Friday, at 19:45, Charlton Athletic receives Doncaster Rovers’ second-hand semifinals in the League One playoffs. The two dreams of the final on Wembley, which can bring them to Championship promotion.
Charlton is far from the glory of the years when the manager in The Valley was Alan Curbishley. However, Londoners dreaming of returning to the forefront and this season they have an excellent chance of promotion. With an exceptional season finale, Charlton defeated Scunthorpe (4-0), Gillingham (2-0) and Rochdale (4-0), ahead of his success with Doncaster, away. Charlton lost a single match straight from the last six, and Friday night we were expecting a tactical duel, decided at the limit, with a first half off.
Doncaster had a hesitant ending and lost the games with Sunderland (0-2) and Accrington (1-2), also drawing with Oxford United (2-2). In the first hand of the Athletic duel in play-off, Doncaster succumbed to Keepmoat Stadium with 1-2, with the goals scored by Taylor (’32) and Aribo (’34). For white-red he scored Blair (’87), which keeps the qualities of Rovers low.
Charlton was one step away from direct promotion, but finished in third place (goal 73-40), three points away from Barnsley. Doncaster caught the play-off in-game and ended the regular season sixth (76-58 Goaver) at a point in front of Peterborough, the season’s unlucky finisher. At this point, Charlton is playing a better football and has a moral solidity after the tour’s success, so there is little chance of seeing a surprise in the London return.
PREDICTION: Charlton to win @ 1,85
