Charlton v Millwall
'Tis the season to be jolly, and it will certainly be a happy Valley at 5pm on Saturday if Charlton can defeat local rivals Millwall in the first league meeting between the sides for 13 years.
Unbeaten at home since March, the Addicks are also impressing away, picking up wins at Brighton & Hove Albion and Stockport County in recent weeks to move within two points of League One leaders Leeds United.
Saturday's 2-1 triumph at Edgeley Park also took the Addicks six points clear of third-placed Norwich City, who could only draw 3-3 at Yeovil Town, and Phil Parkinson will be delighted with the way his side has taken to life in League One.
Especially pleasing to Parkinson will be the way players on the fringes of the squad have taken their chance when injuries to the likes of Frazer Richardson and Kelly Youga could have left the Addicks in trouble.
Both Elliot Omozusi and Grant Basey have performed admirably, and young Scott Wagstaff has also shone since being given the opportunity to impress on the left flank.
The winger - brought into the starting XI after Nicky Bailey was moved inside - hit what turned out to be the winner at Stockport for his fourth goal of the season and has been hailed by Parkinson as the most 'athletic player' he has ever worked with.
Of course, Millwall will be out to burst Charlton's bubble. Kenny Jackett's men may have only won once away from The New Den this term, but they sit in eighth place in the league and, with home victories over Leeds, Colchester United and Milton Keynes Dons to their name this term, the Lions would like nothing more than to take three points in SE7 for the five-mile trip back to Bermondsey.
Rivals on the pitch, the two clubs are united off it, and have agreed to remove their sponsors' logos from the front of each team's jerseys for the match.
In their place will be a special Street Violence Ruins Lives logo to promote the Addicks' campaign to combat knife and gang crime.
The game is being dedicated to the memories of Rob Knox and Jimmy Mizen, young supporters of Charlton and Millwall who were murdered in street violence incidents during 2008.
The opposition
Steve Morison's second-half brace saw Millwall come from behind to beat Walsall 2-1 in a thriller at The New Den last Saturday.
The visitors took the lead in the eighth minute through Manny Smith, who drilled a low shot beyond David Forde from 12 yards.
Ashley Grimes made amends for a first-half miss when he teed up Morison to finish emphatically from 18 yards.
And Morison sealed the points 15 minutes from time, this time latching on to Jason Price's pass to send a similarly rasping finish beyond the despairing Forde.
Afterwards, Jackett warned that the best is yet to come from Morison, stating: "I'm pleased for Steve as he is starting to go on a good scoring run now he has got pace and power, and the centre-halves knew they had been in a game.
"It's been an adjustment for him to get used to this level, but he is starting to be a bit more clinical with his finishing and he is looking really good. It's still early in his career and it's important he keeps going, but he is looking really good and looks in good form. It was a soft goal to give away and we started slowly but we deserved the win."
The 26-year-old Morison arrived from Stevenage Borough in the summer and his second-half heroics against Walsall made it four goals in as many games.
With his tally for the season now standing at six, Morrison wants to break his away-day duck by sinking the Addicks.
"All six goals I have scored since joining Millwall have come at The New Den," he said. "I haven't scored away, so Charlton this week would be a great place to start. As the fans keep letting me know, it's going to be a huge game."
Millwall could be without the services of wingers Chris Hackett and James Henry for the trip to The Valley.
Hackett is sidelined after suffering a knee injury during the recent FA Cup second-round replay win over Staines Town, while Henry is struggling with a hamstring problem.
But manager Jackett did welcome back another wideman, in the shape of Dave Martin, for the game with the Saddlers after the star had missed the last few matches with a groin strain.
Marc Laird and Paul Robinson are expected to shake off injuries in time to face Charlton. Midfielder Laird and defender Robinson both suffered facial injuries during the win over Walsall, but they should resume training in time for the fixture.
