Wednesday night is derby night as Sky Bet Championship football takes place at The Valley when Charlton Athletic host Queens Park Rangers.

Both teams have started the season well with ten points from five games garnered from three wins a draw and a defeat. Only Swansea City, with eleven points, have started better,

On Saturday, the Addicks tasted league defeat for the first time this season when going down four-nil at Stoke City. Their home victories were against Derby County and Preston North End, whilst on the road, they enjoyed a win at West Ham United. Their one draw was at West Bromwich Albion.

Meanwhile, their midweek visitors have won at Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers, before beating Cardiff City at home. Their draw was at home to Bolton Wanderers and their first defeat was also on Saturday when beaten one-nil at home by Middlesbrough.

It has been a rebuilding transfer window for Charlton manager Nathan Jones with eleven signings including three on loan. To balance the books, thirteen have gone, albeit with six going out on loan. The Rangers have six newcomers while fourteen have departed, seven on loan.

As a result, the two teams will have a very different look to the line ups from their last meeting at The Valley which ended in a nil-nil stalemate back in February. Missed chances in a dominant first half almost cost the Addicks dearly when the visitors finished strongly and Charlton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski was forced into making a great save late on having had little to do for most of the game.

Although some of the newcomers at each club are still ‘bedding in’, the promising starts by both clubs suggests that another tight encounter could be on the cards.

Image courtesy of Keith Gillard