Welcome to
Sports Mole's live commentary of
Charlton Athletic vs. Fulham. Could this be the last match of Guy Luzon's managerial reign at Charlton? They're just a point off the relegation zone and a loss today will see the pressure piled further on him to turn things around. For Fulham, an inconsistent start to the season sees them in 15th, and they'll be looking for a morale-boosting victory this afternoon.
TEAM NEWS:Charlton Athletic: Pope; Solly, Diarra, Bauer, Fox; Gudmundsson, Ba, Cousins, McAleny; Watt, Ahearne-Grant Subs: Mitov, Sarr, Holmes-Dennis, Bergdich, Jackson, Moussa, Kennedy
Fulham: Lonergan; Richards, Stearman, Ream, Husband; Christensen, Tunnicliffe, O'Hara, Pringle; McCormack, Dembele Subs: Lewis, Burn, Garbutt, Fredericks, Mattila, Kacaniklic, Woodrow
So straight to the team news then, and Luzon has made four changes to the Charlton team. Alou Diarra, El-Hadji Ba, Karlan Ahearne-Grant and loanee Conor McAleny come into the side.
They've not won for five matches so it's no surprise that they've rung the changes for this one.
Jazz Richards and Lasse Vigen Christensen come in for Fulham, with Ryan Fredericks and Tom Cairney missing out.
Check out Pascal Lemesre's prediction for today's match below:
Charlton started the season really well, with eight points from their opening four matches and two victories in the League Cup. Since then though, they've taken just a point, in an away game against Rotherham United, and that simply isn't good enough for Luzon's side. Today's London derby gives them a chance to kickstart their season once more.
It's hard to tell which Fulham team will turn up today. A
4-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers was followed up with a
3-0 reverse at home to Hull City.
That has to be sorted if Fulham are to climb up the Championship table and a win today will put them four points behind the play-off places.
HEAD TO HEAD:Charlton haven't triumphed over Fulham for 10 years, but Fulham have won at the Valley just once in their last nine attempts. The Lilywhites have won four of the last eight matches between the teams though, and will be in the driving seat for another victory today.
PREDICTION: With just a few minutes to go until kickoff, it's time for a prediction.
I can't disagree with Pascal's prediction of a Fulham win. Charlton have struggled too much of late, and we've seen Fulham play really well at times this season. If that team turns up today, then Fulham will take the points. I'm going for a 2-0 away win.
KICKOFF! Fulham get the game underway and immediately launch the ball forward.
CHANCE! Charlton break immediately and have a superb chance to take the lead after just 27 seconds. McAleny beats the offside trap but his shot goes wide of the left post.
Husband drives down the left and cuts into the Charlton area but is crowded out and Bauer clears. The left back comes back at him though, and this time tries to play in Dembele but the Charlton defence holds firm.
It's been a really quick start to this match. Since McAleny's chance, Fulham have been well on top though. Their slick, quick passing game is causing a few problems for the Addicks.
After a few passes going astray for each side, Gudmundsson has a go from long range and launches the ball over the bar. Very hopeful from the Icelandic but he's scored from that distance before.
Charlton attack down the left, with McAleny proving a danger for Richards, but the ball's eventually cleared for a throw-in which comes to nothing.
Charlton win a free kick 35 yards from goal, and Gudmundsson picks out Diarra, but the centre back can't get enough purchase on his header and Lonergan gathers it with ease.
Gudmundsson picks out Fox on the left by-line and his cross is well placed towards McAleny, but the ball strikes the Everton loanee's chest and it goes harmlessly wide.
Charlton win a corner after Cousins and Solly link up well down the right. Lonergan punches the corner away and the ball is eventually cleared.
Charlton have been in the ascendancy over the last 15 minutes. They haven't created too many chances just yet, but things are looking good for Luzon's side so far.
Another good passage of play from Charlton sees McAleny find Gudmundsson. His cross finds Ahearne-Grant but, just as he was shaping up to shoot, Tim Ream gets back to make the tackle.
