Barnsley (a), Oakwell, 21/02/2009

After last Saturday's convincing and ultimately impressive defeat of fast fading Plymouth, this weekend sees the Addicks make the long trip up the M1 to Oakwell, to face Barnsley- the team who back in November, fired one of the last nails into the coffin of then Charlton manager Alan Pardew.


3-0 down at half time- how the Valley faithful vented their fury- and it hasn't in truth got much better since. However, tomorrow could see Charlton record back to back victories- and if they can, with home games over the next fortnight against albeit improving Doncaster, plus Watford- maybe, just maybe the great escape might be on.

For all that to happen though, the Addicks must beat a Barnsley side boasting former Addick Jamal Campbell-Ryce, scorer of a wonder goal midweek, as Barnsley completed a rare double over South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

And it won't be easy. Despite a poor recent run, the Tykes will be boosted by that result, and will present a formidable barrier to Charlton's hopes of survival. That said, Charlton must be lifted by last week's defeat of Plymouth, and following that result, I expect Parky to send out an unchanged starting XI tomorrow, something unheard of by Charlton's recent standards....

NLA predicts: Barnsley 2 (Macken 13', Campell-Ryce 57') Charlton 1 (Bailey 78')
Att: 13,769

Plymouth Argyle (h), The Valley, 14/02/2009

Well, Paul Sturrock doesn't seem to feel there is any pressure on his side tomorrow.

Take it from me, Paul- or Luggy as you are bizarrely called- there is. You are bottom of the form table, in freefall, and tomorrow are up against statistically the worst side in the division.

Let's make no bones about it, we ARE going down. There is no recovery from a 10 point deficit with 15 games to play, especially with our soft centre. So Plymouth will not have a better chance of ending their sorry run than tomorrow.

If they can't beat us at football, then "Luggy" can always resort to their tried and tested tactic- get that thug Krizstian Timar to try and end a few more of our players' careers. He's quite good at that, you know. Mind you, as it's not Eduardo, it doesn't matter..

This is the side I expect Parky to pick tomorrow:

Eliot, Murty, Ward, Hudson, Youga, Sam, Bailey, Racon, Soares, Spring, Dickson.
Subs: Weaver, Basey, Ambrose, Burton, Kandol.

NLA predicts: Charlton 3 (Spring 16', Bailey (pen) 44', Soares 79'
Plymouth 1 (Fallon (pen) 89')
Att: 21,089