Charlton v Wycombe

Although a play-off finish would have been considered a great result for Wycombe before a ball had been kicked in 2024/25, the season could have promised so much more. For so long, they found themselves in the automatic promotionThere is everything still to play for heading into the second leg of this League One play-off semi-final contest following a largely forgetful 0-0 draw in leg one on Sunday. Neither Charlton nor Wycombe managed to conjure up an xG above 0.60, which is a strong indicator of how that match played out.

It was a case of both defences being firmly on top at Adams Park. That was hardly any real great surprise considering only Birmingham, Wrexham and Wigan conceded fewer goals in the regulation season than Athletic and Wanderers. However, something will have to give for one of these to reach the Wembley final next weekend.

The first leg was the third season head-to-head meeting and Nathan Jones’ side managed to extend their unbeaten streak against their rivals. The Addicks have recorded two wins and of course a draw over the campaign, including keeping two clean sheets.

⭐ Charlton v Wycombe Best Bet

➡️ Back Matt Godden to have 1+ Shot on Target and Commit 1+ Fouls @ 1.80 with bet365

Matt Godden is one of the top scorers in League One with 18 goals and is far and away clear of the second-highest scorer in the Charlton squad. Therefore, there is big pressure and expectancy on the striker to ultimately deliver the goods in attack. He certainly has done so recently having returned eight goals from his last 11 appearances. Clearly he is a major goal threat and he has produced at least one shot on target in nine straight games.

Something else the 33-year-old former Coventry City man has done in his last nine is commit a minimum of one foul. In fact, his average foul count over his sequence is 1.88 per match. It is something of an occupational hazard being a centre forward, particularly if you play in a side that plays quite a direct style of play. Godden will be expected to compete for headers and close down in the channels, which is often a good way for opposition defenders to essentially buy a free kick.

👕 Charlton v Wycombe Predicted XI

🔍 Charlton v Wycombe Players to Watch

🔵 Xavier Simons

The on-loan Hull central midfielder was actually a regular starter for his parent club in the Championship a little earlier in the season but he really excelled in this temporary switch to Wanderers. He offers a calming presence in possession but he is also more than prepared to get stuck into the action. This all-action approach is why he is enjoying a run in Mike Dodds’ side after signing very late in the mid-season transfer window.

The 22-year-old has made 13 starts since linking up with the club and in ten of those he has committed at least one foul, and a minimum of two on three occasions. With him again in line to start at the heart of the midfield and likely play long minutes at least, he should again make himself heard in that respective battle.

He can attract the attention of the referee in the form of fouls but he is no stranger to cleanly regaining possession and getting his team back on the ball. There have been six matches when he has managed to do so and considering his side are playing away at a Charlton side in great form, especially at home, he will have to get involved in the action. Charlton are likely to be doing more of the attacking, so Simons will be put under pressure. He should be back to win at least one duel, which is all that is needed.

➡️ Back Xavier Simons to Commit 1+ Foul @ 2.40 with bet365

🔴 Josh Edwards

It was through his performances in Scotland with Dunfermline that led to Josh Edwards earning a move to Charlton last summer and he really has made the left back spot his own. His manager is clearly pleased with his contributions and the fact he has chipped in with six goal involvements in league action this season is a decent return.

He isn’t necessarily a regular goal threat for the Addicks but very few left backs are. However, he is someone that tends to pop up at unexpected moments, meaning he is always a decent shout for a shot on goal at an attractive price. There have only been nine League One clashes in which he has had a shot this season, however one of those was in the first leg at Wycombe and in four of those he had two or more shots. It is quite a quirky statistic but considering Wycombe are so strong defensively, Charlton may look to other more untraditional avenues towards goal to try and break the deadlock.

➡️ Back Josh Edwards to have 1+ Shots @ 2.37 with bet365

📂 Charlton v Wycombe Cheat Sheet

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💻 Charlton v Wycombe Form and Tactics

Charlton deserve obvious credit for their defensive capabilities but there is so much more to admire about Jones’ side. They have had to be very clinical in front of goal. This is a team that has reached the play-offs despite their cumulative xG in League One being ranked 11th. This is highlighted even further as they average 4.50 shots on target, which can only be bettered by four other teams at their level. Also, only Lincoln and Exeter netted more goals on set pieces, so this has also proved to be a handy weapon for The Addicks to exploit to their advantage.

That being said, it is still hard to ignore how effective Charlton, who last played in the Championship in 2019/20, with regards to their defensive output. Only top-two Birmingham and Wrexham achieved more clean sheets than they did, but they are joint-top with Birmingham for average possessions won in the final third. This proves they won’t just sit deep behind the ball and are prepared to press high. This may give them an even greater edge playing at home, where they are unbeaten in 15 in all competitions, of which 12 ended in wins.

Wycombe may have ended the regular season winning three of their last five away from home but that doesn’t tell the entire story. The reality is that The Chairboys lost five of their six away contests against top-seven opponents, including at Charlton. This paints a picture of the task they have at hand in the second leg. It is somewhat of a mystery when considering they were joint-second in League One for average shots in away encounters (11.7).

Wanderers play in a style designed to work the ball into the final third quickly. Only champions Birmingham managed to get more touches in the opponents’ box than Mike Dodds’ outfit. This is a team that will do whatever it takes to get a result. It is certainly not a case of style over substance. Wycombe are ranked mid-table in the division based on average possession and they have a bottom-half record for successful pass completion, so they’ll mix it up.

🏁 Charlton v Wycombe Ref Watch

• Referee: Dean Whitestone

• Stats are on a per 90 basis and are taken from Whinestone's games in all competitions (28 total)

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* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.