A final-day dead rubber in League One, Charlton Athletic and Burton Albion collide at The Valley in gameweek 46 on Saturday afternoon.

The Addicks already have one eye on their imminent playoff scrap, while the Brewers have come up trumps in the relegation dogfight and will play third-tier football again next season.

Match preview

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Thanks to a trio of successive wins over Cambridge United, Northampton Town and Wycombe Wanderers either side of Easter, Charlton's post-season place had already been secured before a jaunt to Wrexham, where their fleeting automatic promotion hopes were extinguished.

Two stunning finishes from Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith in the first half saw Wrexham take the tie by the scruff of the neck early doors, before Smith's second of the afternoon both confirmed the hosts' ascent to the Championship and ended Charlton's six-match unbeaten sequence.

A top-two finish would have still been out of Charlton's hands had they spoiled Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds's promotion party, though, and Jones's side can take some consolation from the fact that their fifth-placed standing is the lowest that they could end up.

A podium placement is not mathematically out of the question for the Addicks either, but as third-placed Stockport County face fourth-placed Wycombe Wanderers on the final day, Charlton must pray for a draw in that contest while they pummel Burton by at least six goals to sneak into the bronze medal position.

While that scenario is undoubtedly highly fanciful, Jones's men have scored multiple goals in eight of their last nine League One home matches and have avoided defeat in each of their last 14 since a shock loss to Crawley Town in early December.

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While Charlton came out second best in a pivotal promotion fight last time out, Burton coming up trumps in a critical relegation scrap with Cambridge United on April 26 proved vital for the Brewers' prospects of remaining in the third tier for 2025-26.

Needing just a point against shot-shy Wigan Athletic in midweek to confirm their League One status for the new campaign, the Brewers claimed the draw that was required to stave off the drop, albeit one that may have been tinged with disappointment.

Gary Bowyer's men were seconds away from victory thanks to Rumarn Burrell's 11th goal of the campaign, only for Ronan Darcy to pop up with a 96th-minute leveller for the Latics, although that sucker-punch did not make a difference to the relegation picture.

Four points clear of Bristol Rovers and Crawley Town with only three left to fight for, Burton's survival mission has been a success, and there is little pressure on the visitors to snap a three-game winless run on the road before the final whistle blows on a turbulent campaign.

The Brewers also gave Charlton a good run for their money at the Pirelli Stadium earlier this term, but the Addicks nevertheless triumphed 1-0 in that November matchup and have never failed to score at home against their 20th-placed counterparts.

Team News

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Charlton boss Jones took a risk by starting defender Lloyd Jones against Wrexham, as the Addicks' number five - who has just been named in the League One Team of the Season - was not at full fitness and had to come off just eight minutes into the second half.

With little on the line this weekend, Jones could be spared alongside Thierry Small and Luke Berry, both of whom were absent from the trip to the Racecourse Ground due to minor problems.

From possible absentees to a guaranteed omission, striker Chuks Aneke will serve the second of a three-match ban, having been sent off for violent conduct in the recent win over Wycombe.

On Burton's end, neither Ryan Sweeney nor Charlie Webster were able to complete the full 90 minutes against Wigan, and there is no need for Bowyer to risk either man on Saturday if they are not at 100%.

However, Webster's spot in the number 10 slot could be filled by the returning JJ McKiernan, who is back from a one-game suspension served in the midweek draw after being dismissed for two bookable offences against Cambridge.

Kyran Lofthouse (unspecified) is back in contention too, but Geraldo Bajrami (ACL) is still in the care of the medical team.

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Mannion; Ramsey, McIntyre, Mitchell, Edwards; Coventry, Docherty; Watson, Gilbert, Campbell; Kanu

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Armer, Delap, Sraha; Forde, Williams, Chauke, Bennett; McKiernan; Burrell, Tavares

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We say: Charlton Athletic 3-1 Burton Albion

The shackles could come off on Saturday, as both sides are safe in the knowledge that nothing they can - or cannot - do will have any major impact on their end-of-season standing.

Jones's men could do with regaining some momentum before the playoffs take precedence, though, and the Addicks have our vote to continue their goal-laden displays at home with a routine success on the final day.


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

Written by
Ben Knapton

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