Charlton start the campaign against a newly promoted team for the fourth year in a row. They have won two and drawn one of these games.
The side is still in the rebuiding stage and is short of creativity and strikers.
Circumstances are likely to dictate that Parky will go for a 4-5-1 line-up. Their pre-season form has been patchy but in parts, the Addicks have impressed. Leading scorers Deon Burton and Nicky Bailey have moved on, as has the club’s leader in the ‘assists’ table, Lloyd Sam.
A solid, rather than spectaclar, performance is what Charlton will deliver in their quest for the three points.
Vital Quotes:
Charlton Athletic Team News:
Kelly Youga is still sidelined by his long term knee injury while Miguel Llera is serving a one match suspension for the red card picked up against Swindon in May.
Johnnie Jackson will slot in at left-back with Gary Doherty partnering Dailly in central defence.
Pawel Abbott may start ahead of Akpo Sodje as the focal point of the attack.
Player to watch: Kyel Reid
Bournemouth Team News:
Reported Charlton target, Brett Pitman, will be keen to impress as will ex-Addicks Harry Arter and Jason Tindall.
Player to watch: Brett Pitman
Match Facts & Stats
Ref Watch:
Hertfordshire’s Grant Hegley will be the referee.
I think our defence should be a match for Bournemouth, having said that they have not played many minutes together, and the line up will not be anything like the line ups for the friendlies…I think the midfield looks solid enough and we will be looking for Kyel Reid to provide creativity and inspiration, and I think we will adopt one striker up front, probably starting with Akpo and maybe changing midway through the second half to bring on Pawell Abbott either as a straight sub for Akpo, or maybe taking off a central midfielder….I am sure a win is well within our ability, but wonder if so many new faces having to appear with not a lot of match practice will work against us…i predict a close fought 2-0 win for Charlton