Charlton – Stoke City

Match analysis

Charlton host Stoke City in what promises to be a tightly contested league fixture, with the home side perched in seventh place on 12 points after three wins, three draws and a single loss, and a modest 6‑7 goal difference. Stoke sit three places lower in tenth, having gathered 10 points from three victories, one draw and three defeats, their scoring and conceding perfectly balanced at 11 apiece. The narrow gap in the table means a win for Charlton could propel them into the top six, while Stoke will be eager to close the two‑point deficit and climb back into the European spots. Historically the two clubs have traded blows evenly this season, so the encounter is likely to be decided by fine margins rather than outright dominance.