CHANCE! Fulham play the ball around midfield before Pringle cuts a diagonal ball to Jazz Richards. The right back takes aim at the top left corner but Pope makes a diving save to keep it out.
CHANCE! Charlton go right up the other end and McAleny's shot from the edge of the area fizzes narrowly past the top corner.
CHANCE! It's all go at the Valley now! O'Hara shoots along the ground from long range, and Pope makes a hash of the save. He manages to fumble the ball past the post though - a let off there for Pope.
A neat passage of play for Fulham, and the ball finds its way to Pringle. His cross is not good enough though, and Pope gathers the ball with ease.
A lovely ball from Ream picks out Christensen, who then finds McCormack but Diarra is able to clear.
GOAL! Charlton Athletic 0-1 Fulham (Ryan Tunnicliffe)
Fulham take the lead! McCormack powers a free kick towards goal, and Pope parries the ball out. Tunnicliffe is there first to fire into the net from seven yards.
Pope really should have done better with that one. He was nearly caught out by O'Hara earlier in the match, and should have held McCormacks' free kick along the ground there.
The pressure's really getting to Pope after that mistake. The young keeper is tested by a cross and his indecision leaves him in no mans land, but the defence help him out.
Ba is played through by Cousins but the assistant's flag goes up. Replays prove that he was at least a yard onside, and he would have been through on goal too.
CHANCE! Tony Watt goes past Richards and plays a low cross across the six-yard box. Ahearne-Grant stretches for the ball but can't quite reach it. A touch was all that was needed there to level the score.
With just a few minutes until the break, a lull in the proceedings sees both teams trading possession in midfield.
Ba's challenge on McCormack is deemed to be a foul on McCormack. It's a harsh decision from the referee, but Fulham have another opportunity.
This time, McCormack plays it right to Pringle, whose cross is easily caught by Pope.
HALF TIME: Charlton Athletic 0-1 Fulham
Fulham look set to get their first win at Charlton since 2003.
Ryan Tunnicliffe won't have had many easier chances to score and he made no mistake to give his team the lead.
Charlton meanwhile are by no means out of this one. There's some positive signs for them, particularly through Gudmundsson and McAleny. The Everton loanee is looking particularly lively down the left wing.
Catch up with the first-half's action with
Sports Mole's
half-time report.
Fulham do just about deserve to be ahead at half time. Richards and O'Hara also came close for the visitors, and they'll be looking to test Pope again in the second half.
KICKOFF! Chalrlton get the game underway and play the ball back to their back four.
CHANCE! It's Tunnicliffe again! He nicks the ball from Cousins on the edge of the area and immediately shoots but Pope punches the ball away and Bauer eventually clears.
Tunnicliffe is running the show at the start of the first half. He plays in McCormack, but his shot is saved.
Charlton aren't seeing a lot of the ball so far this half. Fulham continue to attack down the left but Husband's cross comes to nothing.
Pringle intercepts Ba's pass, and counter-attacks. He finds Dembele who played the ball to the edge of the box and O'Hara's shot flies over the bar.
McAleny plays an excellent diagonal to Gudmundsson, but Watt can't get his head to the cross and the ball goes harmlessly wide. The ex-Celtic man should have done better there.
CHANCE! A Charlton corner is cleared, but Watt retrieves it on the edge of the area. His first effort is blocked by Stearman, and the second goes behind via a deflection by Fox.
CHANCE! Ba has a great chance to put Charlton level when he is played in behind the defend but his shot is straight at Lonergan, who stops it with his legs.
Charlton are knocking on the door now. Watt perhaps should be doing better and has let a few chances go to waste.
CHANCE! Fulham now on the attack, and Dembele curls it past the top right corner from 20 yards.
GOAL! Charlton Athletic 0-2 Fulham (Ross McCormack)
Fulham make Charlton pay for not taking their earlier chances! Tunnicliffe finds McCormack in the penalty area, and his strike across goal beats Pope and nestles into the bottom right corner.
