Playoff candidates meet on Saturday afternoon when Charlton Athletic entertain Barnsley at The Valley.

With only the top three teams in League One emerging victorious in more matches this season than Michael Duff's side, The Tykes have been in a determined mood for an immediate return to the Championship.

Meanwhile, The Addicks will need to replicate their visitors' current form to stand any chance of joining the South Yorkshire-based side in the second tier of English football next season.

Match preview

Charlton Athletic have underperformed this season, trailing Barnsley, who occupy the final playoff position, by nine points.

Currently languishing in 12th position in the League One standings, Dean Holden's side have recorded more defeats than victories in an increasingly-frustrating season for Addicks supporters.

Following a 3-1 win over Portsmouth on New Year's Day, courtesy of strikes from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Scott Fraser and an Owen Dale own goal, Charlton were again celebrating another three-point haul six days later after a 2-1 victory over Lincoln City.

However, despite an encouraging performance at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, a late second-half brace from Marcus Rashford secured a 3-0 victory for the English football heavyweights.

With momentum finally being rediscovered in The Addicks' dressing room, Holden will hope his side can convey that energy into their match this weekend.

On the back of relegation from the Championship last season, Barnsley have been in imposing form throughout the first half of the season.

Despite being 12 points adrift of the final automatic position, Michael Duff's side have played a solitary match less than one of their playoff adversaries but two fewer than most of their other rivals.

After overcoming Fleetwood Town on December 29, the South Yorkshire-based outfit have suffered successive defeats across all competitions in the last 14 days.

The Tykes' mini-footballing collapse began when Bolton Wanderers left Oakwell Stadium with a hat-trick of goals and all three points on January 2. Then, with one eye on the league, Barnsley were knocked out of the third round of the FA Cup by Derby County by the same scoreline.

In the wake of victory in the last meeting between the sides on September 24, the visitors will likely believe that despite suffering consecutive losses, they can return to Yorkshire with all three points.

Team News

After being rested against Manchester United, Craig MacGillivray should return in goal for Charlton Athletic after Ashley Maynard-Brewer was handed the opportunity at Old Trafford.

On the back of only making one change to the side that were victorious over Lincoln City, manager Dean Holden could name a similar-looking side that began the midweek encounter.

Despite shipping three goals at Old Trafford, Sean Clare, Ryan Inniss, Lucas Ness and Steven Sessegnon are all expected to line up as MacGillivray's last line of defence at The Valley.

Barnsley will be without Mads Andersen after his dismissal against Bolton Wanderers, with on-loan Fulham defender Ziyad Larkeche likely to take the place of the suspended Danish defender.

Following on from finding the back of the net on seven occasions so far this season, Devante Cole will again lead the line for The Tykes' line alongside James Norwood.

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Clare, Ness, Inniss, Sessegnon; Dobson, Fraser, Morgan; Blackett-Taylor, Rak-Sakyi, Leaburn

Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Collins; Cundy, Larkeche, Kitching; Connell, Williams, Cadden, Wolfe, Kane; Norwood, Cole

We say: Charlton Athletic 2-3 Barnsley

With aspirations of taking full advantage of their current games in hand, we predict that Barnsley will edge out an end-to-end five-goal thriller at The Valley.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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