Dean Holden will go in search of a first victory as Charlton Athletic manager on Thursday, when they travel to take on Oxford United.

The new boss began his reign with a draw against Peterborough United on Boxing Day, extending the Addicks' wait for a return to winning ways in League One, while their hosts are also four matches without a victory in England's third tier.

Match preview

Oxford United come into Thursday's game hoping to end a four-game winless run in League One and climb back towards the top half of the table, having recently dropped to 15th spot.

Karl Robinson's side managed six victories from their opening 18 third-tier outings, with a 4-0 thrashing of Port Vale in mid-November leaving them on 23 points, but they were unable to add another notch to their wins column in the following games against Forest Green Rovers and Accrington Stanley, as they were pegged back to 1-1 draws in each.

The U's then had to settle for a point in an impressive display away at third-placed Sheffield Wednesday, as Josh Murphy was denied from the penalty spot deep into injury time, before they faced another tough test away at second-placed Ipswich Town on Boxing Day.

Hoping to extend an unbeaten run and return to winning ways at Portman Road, Robinson's men did not enjoy a strong start, as they went into half time two goals down, and a finish from Conor Chaplin in the final 10 minutes saw Oxford condemned to a 3-0 beating.

Having now dropped to 15th spot, with the unbeaten streak turned into a winless one, they will be desperate to put a victory on the board on Thursday in their bid to bridge a three-point gap to the top half of the division.

They take on a Charlton Athletic side who began a new era under the management of Dean Holden on Boxing Day after the departure of Ben Garner at the beginning of December.

He was dismissed after an FA Cup defeat away at fourth-tier Stockport County and with the Addicks sat on just 24 points from 20 league games, but caretaker manager Anthony Hayes was unable to improve their standing in the division as he oversaw a 2-1 loss to Bristol Rovers, before they were able to build a degree of confidence with a penalty shootout win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup round of 16 after a goalless draw in normal time.

The new boss then took charge on Boxing Day, as the London club aimed to break a six-game winless run in League One at home to an out-of-sorts Peterborough United side, and after the teams went into the interval level, Miles Leaburn broke the deadlock and put Charlton ahead in the 49th minute.

Jonson Clarke-Harris drew their visitors level soon after the hour mark, and the Addicks were unable to find another goal at the Valley, instead having to settle for a point.

That result saw Chalton move up to 17th spot in England's third tier, and now sitting just a point behind their hosts, Holden will be encouraged that his side can quickly climb the division if they are able to end their winless run and turn their form around.

Team News

Oxford United winger Yanic Wildschut recently returned from a long-term injury to feature off the bench in their last two matches, and he may come in from the start on Thursday, with Robinson likely to make several changes after their heavy defeat to Ipswich.

Cameron Brannagan will certainly continue to play an important role, though, having netted a team-high tally of nine goals in all competitions from midfield so far this season, and he will likely be joined by Marcus McGuane in the engine room, with the likes of Marcus Browne and Billy Bodin set to play attacking roles in a 4-2-3-1 setup.

First-choice goalkeeper Simon Eastwood missed out on the Ipswich contest due to a calf issue, and if his absence continues, Ed McGinty will again play between the sticks.

Charlton are also without their stopper, as Joe Wollacott continues to miss out through injury, and Ashley Maynard-Brewer will continue to play in his place.

Miles Leaburn will again lead the line, after impressing in Holden's first game with his fifth league goal of the season, while experienced frontman Jayden Stockley is vying to join him from the outset after coming off the bench last time out.

The likes of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Charlie Kirk are also fighting to come into attacking roles, while George Dobson and Scott Fraser should again partner up in the engine room in front of the back three of Sam Lavelle, Ryan Inniss and Lucas Ness.

Oxford United possible starting lineup:
McGinty; Long, Moore, Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan; Wildschut, Browne, Bodin; Taylor

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Maynard-Brewer; Lavelle, Inniss, Ness; Clare, Dobson, Fraser, Sessegnon; Payne, Leaburn, Rak-Sakyi

We say: Oxford United 1-2 Charlton Athletic

Both teams are struggling for form in the league, but the introduction of Holden may have a positive effect on the visitors after an opening draw, and we see them being boosted and ending their winless run on Thursday.

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