Match Preview: Charlton Athletic vs. Cardiff City

Neil Harris takes charge of his first match as Cardiff City Manager when the Bluebirds travel to face the Addicks on Saturday – kick-off at 12:30pm.

TOP 5 | GOALS VS. CHARLTON ATHLETIC

The Opposition

Charlton Athletic are currently 11th on the Sky Bet Championship league table, with 22 points collected so far in their campaign.

The South London side were promoted to the Championship at the end of the 2018/19 season, defeating Sunderland at Wembley Stadium in the League One Play-Off Final. Despite going 1-0 down in the opening minutes of the match, the Addicks equalised before the end of the half, and a dramatic 94th minute winner scored by Patrick Bauer secured the club’s promotion.

Lee Bowyer’s side began their current campaign with two consecutive victories, going six league matches unbeaten and rising to second on the league table.

However, following a bright start to the season, the side have won two of their last ten fixtures, their most recent victory coming at home against Derby County on October 19th.

Macauley Bonne is Charlton Athletic’s top goalscorer so far this season, having netted five times for the Addicks since joining in June 2019.

The striker joined the club from Leyton Orient, where he had spent two years playing for the O’s in the National League. Scoring 45 goals in 90 league appearances, Bonne’s final season playing for Orient saw him help the side to promotion to League Two.

In the Hot Seat

Lee Bowyer has been Charlton Athletic’s manager since September 2018, having previously served as the club’s caretaker manager since March 2018, stepping up from being assistant manager following the departure of Karl Robinson.

At the end of the 2017/18 season, Bowyer led the Addicks to the League One Play-Offs, though his side was defeated 2-0 on aggregate by Shrewsbury Town.

Bowyer would have greater success at the end of his first full season at the Valley, however, and led the side to promotion as Charlton Athletic returned to the Sky Bet Championship following a three-year absence from the division.

Prior to his managerial career, Canning Town-born Bowyer enjoyed a professional playing career spanning nearly 20 years, with notable spells at Leeds United and Birmingham City, winning the Football League Cup with the latter in 2011.

Player Links

Several players have made appearances for both Cardiff City and Charlton Athletic in recent years, including former City captain Mark Hudson. The Guildford-born defender made 43 league appearances for the Addicks in the 2008/09 season, before moving to South Wales in time for the following campaign.

Whilst playing at CCS, Hudson made 144 league appearances for the Club, and captained the Bluebirds as they were promoted to the Premier League at the end of the 2012/13 season.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink moved from Charlton Athletic to Cardiff City following the 2006/07 season. Playing in the Championship, the Dutch international made 36 league appearances during his sole season at Ninian Park, scoring seven goals in the process.

Hasselbaink also appeared regularly in City's FA Cup run that season, including the Final played at Wembley Stadium against Portsmouth.