Can old heads at Charlton Athletic pass on their wisdom for an Addicks automatic promotion push?

With Hull on a run of three successive defeats and without a win in the league since December 2nd and Charlton unbeaten in their last four, the battle at the KCOM Stadium in the first league fixture of 2021 provides an opportunity for both sides to lay down a marker in outlining their promotion intentions.

With the added hurdles of navigating coronavirus implications and a number of games already being postponed, it’s not too difficult to see why teams are struggling for consistency in the division. Whilst the disruption is curtailing momentum, the extended break between fixtures in the notorious gruelling Christmas period could be of some initial advantage with those games still needed to be replayed. 

Hull haven’t played a fixture since their 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth a fortnight ago and Charlton had their midweek trip to Peterborough postponed in midweek, giving them a full week to recuperate following their disappointing 2-2 home draw to Plymouth Argyle on Boxing Day.

Grant McCann’s Tigers won’t be at full strength on Saturday due to players testing positive for coronavirus prior to their proposed top of the table clash with Lincoln and subsequently, preparation for the fixture has been far from ideal.

“We’re hoping to have maybe a couple of the players back.

“Whether they’re going to be fit and available for the weekend – we’re not sure. We’ll see how they are over the next couple of days.

“We will be missing some players. It’s not ideal for us really because we haven’t seen each other for ten days but the players have worked hard on plans that we set them. We’ve monitored them every day and they’ve put some good distance into their legs, so we know how much we can push them over the next couple of days leading into the Charlton game.”

Image: Hull City Official Website

In such unprecedented times, even experience goes out of the window to a large degree but the knowhow and calming influence will be welcomed qualities going into the second part of the season with all still very much to play for.

Whilst Lee Bowyer’s Charlton side can call upon the likes of Ben Watson, Chris Gunter, Jonny Williams and Darren Pratley for wisdom on the pitch, Grant McCann’s average squad age is the fifth youngest in the division. It promises to be an intriguing game with key battles across the pitch.

Whilst Charlton haven’t kept a clean sheet since the 28th of November, Lee Bowyer was delighted with the performance of the experienced Pratley against Plymouth, drafted into Charlton’s back four due to injuries. If he’s called upon again at Hull, the challenge to cope with the different threats of Josh Magennis, Malik Wilks and Tom Eaves will need to be met full on.

Hull’s teenage starlet Keane Lewis-Potter will hope to put aside any of his contract uncertainties, as he and the club still look to find a solution so that he can concentrate on form and build on the five goals he’s already scored this season.

In midfield, George Honeyman has arguably been Hull’s most consistent performer with his tenacity to win the ball but also with his capabilities to not only retain possession but make key passes from central areas. With added quality on the ball from set-pieces, the midfield will be a key battleground in the fixture.

Honeyman will come up against the seasoned Ben Watson, who is playing a pivotal role at the base of the Charlton midfield. After deciding against signing a new contract at Nottingham Forest following an impressive campaign at The City Ground last season, the 35-year-old’s experience, particularly in a game of such importance on Saturday, will be a valuable commodity, particularly as the season progresses and if the Addicks still remain in the promotion hunt. With talented Welsh playmaker Williams alongside him to provide ammunition further up the pitch, Hull will need to be mindful of both players proven quality at a higher level.

There could also be an interesting battle between Hull’s impressive full-back Josh Emmanuel and Charlton winger Marcus Maddison. Whilst Emmanuel boasts great physicality, as well as being at complete ease with the ball at his feet, he could be up against a player in Maddison, who will have a point to prove as he returns to Hull following his disappointing loan period with the Tigers earlier in the year. If the opportunity arises for Maddison to pick up where he left off against Plymouth Argyle, scoring his sides decisive equalizer, he’ll fancy proving Hull doubters wrong, that they didn’t offer him a permanent deal in the summer.

Addicks manager Lee Bowyer is under no illusions about the quality of the opposition is side are set to face but remains confident that despite only one win in their last five outings, his Charlton side continues to improve. 

“They (Hull) are a good side. They’ve kept most of the squad – or a very high percentage of it – that they had in the Championship. They will definitely be up there at the end of the season.

“We have to be at our best to win the game. But we have shown we can do that – we went to Portsmouth and Ipswich and won. There is no reason we can’t do it there.”

With the top six in League One still jostling for the automatic promotion places, there are still no signs of a side showing the consistency to pull away from the leading pack. Whilst the draw against Plymouth moved Charlton into the playoff reckoning, having seen his side win six successive games between October and November, Bowyer will be hoping that his side can embark on another run moving into the new year, starting at Hull this weekend.

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