Bristol Rovers v Charlton
Charlton's final match of three successive away games sees the Addicks make the trip to Bristol Rovers for a live-on-Sky encounter on Monday evening (7.45pm).
Both sides are struggling for their best form right now; Rovers have won just once in their last eight fixtures, while the Addicks are without a victory since the 2-1 triumph over Hartlepool United on January 19th.
The Addicks have drawn their last three games 1-1, snatching an equaliser at Swindon Town on Saturday when Nicky Bailey struck deep into stoppage time.
Bailey's 12 goals from midfield have been invaluable this term and, who knows, that late strike against the Robins may prove crucial come the end of the season.
However, Charlton know they need to return to winning ways as they bid to catch the top two, especially if both Norwich City and Leeds United claim victories this weekend.
Norwich are away at struggling Brighton & Hove Albion, while Leeds travel to in-form Leyton Orien, and Charlton will be hoping their promotion rivals haven't edged further away by the time the Addicks take on the Pirates.
The match with Rovers will be the first of four fixtures in 12 days for Charlton - favourable results will set the Addicks up very nicely for the promotion run-in.
The opposition
A remarkable double save from Clayton Ince clinched all three points for Walsall in a 1-0 win over Rovers at The Memorial Stadium last Saturday.
Goalkeeper Ince dived to keep out Jeff Hughes' 82nd-minute penalty after a trip by Jamie Vincent on Jo Kuffour and then got up to beat away the follow-up effort from Paul Heffernan.
It was a bad night for Hughes, who gifted possession to Alex Nicholls in the build-up to Walsall's 32nd-minute winner, fired home by Richard Taundry.
It is only one win in eight games now for Rovers and home fans voiced their displeasure at the final whistle. Pirates manager Paul Trollope said: "It's a time for a steady nerve. Things are not going well for us at the moment and had we scored the penalty, most people would have said we were well worth a point.
"We have a lot of injuries and hopefully some of them will have cleared by Monday's home game against Charlton. We have signed Paul Heffernan on loan and I thought he showed some nice touches on his debut. The plan is to get another striker in and we hope that will happen over the weekend.
"We made a bad mistake for the Walsall goal and when Jeff came to take his penalty he had suffered a knock 10 minutes earlier. Heffernan wanted to take it, but Jeff insisted he was our penalty-taker and that shows some character."
Rovers have several injury concerns ahead of Monday's game. Midfielder Chris Lines is struggling with abdominal damage, while full-back Aaron Lescott also remains sidelined with a hip injury.
Central defender Danny Coles is absent due to a knee injury, so Steve Elliott, Dominic Blizzard and Mark Wright are set to retain their starting berths. Pirates boss Paul Trollope also has a doubt over defender Carl Regan (dead leg).
Rovers snapped up Heffernan on a one-month loan deal from Doncaster Rovers and the striker said: "I discussed the deal at the back end of last week. I am delighted now that I am down. Initially, it is a month and we will see how it goes from there.
"I have been with Doncaster five years, but I am out of contract in the summer so it may be time to move on. I think I have plenty to offer Bristol Rovers. I have been sitting on the bench up at Doncaster for most of the season, so I want to get out and prove that I can still score goals at whatever level because you are soon forgotten about in this game.
"If it goes well for the club and for myself there is always an option to extend it for another month or for the rest of the season, so we will see how it goes."
A familiar face watching Monday'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
Jonjo Shelvey and Grant Basey were back in the Charlton line-up for last weekend's visit to Swindon.
Having been rested from the squad for the last two fixtures, Shelvey went straight back into the starting XI as Phil Parkinson fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Shelvey played in the hole behind lone striker Akpo Sodje as top scorer Deon Burton dropped to the bench.
At the back, Basey got the nod on the left in place of Chris Solly in an otherwise unchanged backline of Frazer Richardson, Sam Sodje and Christian Dailly.
Bailey and Therry Racon sat in midfield, with Shelvey playing off Akpo Sodje and Scott Wagstaff and Kyel Reid supplying the attacking width.
Darren Randolph was joined on the bench by Miguel Llera, Solly, Jose Semedo, Burton, David Mooney and Leon McKenzie. Lloyd Sam was absent with a stomach bug.
With Kelly Youga still sidelined with a knee injury, Solly and Basey will again fight out it for the left-back slot, while Llera will be bidding to return at centre-half.
It remains to be seen what formation Parkinson opts for but Semedo will be itching to return in midfield. Racon went off with a head injury at Swindon but should be fine to compete against Rovers if required.
Sam will be bidding to win back his place on the right at the expense of Wagstaff, while Burton could replace Shelvey if Parkinson opts for a two-man frontline. Matt Spring is also available and Mooney, McKenzie and Chris Dickson are other options in attack.
Rovers arrived at The Valley in seventh place and a point outside the play-off zone in November but left with their tails between their legs after a 4-2 defeat to the Addicks.
Charlton survived a second-half wobble to bank all three points. Leading 2-0 thanks to a goal from Mooney and a Burton penalty, the Addicks were pegged back by a spot-kick from Hughes shortly before the break.
Lines then rose to head the visitors level 11 minutes into the second half and Blizzard put two good chances wide for them before Bailey forced his side back in front. Substitute Akpo Sodje made sure of the points with his second goal in successive games five minutes from time.
The game was 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 went down by the same scoreline at Twerton Park with a certain Alan Pardew bagging a brace for the Addicks.
Overall, though, Rovers have won 21 times to Charlton's 19, with 15 draws.
Tickets and travel
Charlton have 800 terrace and 1,000 seats for the away fixture, which was previously scheduled for Saturday, February 13th before the game was switched for Sky.
Places are no longer on general sale, but despite previous information that the match is an all-ticket encounter, the Pirates advised on Wednesday that spaces will be available to purchase from the ground on the night.
U16 terrace tickets have been slashed from £9.50 to £1. Any U16 who has already purchased a full-price terrace ticket will be contacted in due course by Charlton commercial centre staff to arrange a refund.
Standing places in the uncovered terrace are priced £15 adults, £8 over 65s and students (with valid NUS card) and £1 U16s, while seats in the covered Beck's South Stand are priced £17.50 adults, £9.50 over 65s and students (with valid NUS card) and £9.50 U16s.
There are 10 ambulant disabled places, priced £8 (including a free helper), and three wheelchair spaces, also priced £8 (including a free helper). Refunds due to the change of date of the game are no longer available.
Details of the Valley Away coach service, priced £16, to The Memorial Stadium can be found here.
Fans can read about discounted group rail travel, and other information about getting to The Memorial Stadium, here.
CAFC Player, previously known as CAFC TV, allows fans to follow the action via a 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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