Charlton travel to the New York Stadium on Saturday to face Rotherham United in what simply is a must win game. Anything less for Jose Riga’s men this weekend against their closest relegation rival and it will be a nail in the coffin.

 

LEWIS CATT looks ahead to the game with Rotherham United

A healthy following will make the journey up to Yorkshire this weekend with a mixture of worry and fear as to what will happen should we lose to the Millers on Saturday.

Charlton are awful when it comes to being under pressure and this game is probably the biggest game this season. You know when you can call Rotherham away your biggest game of the season that things are in no way rosy in the SE7 camp.

With the transfer window closing on Monday and the future of Tony Watt  away from The Valley, with Blackburn taking the Scotsman on loan and Ricardo Vaz Te linked with a move back to Turkey the Addicks will need to find suitable replacements for any exits this month.

There is some positivity to be taken from last weekend’s draw with Blackburn, to start we actually scored a goal and we kept the goals conceded down to one!

The debut of Jorge Teixiera was an impressive one with the Portuguese new recruit looking strong and organised at the back. All positives that we can take in to Saturday. There surely can be no excuses should Rotherham win on Saturday, which would mean Charlton could be 7 points adrift come 5pm.

Team News:

Charlton:

Charlton could welcome back Ademola Lookman who has not featured since December after picking up a hamstring injury. His return could boost the Addicks attacking options with the departure of Tony Watt and the lack of other options. Lookman should partner Igor Vetokele.

Jorge Teixiera should continue in defence with Harry Lennon. Zakayra Bergdich was a surprise inclusion last week and should retain his place after an impressive game against Blackburn. Patrick Bauer, Alou Diarra and Ahmed Kashi all remain sidelined.

Predicted XI:

Henderson, Solly, Teixiera, Lennon, Fox, Gudmundsson, Jackson, Cousins, Bergdich, Vetokele, Lookman.

Rotherham:

Rotherham could hand Andrew Shinnie a debut after he signed from Birmingham City this week. His move added to Rotherham’s attacking options which have already been strengthened further with the signing of Chris Burke and Luciano Becchio.

Millers Captain Lee Frecklington was hoping to make his league return against the Addicks but limped off injured in a development game midweek. He will join Leon Best and Stephen Kelly in the treatment room. The Millers have won one in six and drew 1-1 with Cardiff City last time out.

Prediction:

It simply cannot be anything less than a win tomorrow otherwise it may be curtains on our championship status.

Rotherham 0-1 Charlton

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