast' due to his six-foot-four and 14-stone frame, but Lonergan said: "Parky doesn't care what people say about him. He's a big boy but it's not stopping him scoring or playing 90 minutes three times a week."
The win over Coventry lifted Preston into sixth, but Cardiff's point against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Sunday saw North End drop down a place.
Lilywhites boss Alan Irvine has given his players time off this week in the hope his men will be refreshed in time for the trip to The Valley.
"The lads are a bit tired at the moment," Irvine said. "And it is not surprising really. We've had to use a very small group of players throughout the season and, as a result of that, the demands made on that very small group have been very high.
"They are looking a bit tired, so I've given them a couple of days off, a little bit of a break. Hopefully that will freshen them back up again and they will be right for the remaining games of the season."
Preston will be without midfielder Barry Nicholson for the fixture with the Addicks after the Scottish playmaker was ruled out for at least four weeks with fractured ribs suffered in the win over Coventry.
Left-back Callum Davidson and midfielder Richard Chaplow are doubtful with hamstring injuries, while Liam Chilvers and Neal Trotman remain long-term absentees.
Defender Andrew Davies has returned to Stoke after his loan spell was ended early by yet another hamstring injury.
Past meetings
It's 34 years since Charlton last defeated Preston in SE7 - but there have only been three meetings on the Addicks' home ground since then.
Two goals in eight second-half minutes condemned Charlton to defeat at Deepdale earlier this season in August.
Andy Gray had fired Charlton in front from the penalty spot in the 18th minute after Youl Mawene upended the persistent Luke Varney in the box.
But Preston drew level when Mark Hudson beat Neil Mellor to a cross, but then watched in agony as the ball inadvertently hit him on the head and spun for the striker to turn home.
Lonergan denied the Addicks skipper with a fine tip over at the other end, before Nicholson pounced on some hesitancy from Nicky Weaver to fire in the winner.
Preston also won by the same scoreline in March last season when two goals from Chris Brown consigned the Addicks to a first defeat on home turf since New Year's Day.
After Charlton lost Lloyd Sam to an early hamstring injury, Brown coolly lifted a shot into the roof of the net to give the visitors the lead.
Paddy McCarthy snatched a leveller 15 minutes from time but the visitors would not be denied as Brown struck again moments later, producing a terrific flick to bamboozle his marker at a low cross before spinning to plant the ball in the back of the net.
Charlton came away with a 2-0 win at Deepdale in November 2007, Zheng Zhi's neat control and finish near the end of the first half and Varney's breakaway strike in the dying moments clinching victory.
Prior to last season, Charlton had not played Preston since the 1979/80 season. The Lilywhites earned a 3-0 win in the Second Division in the opening match of the campaign with goals from Steve Elliott, Graham Bell and Ricky Thomson, while the following November, Phil Walker scored an equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
The last time Charlton defeated Preston at home was in the 1974/75 campaign when goals from Bobby Goldthorpe and Derek Hales (2) earned the Addicks a 3-1 win.
The first meeting between the sides was in the second round of the FA Cup in February 1923, when Abraham 'Kosha' Goodman and Steve Smith secured the Addicks a 2-0 win.
The all-time record between the two clubs is in Preston's favour, with North End having won 31 times to Charlton's 23. There have been 12 draws.
Team news
On-loan Wolves defender Darren Ward is available for selection after being ineligible to play against his parent club at the weekend.
Ward was replaced by Holland at Molineux but the blond-haired centre-back is likely to return alongside skipper Hudson.
Goalkeeper Weaver played for the reserves against Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday night but Parkinson is expected to keep faith with Elliot after his penalty save against Wolves.
Danny Butterfield or Yassin Moutaouakil will start at right-back, with Kelly Youga or Grant Basey on the left.
In midfield, Tom Soares plays the final game of his loan spell with the Addicks, with a decision on whether to extend the star's temporary switch from Stoke City likely to take place after the match.
Soares is set to start on the right with Matt Spring and Therry Racon in the middle and Nicky Bailey on the left. Darren Ambrose, Holland, Sam, Josh Wright and Jonjo Shelvey are other options available to Parkinson.
Zheng operated just behind sole striker Tresor Kandol at Molineux and, after his excellent strike and fine display, is again poised to start. Kandol could lead the line, although Deon Burton, Chris Dickson and Svetoslav Todorov are available if Parkinson opts for a 4-4-2 formation. Stuart Fleetwood joined Exeter City on loan on Wednesday.
Jonathan Fortune (Achilles), Jose Semedo (ankle) and Gray (pelvis) remain sidelined.
Tickets and travel
Tickets for the game remain on general sale. The match has been designated as a tier B game, so seats are priced £15, £20 and £25 adults, £15 over 60s and U21s, and £10 U18s.
Seats are available in person from the Valley commercial centre and Bexleyheath retail outlet, online, and on the 0871 226 1905 hotline.
Fans can book £6-per-head Valley Express return travel to the stadium from more than 70 pick-up points. Get more details about the pick-up points and times here.
CAFC TV allows fans to follow the action via the live matchday centre, with text updates, all the latest statistical information and a league table that updates as the goals go in across the country.
CAFC TV is now completely free to new subscribers for the next 30 days. Get more details here.
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