Charlton v Bristol Rovers
After facing Milton Keynes Dons last time out at The Valley, Charlton have another home test against a promotion rival when Bristol Rovers travel to SE7 on Tuesday night (7.45pm).
Rovers have come through a sticky patch to win their last two games, and arrive at The Valley in seventh place and a point outside the play-off zone.
But following three straight defeats not so long ago, Charlton appear to have turned a corner themselves, and after the 5-1 win over MK Dons, the 10-man Addicks picked up a more-than-deserved point at Yeovil Town on Saturday.
In the circumstances - reduced to 10 men following Sam Sodje's straight red card and trailing 1-0 - Charlton would have been pleased to take a point in torrential conditions at Huish Park.
As it was, the draw was more than deserved as, despite their numerical disadvantage, Charlton dominated the second period. Indeed, but for the brilliance of home goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, the Addicks would have taken victory.
In driving wind and rain, it was just the type of performance fans demand from their players, and there must be no let-up for the visit of the Pirates.
Phil Parkinson believes his team are 'back in a good groove again' - now is the time to prove it as Charlton attempt to close the six-point gap on league leaders Leeds United.
Opposition news
An 81st-minute penalty from Jeff Hughes earned Bristol Rovers a 2-1 win over Gillingham in a game ruined by the weather on Saturday afternoon.
Hughes placed his spot-kick low past former Addicks goalkeeper Simon Royce after Matt Fry had been penalised for handball on the byline.
Chris Lines had fired Rovers in front from 10 yards, only for Andy Barcham to conjure up a fine 40th-minute equaliser, curling home a right-footed shot.
Afterwards, Paul Trollope hailed an improved defensive display from Rovers as they made it two wins on the bounce.
And the manager admitted the debut performance from loan signing Pat Baldwin will give him a selection poser when he picks the side for the trip to Charlton.
The 2-1 victory over the Gills was the first time in nine games that Rovers have conceded less than two goals in a match, and Trollope said: "Conditions made things very difficult, but the general level of our defending was getting to somewhere near where we want it to be.
"This showed that even if you are not at your flowing best, if you defend right then there is always a chance of victory.
"That wasn't the case during the bad run we experienced, but we are through that now. The players have taken a lot of things on board and we have worked exceptionally hard on the training ground over the last five or six weeks to get things right.
"The spirit within the group has been maintained throughout that time, but now the results are coming and with it, hopefully, the confidence to really pass the ball will also start to come back."
Baldwin, signed on loan from Colchester United on Friday, took over the right-back berth in the absence of the suspended Carl Regan, who will be available for the clash at The Valley.
"The league is tight, especially above us, but we will go to Charlton with a lot of confidence and looking to win," said Trollope. "It's going to be a tough test, similar to the ones we faced against Norwich City, Leeds United, and MK Dons, as Charlton are one of the best sides in the division.
"They have been in the Premier League in recent seasons, so we are under no illusions about the task that faces us. But, after two wins, we are looking forward to it."
The Pirates will be without Aaron Lescott, with the left-back expected to be sidelined for at least another two weeks with a groin problem, while Chris Dickson is unable to play under the terms of his loan switch from the Addicks.
Dickson has scored four goals for the Pirates since arriving on a three-month loan deal in mid-September, but Trollope admits he has yet to decide whether to try and keep hold of the striker.
Said Trollope: "He's on a three-month loan and we're assessing it between now and the end of his loan spell and we'll take it from there."
Out of favour in SE7, Dickson has not played for Charlton since a 14-minute appearance from the bench in a 0-0 draw against Coventry City in April.
"I'm sure the manager will pull me to one side and ask me a few things about their [Charlton's] tactics because I know them as well as anyone," said Dickson.
"Their captain, Nicky Bailey, is one of the most influential members of their team. They had been playing him out on the left, where I don't think he was as effective. But they moved him back into the middle for the game against MK Dons and Charlton won 5-1. He is definitely one to watch out for.
"Lloyd Sam is tricky on the right side - but anyone could be playing up front because they have four or five strikers there now. They have a strong back four, too, with Sam Sodje there.
"They have a tenacity about them. It was obviously embarrassing for them to lose at Northwich Victoria in the FA Cup, but that win at MK Dons was a great way for them to bounce back."
Another familiar face watching Tuesday's game will be Rovers' current director of football Lennie Lawrence, more commonly known as 'Houdini' during his managerial stint with Charlton.
Charlton team news/past meetings
Parkinson will be forced into at least one change for the game as Sodje is suspended following his dismissal at Huish Park.
The centre-half was shown a straight red card after his sliding challenge on Yeovil Town striker Ryan Mason shortly before the half-hour mark in Somerset.
Match referee Simon Hooper showed no hesitation in producing the red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, and Sodje will serve a one-match suspension as a result.
The absence of Sodje means Miguel Llera, who was introduced in place of David Mooney at Huish Park, will come into the back four against the Pirates.
Parkinson said: "Miguel's attitude has been incredible in training. The lads love him; he's a real character and he'll probably be playing this week as Sodje will be suspended. Then he will have a good chance to stake a claim."
Llera is one of four Charlton players currently just one caution away from a one-match ban, following yellow cards for Jose Semedo and Kelly Youga on Saturday.
The fourth player is Izale McLeod, who is again eligible for selection against Rovers in midweek after serving the third match of his recent three-game ban against Yeovil.
With Frazer Richardson ruled out of action with a hamstring injury, Grant Basey stepped into the starting line-up on Saturday and the youngster should again keep his spot, with Youga at right-back.
Nicky Bailey remained in the middle of the park alongside Semedo, with Therry Racon out on the left and Lloyd Sam on the right. Jonjo Shelvey, Scott Wagstaff and Matt Spring are the other midfield options available to Parkinson.
Rob Elliot is still sidelined with an adductor injury, so Carl Ikeme continued in goal at the weekend, with Deon Burton and Mooney up front. Elliot could return for next week's clash at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Sodje's younger brother, Akpo, stepped off the bench on Saturday to see an effort disallowed before bagging the leveller and could be involved from the start against Rovers.
The game will be Rovers' first trip to The Valley since January 1993, when the teams met in the old First Division during Malcolm Allison's ill-fated stint at the Pirates.
The visitors lost that game 2-0 and have to look back more than half a century for the last time they beat the Addicks on their own soil - a 3-2 victory in March 1958.
Overall, though, Rovers have won 21 times to Charlton's 18, with 15 draws.
Tickets and travel
Tickets for the clash with Rovers are currently on general sale, priced £17, £22 and £25 adults, £17 over 60s and U21s, and £5 U18s in all areas.
Places are available in person from the Valley commercial centre, by calling the ticket hotline on 0871 226 1905, and online, and will be available from the ground in advance of kick-off.
Tickets are no longer being mailed out to fans, but can be collected from the north-stand ticket office on the day of the game.
Fans can also book £7-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.
Calls to 0871 226 1905 cost 10p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from other networks and mobiles may cost more
Anyone not attending the game can listen to full BBC LONDON audio commentary on the club's video website CAFC Player, while the Addicks' Twitter feed @CAFCofficial will keep fans updated on a regular basis.
CAFC Player, previously known as 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 refreshes as the goals go in across the country.
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