Karen Hill’s side travel to the VBS Community Stadium this Sunday for an eagerly anticipated south-London derby against Crystal Palace, kicking off at 2pm (GMT).
MATCH PREVIEW | Charlton vs Crystal Palace
Charlton will travel to the VBS Community Stadium this weekend for a meeting with third-place Crystal Palace. With only two points separating the Addicks and the Eagles, Karen Hills’ side will be hoping to pull off a league double against their rivals after a 3-2 triumph at home in November.
Despite a determined mid-week performance from the Addicks in the Continental Cup, Charlton narrowly missed out on a place in the competition’s quarter-finals after a 2-1 defeat to WSL-outfit Brighton.
Both Melisa Filis and Gracie Pearse are available to return to the squad after being cup-tied for Wednesday evening's game.
Former London City midfielder Hayley Nolan opened the scoring for Crystal Palace against her old teammates last Sunday as the Eagles walked away with their first three league points of the new year. Elise Hughes’ 92nd-minute strike confirmed victory for the Eagles, as the forward netted her 13th goal of the Championship season.
Palace faced London City again in the Conti Cup on Wednesday evening but were subject to a 2-1 defeat and exit from the competition despite an early lead from Hughes.
During the Eagles’ visit to The Valley earlier this season, it was substitute Melissa Johnson who secured a 76th-minute match-winner for the Addicks with her first touch of the game, after first-half goals from Angela Addison and Kayleigh Green.
A Johnson goal proved to be the difference yet again in the Addicks’ most recent visit to Crystal Palace, with the striker doubling Charlton’s advantage on the stroke of half-time after Emily Simpkins’ early penalty. A second-half goal for Eagle Felicity Gibbons reduced the deficit, but Palace ended on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline at Selhurst Park.
