We discussed the hosts ahead of their first home league game of the season .... After a narrow 2-1 loss at newly promoted Bournemouth on the opening day, where they were not helped by the dismissal of midfielder Bradley Pritchard (42-3-12 last season), the Addicks got off the mark with a 4-0 demolition of Oxford United here in midweek. The board had earlier released the purse strings to allow boss Chris Powell to sign two strikers, Simon Church of Reading and Marvin Sordell on a loan deal from Bolton Wanderers, this was a real staement of intent IMO. Charlton have been very careful with money in recent years and this was pretty big business for them, Church fell out of favour during the Royals promotion season, but did score seven goals that season, Sordell is an England U21 international, scored eight for Wanderers last season and made a big name for himself at Watford in the Championship. Both are still young, 24 and 22 and looking to re-make a name for themselves, Church is already off the mark with a brace of goals in midweek . Yann Kermorgant (32-12-9) was their sole out and out striker previously, he scored at Bournemouth and now Powell has hugely increased and potent looking offensive options. He will also be hugely plesed with the likely return of club captain Johnnie Jackson (43-12-3) to midfield, he sat out the first two, but has trained this week and is expected to return.

They lost that 1-0 to Middlesbrough and have since drawn 2-2 at Barnsley and lost 3-2 at Hudderfield Town in the cup on Tuesday. The latter was an impressive performance in many ways, boss Chris Powell made eight changes to his team and went with a 3-5-2 formation that they have been looking at in training after not using it recently. Not 100% sure that they will stick with that today, but it makes sense and gives them greater options and enables them to be able to keep two strikers on the pitch whilst making changes in other areas. The inspirational Jackson (see above) made his first start in midweek and unless there has been a major reaction and there was no sign yesterday, he will play today, he is key and they are just so much better with him in the middle. The temptation will be go with the five across the middle again this afternoon as they used it in both matches with City last year with great success, taking all six points and dominating what remains a young Foxes midfield. City have started well and are unbeaten in six , but have had to come from behind in three, conceded in four and in the other two, struggled to produce any real end product against a well organised Leeds United and were outplayed for long periods by Derby County. I just do not agree with the odds today, I could accept this as a coinflip, maybe even with City as very marginal favourites, but not sub 1.70 with the draw no bet option . 1.5 units Charlton Athletic level ball 2.38 asian line/Ibramarket.

Good Luck.