MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 09:08:53| >> :120:82662:82662:
[monks data]
Charlton Athletic
Championship
Aug 22, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Hull logo

2-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Hernandez (89')

Preview: Charlton Athletic vs. Hull City

Sports Mole previews Saturday afternoon's Championship match as two unbeaten sides, Charlton Athletic and Hull City, meet at The Valley.

After three rounds of fixtures in the Championship, 11 sides are still unbeaten and two of them meet at The Valley on Saturday afternoon as Charlton Athletic host Hull City.

Hull are one of three sides setting the early pace on seven points, while Charlton have had back-to-back draws after an impressive opening-day win over fellow Londoners Queens Park Rangers.


Charlton

Tony Watt of Charlton Athletic celebrates scoring a goal during the Capital One Cup First Round match between Charlton Athletic v Dagenham & Redbridge at The Valley on August 11, 2015© Getty Images

There is reason for optimism among Addicks fans after their start to the season. Newly-relegated QPR were brushed aside at The Valley before another convincing home win in the Capital One Cup first round over Dagenham & Redbridge.

Since then they have faced East Midlands duo Derby County and Nottingham Forest on the road and brought two points back to the capital, albeit in differing circumstances.

They rode their luck at Derby, but would have left with all three points from the City Ground but for an inspired goalkeeping display by Dorus de Vries.

Now they return home looking to extend their 100% start at The Valley with three of their next four league games in SE7. First they host another recent Premier League side in Hull before welcoming relegation candidates Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town in September after the international break.

The performances of Tony Watt have been a boost with Igor Vetokele unfit at the start of the season; only Kike of Middlesbrough has scored more and Watt has found the net with both of his shots on target this term. However, the former Celtic man could sit out here with a calf injury.

Guy Luzon's men currently sit in the playoffs and victory here over one of the five sides above them would really signal some intent for a surprise top-six push this season.

Recent form: WWDD


Hull

Chuba Akpom of Hull City celebrates with his team mate Ahmed El Mohamady after scoring the first goal in extra time during the Capital One Cup First Round match between Accrington Stanley and Hull City at Wham Stadium on August 11, 2015© Getty Images

Ipswich Town have scored one more goal than Hull in their three games and that is the only thing keeping Steve Bruce's men off the top.

Of the three sides to drop down from the Premier League, Hull are the only one in the top half and with a seemingly favourable run of fixtures on the horizon, Bruce will feel confident of holding down their top-two place.

A calamitous error from goalkeeper Allan McGregor gifted Wolves an equaliser as Hull dropped their first points at the weekend, but they were soon back to winning ways thanks to Sone Aluko's late winner against Fulham last night, a goal that ended the forward's drought of almost 1,200 minutes stretching back to early December last year.

With Aluko, Chuba Akpom, Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez currently on the books, Bruce has confirmed that a move for Brentford's Andre Gray is off, but Chicago Fire's Shaun Maloney could still join the Tigers.

Only QPR won fewer away games than Hull last season and they have now won just two of their last 21 league games on the road after the draw at Wolves.

If the Tigers avoid defeat here, it will be the first time in 14 years that they have not lost in the first four games of a season.

Recent form: WWDW


Team News

Abel Hernandez of Hull City celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Hull City at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2014© Getty Images

After his red card on the final day of last season, Hernandez had been missing for Hull's opening three games but came straight back into the starting lineup against Fulham.

He took Nikica Jelavic's place alongside Chuba Akpom in attack and may continue, especially as Jelavic is said to be the subject of interest from Norwich City.

Bruce has plenty of options, but counterpart Luzon might be without some of his key men.

Watt is a doubt with the aforementioned calf complaint, while Chris Solly damaged his ankle against Forest and may also miss out.

Reza Ghoochannejhad took Watt's place at the City Ground, but he is now out for a month after damaging his knee.

Charlton possible starting lineup:
Pope; Charles-Cook, Diarra, Bauer, Fox; Gudmundsson, Cousins, Kashi, Ceballos; Ahearne-Grant, Makienok

Hull possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Odubajo, Davies, Dawson, Robertson; Elmohamady, Meyler, Huddlestone, Aluko; Akpom, Hernandez


Head To Head

These two sides have only been in the same division twice in the last 25 years, most recently in Hull's last promotion season three years ago.

The duo also met at The Valley in the opening month that season - a 0-0 draw - before Hull edged a close game 1-0 at the KC Stadium in their most recent encounter in February 2013.

Charlton have failed to score in their last two games against Hull, but they have never gone three without reply.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Charlton 1-2 Hull

Charlton have scored in 10 of their last 11 games at The Valley, but Hull might just prove too strong as they chase top spot.



ID:240567: cacheID:240567:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10510:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chuba Akpom of Hull City celebrates with his team mate Ahmed El Mohamady after scoring the first goal in extra time during the Capital One Cup First Round match between Accrington Stanley and Hull City at Wham Stadium on August 11, 2015
Read Next:
Preview: Hull City vs. Fulham
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe14102232161632
2Birmingham CityBirmingham1393124121230
3Wrexham1584322111128
4Stockport CountyStockport167632617927
5Barnsley157532419526
6Lincoln CityLincoln157532117426
7Mansfield TownMansfield137332015524
8Huddersfield TownHuddersfield147252114723
9Exeter CityExeter147251410423
10Reading147252221123
11Bolton WanderersBolton147252224-223
12Peterborough UnitedPeterborough156363127421
13Charlton AthleticCharlton145451515019
14Bristol Rovers155371621-518
15Stevenage155371116-518
16Northampton TownNorthampton154561821-317
17Rotherham UnitedRotherham154561418-417
18Blackpool154562128-717
19Wigan AthleticWigan143561212014
20Leyton Orient144281418-414
21Crawley TownCrawley163491427-1313
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge143291324-1111
23Burton Albion141581525-108
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1522111327-148


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!