Championship: Stuttering Charlton face Fulham as both seek revival

In Sunday’s early Championship kick-off, Guy Luzon’s stuttering Charlton Athletic welcome fellow under-performers Fulham to The Valley hoping to overturn their fixture misery, having failed to overcome their opponents since December 2004.

The hosts are currently enduring a torrid run of form in England’s second tier, despite making an encouraging start to the campaign, with the Addicks suffering five consecutive domestic games without a win, including four defeats.

Although, they will be slightly spurred on by the visitors’ recent failings, with Kit Symons’ Cottagers coming into the clash on the back of a disappointing 3-0 loss to Wolves, and Charlton are 8/5 with Coral to capitalise by gaining three points.

With both sides coming into their latest domestic encounter off the back of losses, and the previous meeting at The Valley having finished 1-1, another share of the spoils can be backed at 23/10, while Fulham are 17/10 to get back on track with a win.

Both Charlton and Fulham bosses have recently been critical of their own sides’ performances during those defeats last time out, with Luzon blaming a lack of commitment for Charlton’s loss at the hands of Cardiff City.

“It’s very difficult and we are very disappointed,” stated Luzon. “We were leading 1-0 and we need to show character to keep the result and to keep the clean sheet.

“It was very disappointing to concede so soon after we scored and, from set-pieces, we need to show commitment. You need to be first to the ball, but they were first to the ball and in the end, we paid for it.

“Of course, I expect them to win the duel and to take the first ball. They won every duel from set-pieces and we paid for it.”

In last season’s match-up at The Valley, Fulham’s Scottish attacking danger Ross McCormack opened proceedings, and the in-form skipper is 11/2 to do so again in his latest outing, having already netted six times in all competitions this term.

Iceland international Johann Berg Gudmundsson recently helped his country secure a historic spot in France for Euro 2016 and, having struck past the Addicks on home soil last term, the 24-year-old is 14/5 to dispatch another anytime.

Only three positions and two points separate these two teams in the Championship table, with Charlton sitting haplessly below their opposition in 17th, though both will see their latest meeting as a chance to revive domestic form and fortunes.

Betting tip: Ross McCormack to score first @ 11/2