Preston Preview

A trip to Deepdale for the Addicks tomorrow as 5th take on 6th in the Championship. After a brush with relegation last season, Preston are unbeaten this term and Alan Irvine seems to have organised his team into a well drilled and committed Championship outfit. I've got rather hazy memories of watching this fixture in a West London pub last season after more than a couple of beers, when goals from Zheng Zhi and Luke Varney in stoppage time of either half won it for us. Of the sixteen that made the squad that day, six are no longer at the club (Mills, Sodje, Reid, Thomas, Iwelumo, Bougherra) whilst Zheng is unlikely to feature and Randolph is out on loan for the rest of the season.

Team selection should be a fairly uncomplicated affair for Pardew, picking the same XI that performed so impressively against Reading being the obvious thing to do. The one question mark may be over the left back spot with Youga available for selection after his suspension and the general feeling amongst Charlton blogs being that Basey was the weakest link in the team last week. There also appears to be doubts over the fitness of Lloyd Sam with Ambrose the most likely deputy having come through another reserve run out during the week. The latter of these changes may be enforced, but if possible I would prefer neither were made. Whilst Basey didn't have his best game in a Charlton shirt against Reading, it was his first league start of the season and he got to grips with the game as it progressed. Ambrose has his qualities (although some may beg to differ) but playing on the wing is not one of them, so I would continue with Sam if he is fit to play.

The will he/won't he Linvoy Primus saga seems to have reached a conclusion with the agreement that he will be our player for three months (although according to the website the paperwork still hasn't been signed!) so there is a chance that he may be in Pardew's thoughts, but surely only for a place on the bench at this stage. Even this I think is too much for a man who only trained with the squad for the first time on Thursday, not to mention the fact that he is apparently still returning to fitness. In terms of other options, Pardew hasn't given any kind of indication that he feels Todorov is fit enough to be considered for the first team (despite his mid-week appearance alongside Ambrose in the reserves) and there are no signs that Fleetwood is about to be considered.

With all of the above in mind, my team would be as follows: Weaver; Moutaouakil, Hudson, Fortune, Basey; Sam, Bailey, Holland, Bouazza; Gray, Varney. Subs: Elliot, Semedo, Ambrose, Shelvey, Dickson.

I don't think anybody realistically expects a repeat of the performance against Reading and all things considered a draw would not be a bad result. That said, two wins on the spin would be a major boost for this team, especially heading into the international break and with a tough fixture against Wolves up next. It may also convince any potential recruits ahead of Monday's transfer deadline that we really are going to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. Substance may be required above style this week, but let's hope it still results in three points for the men in red.