Friday 15 March 2013

After you

It's raining heavily in the Midlands again this morning and I understand that it's likely to be raining in SE7. Heavy rain would not be good for the Valley pitch or for the quality of the game. Indeed, at the last home game, pigeons were on the pitch during the game, presumably trying to eat grass seed that had been put down.

Much of the attention today has been focused on a police plan to let Millwall fans out first so that they can catch the additional trains back to London. In fact, as I know, lots of Charlton fans use these trains, for example to change to other services at Waterloo and those wanting to travel to Kent will also be delayed by the closure of Floyd Road for 25 minutes after the game. Ransome Walk will also be closed, delaying access to the 'Rickshaw' coaches, although clearly it would be unsafe to have this open if Floyd Road was closed. Presumably the rationale behind this is that the away fans are nearer the station but at the last match between the two teams in 2009 fans from both clubs were able to use the trains immediately afterwards. One wag suggested that Group 4 could lay on some 'sweat boxes' to run back to leading London prisons.

Neither side is any real danger of relegation, but both need points on the board. Millwall's 17th place partly reflects two games in hand. Nevertheless, the bookies (Coral) have Millwall at 8-1 for relegation compared to 16-1 for Charlton. Millwall's away record more or less matches Charlton's home record: 5-6-7 for Millwall away, 4-6-8 for Charlton at home, so Charlton usually lose, but so do Millwall. The bookies are offering Charlton at 11/10, a draw at 9/4 and Millwall at 5/2. A draw seems the most likely outcome to me, but not as high scoring as the 4-4 one in 2009. 1-1 or even 0-0 looks more likely. It is 21 years since Millwall won away against Charlton.

Five Millwall players have played for Charlton: Danny Shittu; Rob Hulse; Therry Racon; Dany N'Guessan; and Josh Wright. Millwall have striker Jermaine Easter on loan from Crystal Palace.

Yann Kermorgant is available again, and all fired up, hopefully not too much. Chris Powell thus faces a selection dilemma up front, but this may be a game that requires Kermorgant and Haynes to start with Fuller in reserve.

So I have made an early start for London, put up with wet weather, possibly see Charlton lose and then have problems in getting away safely and promptly from the game. That's Addicktion for you.

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