That was McCormack's 100th Championship goal! That's why Fulham paid £11m for him.
FULHAM SUBSTITUTION: Luke Garbutt replaces Ben Pringle.
CHANCE! Christensen ghosts past Cousins far too easily and lays the ball off to McCormack, but Diarra makes the block to deny the striker his second.
BOOKING! Gudmundsson receives a yellow after a heavy challenge on Tim Ream is penalised.
CHARLTON SUBSTITUTION: Zakarya Berdych replaces Morgan Fox and takes his place at left back.
McCormack attacks down the right, and Bergdich's challenge sends him crashing into the advertising hoardings. It sounded like a sore one but McCormack shakes it off.
Charlton really need to create something soon if they're to get anything out of this match. Gudmundsson wastes a corner which goes straight into the arms of Lonergan. Not good enough from Charlton at the moment.
CHARLTON SUBSTITUTION: McAleny is replaced by Franck Moussa. The result could have been so different if McAleny had scored his chance after just 27 seconds.
There's no sign of Charlton turning this one around. Fulham continue to attack but it's absorbed by the Charlton defence.
FULHAM SUBSTITUTION: Dembele is replaced by Cauley Woodrow. The striker will be disappointed not to have found the net today.
Charlton attack through Watt but he's blocked by Stearman. They really need to be more incisive with just 11 minutes remaining.
Charlton win a corner after Gudmundsson's cross is parried over the bar by Lonergan.
CHARLTON SUBSTITUTION: Johnnie Jackson comes on for Ba to try to give Charlton a bit more impetus.
GOAL! Charlton 1-2 Fulham (Johnnie Jackson)
What a substitution! They say you should never make a substitution at a corner, but Luzon has just whacked that theory out of the water. Gudmundsson plays the corner to the near post and Jackson is there to head in with his first touch - game on!
That goal sets up an exciting end to this match. Charlton attack and Cousins hits a long-range shot but it's saved.
Charlton in the ascendancy now, Moussa links up with Jackson, who launces the ball into the box from deep. Stearman can only clear behind and Charlton have a corner.
Moussa gets his head to the corner, but he's unable to replicate Jackson's exploits and the ball goes harmlessly wide.
CHANCE! Cousins plays a great ball to Tony Watt, who turns Husband but his shot is blocked by and Stearman clears.
CHANCE! Straight up the other end Fulham go, and with just one man defending, McCormack tests Pope, who makes the save down low.
CHANCE! Woodrow nearly finishes the job off! Christensen's skill down the right opens up space but Woodrow hits his first-time shot wide.
FULHAM SUBSTITUTION: O'Hara is replaced by Sakari Mattila.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
Charlton win a corner after Richards tackles Moussa on the right by-line...
The cross is cleared, but Ahearne-Grant retrieves it and fires wide.
Jazz Richards makes a brave clearance and clashes heads with Bergdich. Both players are currently receiving treatment.
GOAL! Charlton Athletic 2-2 Fulham (Jordan Cousins)
The comeback is complete! Cousins meets a cross perfectly to power it into the net. What a comeback from Charlton - what an end to this match.
CHANCE! Watt nearly grabs a winner, picking up a long ball forward, but a last-ditch tackle from Stearman comes in just as he is shaping up to shoot.
FULL TIME: Charlton Athletic 2-2 Fulham
Grandstand finish! Just as Fulham looked like they would be easing to victory a few late goals give Charlton a terrific point.
It is only one point for Charlton, but that could be the point that they use as a catalyst to kickstart their season. Incredible stuff.
Fulham remain 13th and are six points behind the play-off places. Charlton move up to 17th and will surely have the belief that they can move up the table after that.
That's all folks! It was worth the wait after a quiet first half, so thanks for joining me.
The Merseyside derby is now underway. Keep up with that one by clicking here.