Preview: Accrington Stanley vs. Charlton Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Charlton Athletic will look to put an end to a six-game league winless run on Saturday, when they travel to take on Accrington Stanley.

A difficult spell of form has seen the Addicks drop to 16th spot in the League One table, while their hosts are six points better off and occupy the final place in the top half.

Match preview

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Accrington Stanley's recent form has been an accurate representation of their season as a whole, inconsistent but more than adequate given their situation.

Finding themselves in a battle to finish in the top half, John Coleman's side have won three of their last six games while losing the other three.

Their most recent victory came at the end of February, as they came back from behind to defeat promotion-chasing Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 thanks to goals from Korede Adedoyin, Ross Sykes and Harry Pell, but they were brought crashing back down last time out.

Coleman's men travelled to Portsmouth on Saturday, and, despite the hosts playing with 10 men for 70 minutes after Marcus Harness's early red card, they suffered a 4-0 thrashing.

Accy will now hope to bounce back from that demoralising defeat to maintain their spot in the top half, as the Lancashire outfit look to replicate last season's 12th-placed finish in England's third tier.

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They welcome a Charlton Athletic side starved of victories, as the visitors make the trip looking to break a six-game winless run.

With their hopes of a high finish gone by the halfway stage of the campaign, the Addicks will have hoped for a strong ending under Johnnie Jackson to lay foundations for a promotion push next season, but they have been unable to sustain any long runs of positive form.

The Valley outfit head into Saturday's trip having won just a single point from their last six outings, with the first five of those being defeats as they fell to Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, Oxford United, MK Dons and Sheffield Wednesday.

In that time, the Addicks conceded 12 goals whilst only scoring twice at the other end, but they were, at least, able to sure up their back line last time out, as they broke the losing run courtesy of a goalless draw with Sunderland.

Jackson's men will now look to build on the positives of that performance to earn a much-needed victory on Saturday with the chance to reverse their fortunes and climb towards a stronger mid-table finish.

Team News

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After a convincing defeat to 10 men last time out, John Coleman may look to make changes to his Accrington side, with the likes of Harry Pell, Korede Adedoyin and Tommy Leigh vying for starts.

Colby Bishop should keep his place in the front line, having hit eight league goals this season, while Ethan Hamilton also has six goals from midfield.

Despite injuries to Conor Washington and Chuks Aneke, Johnnie Jackson still has several forwards to choose between, and, with Charlton having failed to score in any of their last four matches, he may opt to bring Jonathan Leko back into the starting XI.

The Birmingham City loanee could be given the nod to start alongside target man Jayden Stockley, while Alex Gilbey is likely to return to the midfield.

George Dobson has been a star man in the centre throughout the season, and the 24-year-old will continue to play a key role.

Sam Lavelle, Jason Pearce and Chris Gunter form an experienced back three in front of goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray.

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:

Savin; Sykes, Nottingham, Amankwah; Adedoyin, Pell, Butcher, McConville; Hamilton; Bishop, Woods

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:

MacGillivray; Lavelle, Pearce, Gunter; Jaiyesimi, Gilbey, Dobson, Purrington; Lee; Stockley, Leko

We say: Accrington Stanley 1-2 Charlton Athletic

While a stalemate may seem likely in this meeting, Accrington's positive approach means they usually come out as either triumphant winners or heavy losers, and we have a feeling they will fall short.

Charlton have certainly been off the pace this season, but an improved result last time out may at least inspire a slight uplift, and they still boast the quality to get over the line this weekend.