Strikers Neil Harris (back) and Gary Alexander (heel) remain on the sidelines, while defenders Tony Craig (cheekbone), Zak Whitbread (hip), Scott Barron (ankle) and Pat O'Connor (cruciate) are also on the casualty list.
FA Cup runners-up in 2004, Millwall were beaten by Scunthorpe United in last season's League One play-off final at Wembley.
Charlton team news/past meetings
Charlton made two changes for their League One trip to Stockport. Jose Semedo returned from suspension to replace Therry Racon in central midfield as the Addicks aimed to record a fourth win in succession.
With Richardson struggling with a hamstring niggle, Omozusi, who replaced the right-back last week against Southend United, was back in the rearguard.
The Addicks continued with Rob Elliot between the posts and, with Youga still nursing a knee injury, Basey kept his place at left-back, with Omozusi on the right.
Christian Dailly and Sam Sodje were in the centre of defence with Semedo partnering skipper Bailey in the middle of the park. Lloyd Sam was out wide on the right and Wagstaff remained on the left.
Top scorer Deon Burton was partnered by David Mooney, while there was a return to the bench for the first time in four matches for Leon McKenzie following a knee injury. He joined Darren Randolph, Miguel Llera, Matt Spring, Racon, Jonjo Shelvey and Akpo Sodje in reserve.
Richardson and Youga are again expected to miss out on Saturday, so Omozusi and Basey should keep their spots in what could well be an unchanged starting XI, unless Parkinson opts to replace Burton or Mooney with one from Akpo Sodje, McKenzie or Izale McLeod as the Addicks aim to record their fifth league win in a row.
McLeod, who spent part of last season on loan at Millwall, missed the journey to Stockport with a slight knee problem, earning Lewis Perkins a place on the coach, although the youngster didn't make the eventual matchday 18.
The last meeting between the two teams was a pre-season friendly at The New Den in July 2006, Iain Dowie's Addicks earning a 4-1 win through goals from Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Darren Ambrose, Talal El Karkouri and James Walker.
The last competitive fixture came in a First Division encounter in March 1996 as strikes from Lee Bowyer and Carl Leaburn gave Charlton a 2-0 win at The Valley. Earlier that season, Kim Grant's brace gave Charlton all three points in an identical scoreline in what was a famous victory amid the snow.
The first ever encounter saw Charlton earn a 1-0 win at The Den in front of 25,000 fans thanks to a Sid Castle effort on New Year's Eve 1921.
Just over a fortnight later, a Harold Halse strike and a Dan Bailey penalty secured Charlton a 2-1 triumph at The Valley.
Tickets and travel
With the Valley commercial centre closed before kick-off against the Lions, all tickets for the match must be bought by 5pm on Friday.
Seats in home areas are on sale to current season-ticket holders and to Red Card holders with a purchase history of more than one Championship game from 2007-09, including lapsed season-ticket holders.
The Lions have already sold out their away location of the entire Jimmy Seed Stand, so restrictions are in place to prevent away fans gaining tickets in home areas.
Places are priced £17, £22 and £25 adults, £17 over 60s and U21s, and £5 U18s. Fans should note that tickets are not available online, while Valley Express places will only be sold in conjunction with home match tickets or to season-ticket holders.
Operators will only be allowed to sell two tickets per applicant, but where fans can make an evidence-backed case to purchase more - for example, because they regularly do so - their request will be considered by senior staff, which may involve the club calling fans back.
Any Millwall fan identified in a home area will be liable to ejection, and sanctions will be pursued against the person who purchased the ticket on his or her behalf.
The sanctions will include confiscation of season tickets without compensation, in accordance with item three of the terms and conditions listed in supporters' season-ticket booklets.
There will be no upgrades on the day of the game, although tickets for collection will operate from the north-stand ticket office as usual. Entry to Bartram's will be restricted to season-ticket holders and home ticket holders and admission to the Superstore will also be controlled. Fans should also note that the club will not be duplicating match tickets sent out in the post.
Places are available in person from the Valley commercial centre and by calling the ticket hotline on 0871 226 1905.
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
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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