Next Up: Charlton Athletic vs Exeter City
It wasn’t pretty, but City got back to winning ways last Saturday, Josh Magennis recreating his FA Cup form with the only goal in a match which cost Cambridge manager Garry Monk his job. A first clean sheet since November was also welcome, with new signing Angus McDonald looking assured at the back as City looked a lot more solid in defence. He will continue to line up with returning loanee Alex Hartridge, while Gary Caldwell may look to freshen things up elsewhere on the pitch with Ryan Woods perhaps included to provide some extra steel in midfield. Ilmari Niskanen has made headlines for the wrong reasons this week, but his off-field indiscretion is unlikely to affect his chances of selection.
Charlton’s patchy form in the first half of the season has given over to a decent run that has seen the Addicks move firmly into play-off contention, although their last match was the obligatory 0-1 defeat to Birmingham. Nathan Jones has only made minor tweaks to his squad in the January window, with Tom McIntyre and Alex Gilbert coming in on loan. The main goal threat comes from the experienced Matt Godden, the 33 year old signing from Coventry brought in to fill the boots of Birmingham-bound Alfie May. Godden scored in four successive matches until the 0-1 at Birmingham to take his tally to 13 for the season in all competitions.
The reverse fixture was one of many corners but few chances, City scoring the only goal through a Tristan Crama header from one such corner. City will wish to erase the memory of a highly controversial visit to The Valley last season with a David Rock special helping condemn City to a 4-1 defeat. City led through James Scott but Corey Blackett-Taylor equalised on the brink of half time. Charlton went ahead after being awarded a soft penalty – May’s spot kick was saved by Vil Sinisalo but May tapped home the rebound. If City were already hurting, their hurt turned to disbelief from the kick off – Aimson slipped and went flailing, May threw himself to the ground under zero contact (in fact he was behind Aimson at the time) and Rock brandished a red card. Late goals from Miles Leaburn and May sealed the win. City’s win at SJP closed the league head to head gap to 11-16, with six draws.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Andy Davies
Assistant Referees: Graham Kane and George Byrne
Fourth Official: Ollie Williams
Andy Davies tends to now referee in the Championship and teh last time he took charge of an Exeter City game was in January 2022 when City drew 0-0 with Forest Green Rovers. So far this season he’s taken charge of 18 games, issuing 67 yellow cards, and no sending offs.
Interview with Gary Caldwell
Interview with Angus MacDonald