Preview: Cheltenham Town vs. Charlton Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Cheltenham Town and Charlton Athletic will do battle on Saturday as both sides look to break concerning winless runs in League One.

After three straight defeats, the visitors sit 14th in the table, while their hosts are just a point better off in 13th spot.

Match preview

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After returning to England's third tier for the first time in 12 years, Cheltenham Town enjoyed a relatively commendable start to the season, but they now head into Saturday still in search of a first victory since November.

Following back-to-back wins over Shrewsbury Town and Gillingham, Michael Duff's side have failed to win any of their last seven games in League One, collecting just four points in the process.

They will now hope to turn a corner, though, having built the foundations with consecutive draws, firstly bouncing back from two defeats by holding promotion-chasing Oxford United to a 1-1 stalemate away from home.

The Robins made it back-to-back 1-1 draws on Saturday as Callum Wright's opener against Burton Albion was cancelled out by a Daniel Jebbison equaliser, and they will look to build on those more positive results by securing an elusive win on Saturday to climb back away from the bottom end of the table.

They meet a Charlton side in a similar situation, as the Valley outfit aim to put an end to a three-game league losing run.

Following a poor start to the season for Saturday's visitors, former Addicks midfielder Johnnie Jackson took over as caretaker manager, and after a successful spell producing nine wins from 13 games, he was given the job on a permanent basis.

Things have not gone to plan since, though, as an opening win over Cambridge United has been followed by five straight defeats in all competitions, including three losses in league action, firstly falling to Wycombe Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle.

Wednesday's result will be the most concerning of the lot for the visitors, as they travelled to strugglers Crewe Alexandra and left empty-handed as Mason Burstow's 80th-minute effort was not enough to salvage a result after Jackson's men trailed 2-0 in the first half.

Having now dropped to 14th spot in England's third tier, with the initial targets set on a strong top-half finish, the Addicks will be desperate to correct their form and climb back up the League One table sooner rather than later, beginning with what would be a vital away victory on Saturday.

Team News

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While Cheltenham recently acquired Tottenham Hotspur prospect Kion Etete on loan, the forward will miss out on Saturday's game through injury.

Instead, the line should again be led by Alfie May, who has netted seven league goals so far this term.

Charlton forward Jayden Stockley will continue to spend time on the sidelines due to an injury, leaving Conor Washington and Jonathan Leko to lead the line for the Addicks.

The front two should again be supported by Elliot Lee, with George Dobson and Alex Gilbey trusted to handle business in the centre of Jackson's system.

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Evans; Raglan, Pollock, Long; Blair, Wright, Thomas, Sercombe, Hussey; May, Nlundulu

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Clare, Pearce, Famewo; Jaiyesimi, Dobson, Gilbey, Purrington; Lee; Leko, Washington

We say: Cheltenham Town 1-2 Charlton Athletic

With both sides equally struggling for confidence and form, this could come down to fine margins, and Charlton possess the core ability to squeeze over the line on Saturday.

Jackson will be hoping for a reaction from his squad, and they should have just enough to make a return to winning ways against a Cheltenham side far from the peak of their powers.

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