Charlton v Wolves - match preview

For Wolves it's all about attempting to string a few wins together, something they've not managed all season long.

With the campaign having reached its halfway point Kenny Jackett's team lie a completely underwhelming 16th in the Championship table, nine points off the play-offs and seven ahead of the relegation zone.

The Boxing Day victory over Reading may have been about as aesthetically pleasing as a five-year-old trying to recreate the Mona Lisa using felt tip pens, but it was a necessary evil to get those three points on the board.

Now Wolves must back that up, hopefully armed with confidence and belief, with another victory, ahead of the potentially season-defining January transfer window opening at the weekend.

Jackett will hope to welcome back Jack Price, who missed the Reading game through illness.

For Wolves' second game in a shade under 48 hours it's likely that changes will be made, especially considering the effort exerted in that hard-earned Boxing Day win.

Ready to enter the fray are Scott Golbourne, Nathan Byrne, Jed Wallace and perhaps Grant Holt, who after a few weeks sat on his backside on the bench has actually been used in the last two matches.

Charlton are likely to be without defender Alou Diarra, while Patrick Bauer will be handed a late fitness test on an abdominal injury.

LIKELY LINE UPS

Charlton (4-4-2): Henderson; Solly, Sarr, Lennon, Fox; Cousins, Jackson (c), Lookman; Ghoochannejhad; Vaz Te, Makienok. Subs: Pope, Bauer, Holmes-Dennis, Ahearne-Grant, Ba, Charles-Cook, Moussa.

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth (c), Ebanks-Landell, Golbourne; Coady, Price; Byrne, Henry, Graham; Afobe. Subs: McCarey, Doherty, McDonald, Wallace, Edwards, Le Fondre, Holt.

FORM GUIDE

Wolves' away record isn't actually that bad. They're ninth in the 'away' table and only four teams have won more than their four matches on the road.

Their last away game, though, was a disaster, with a 4-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday their heaviest beating of the season so far.

Charlton are second from bottom in the Championship and have won just one of their last nine matches at home.

Their last victory home or away came at Birmingham on November 21. Interim boss Karel Fraeye was though pleased with his team's spirit on Boxing Day when they claimed a last-gasp 1-1 draw at relegation rivals Bristol City.

MATCH ODDS

Wolves are slight favourites for the win at 5/4, with Charlton on 5/2.

Narratives-wise it's slim pickings looking at the two sides, although James Henry, match-winner against Reading, was close to moving to Charlton in the summer and you can get as high as 12/1 for him to score first at the Valley.

Definitely due a goal is David Edwards, whose last strike came on Halloween away at Blues. Edwards also scored in the reverse fixture when Wolves beat the Addicks 2-1 at Molineux. If he scores first and Jackett's team win 2-0 to complete their first double of the season, you'll be £50 richer from a £1 bet.

For the pessimists out there, and given Wolves' tendency of late to let a lead slip this isn't the worst idea in the world, you can get 16/1 on Charlton coming from behind to win.

But for you optimists, how about Bjorn Sigurdarson to score anytime and Wolves to edge a 4-3 thriller? That'll be 200/1.

September 16, 2014 (Championship), Charlton 1 Wolves 1. Wolves continued their solid start to life back in the Championship with a draw to make it 14 points from seven games. Danny Batth cancelled out Andre Bikey's opener when he headed home James Henry's second half corner.

April 20, 2013 (Championship), Charlton 2 Wolves 1. A sickening defeat which put a nail in Wolves' relegation coffin. Kevin Doyle equalised three minutes after Dorian Dervite had put Charlton ahead. Dean Saunders' side had chances to win it but Jonathan Obika stole the points for the Addicks in stoppage time to leave Wolves on the brink.

September 13, 2008 (Championship), Charlton 1 Wolves 3. Mick McCarthy's league leaders came from behind to win 3-1. Nicky Bailey gave Alan Pardew's Charlton a third minute lead but after the break Sylvan Ebanks-Blake equalised and then substitute Sam Vokes scored two late goals to earn the victory.

March 29, 2008 (Championship), Charlton 2 Wolves 3. What a game. Ebanks-Blake put Wolves ahead, Greg Halford equalised, then Ebanks-Blake scored the most stunning solo effort to put Wolves 2-1 up. Leroy Lita equalised in the 90th minute but there was still time for Karl Henry to convert Kevin Kyle's cross for a famous win.

January 10, 2004 (Premier League), Charlton 2 Wolves 0. A regulation 2-0 win for Charlton who completed the double over Wolves. Jason Euell scored both goals against a team that failed to win away from home all season long.

Kenny Jackett: "We have two away games now and we would prefer to be going to Charlton with a win as we now have.

"We have to look positively at that game now and hopefully the players will take some confidence from (beating Reading).

"It has been a little but of time since we won at Molineux and hopefully it is a good one to get over and we can build on it now."

Karel Fraeye: "The whole team showed that they really wanted it and I'm happy for them because they got their reward at the end (against Bristol City).

"We rescued a point, but it was more important that they did not win and get away from us. This was a six-point game and it was a very important equaliser.

"We do not have a big squad so we will see which players are most fit to go again."

THE REF

Keith Hill (Hertfordshire): So far this season Hill has shown five reds and 86 yellows in 21 games.

His last Wolves game was the 2-1 home defeat to Reading in February, where he dished out five yellows.