Charlton Athletic have recently battled for form, dropping down the Championship standings.
Following their late winner against West Bromwich Albion at The Valley in early November, the Addicks were in the play-offs and on a five-game unbeaten run in the second division.
Nathan Jones’ club is now 19th in the Championship table, barely six points clear of the relegation zone, and has suffered five successive defeats, conceding 14 goals and scoring only three.
Charlton host Birmingham City away from home this Saturday, which will be a difficult encounter, especially given that the Blues have only lost once in the league at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park this season, and they were reduced to ten men in the defeat to Hull City.
Jones must find a way to change the tide at The Valley; else, the Addicks risk being relegated to League One at the conclusion of the season.
Charlton Athletic may face a battle to avoid relegation.
We asked Chris Woodward, our Charlton fan commentator, what he thinks is required for the Addicks to break out of their present slump, and whether he believes the January transfer window will be critical to their survival.
Chris has urged Charlton to add defensive cover at centre-back and left wing-back, while another forward may be a welcome addition to a team that has struggled for goals recently.
As a result, with fears of relegation growing despite a solid start to life back in the Championship, the Addicks will understand how much depends on the success of next month’s transfer window.
“Six gameweeks ago, we looked like we could be dark horses for the play-offs after a late winner against West Brom,” Chris recalled.
“Right now, it appears that we are in a relegation struggle.
“I am not too concerned with the results, given that we have played Coventry, Stoke, Middlesbrough, an in-form Wrexham, and a Southampton squad that has found its feet under new management.
“However, the performance of such results has not been satisfactory. Some teams require specific players to play a certain way, and that includes having a left-wing back who can tuck in and play left-back in possession.
“Due to injuries, we don’t have that right now, so we can’t play the way we want. Over the last five games, we’ve attempted three or four different formations, as well as many different players in different positions, and we haven’t looked particularly well, save from 30 minutes at Coventry.
“That was until Amari’i Bell, who had recently recovered from an injury, was hurt again.
“I believe the majority of the fandom has reached the same conclusion: we either need our injured players to return, or we need the January window, which appears to be the closest option at the moment.
“We have demonstrated that when we are totally fit and playing the way we want to, we can comfortably compete at this level; nevertheless, one or two injuries can cause the entire system and style of play to fail.
“The good news is that we know what we need to do in January to improve our condition. If we can find another real left-wing back, more cover at centre-half to give our existing centre-backs a break, and possibly another pushing forward, I am certain that we can turn this awful form around.
“We have already found a successful winning formula, it is just about having the players to make it work.”
December fixtures appear vitally significant for Charlton.
While the January transfer window will allow Charlton to strengthen, their run of games going up to the new year could be crucial at the end of the season.
Following their trip to Birmingham this weekend, the Addicks will host Oxford United the following Saturday, visit Norwich City on Boxing Day, and travel to Portsmouth on December 29th.
That means Jones’ side will face three of the five teams now below them in the Championship standings over the next four games, so they must pick up some points.
If Charlton can find form this month, they will be able to take some momentum into January, and if they have a successful transfer window, they may be able to pick up the pace in the second half of the season after their injured players return.
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