CHARLTON boss Alan Pardew has seen his side recover from a poor start to their Championship campaign, after they were held to a disappointing draw on the opening day to relegation strugglers Scunthorpe United, and then lost their second league fixture to fellow promotion hopefuls Stoke City.

But since then Charlton have won 14 times, which has fired last year's fellow Premier League relegation victims up to fifth - seven points behind the leaders Watford. 

In the summer, Charlton lost both of their Bent's, Darren and Marcus. Darren Bent was signed by Tottenham for £16.5m, while Marcus Bent left in late August on a season long loan at Wigan Athletic.

In the January transfer window Pardew's men lost playmaker Andy Reid to Sunderland in a £4m switch. While in exchange they recruited ex-Colchester defender Greg Halford on loan from Roy Keane's side and ex-Hornet Lee Cook too joined the Addicks on loan.

TEAM NEWS

Charlton look likely to line-up in a 4-4-2 formation tomorrow (Saturday). In attack is likely to be Andy Gray, who was Pardew's first signing of 2008, and Luke Varney who has scored seven goals so far for the Addicks. Varney arrived from Crewe Alexandra last summer in a £2m switch to the Valley.

Former Newcastle and England under 21 winger Darren Ambrose is likely to start, alongside joint Charlton top goal scorer Zheng Zhi, in midfield. Ambrose was impressive in the 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road last month and is likely to be a creative threat in midfield. Long serving Matt Holland and trainee Lloyd Sam are also likely to feature in midfield.

Charlton's boss Alan Pardew

Charlton are likely to keep the same flat back four for the second consecutive game, as Jonathan Fortune, Patrick McCarthy, Halford, and Kelly Youga push for the first eleven. While goalkeeper Nicky Weaver will look to keep his third clean sheet in as many matches, in what will be his 36th game of the season.

The Addicks have no suspensions for the visit of the Golden Boys while Chris Dickson is sidelined with a knee injury.

Defender Ben Thatcher is back in training but has not yet played any competitive football and is unlikey to feature.

Cook, on loan at the Valley for the remainder of the season, is pushing for a place after making a cameo in the midweek game at Sheffield Wednesday.

Cook is on loan from Fulham after struggling to make an impact at the Cottage due to a knee and then a hip injury, since his switch last summer from London neighbours QPR.

HEAD TO HEAD

Charlton have the advantage in previous meetings between the two promotion contenders, with 20 wins compared to Watford's 16 wins, with a remaining 21 draws.

The Addicks will hope to perform their heroics that saw them beet Watford in the 1986/87 season, the final scoreline that day was 4-3.

Watford legend Luther Blissett, was on duty that day, but couldn't earn Watford a point or even better in front of the 4,958 spectator's.

Blissett scored against the Addicks, Steve Sims netted his only goal of the season from the spot and top scorer that year, Mark Falco, completed the scoring for Watford that day. 

LAST TIME THE TEAMS MET

Despite a good record of goals between the two sides, the last time the teams met it was in a tight 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road, where Nathan Ellington's first goal for Watford wasn't a game winning one due to a Darren Ambrose strike with 12 minutes left.

HORNETSBET

Watford - 8/5
Draw - 9/4
Charlton - 6/4

Scorecast

Watford to win 4-1 and Lloyd Doyley to score first goal - 3300/1.

PLACE YOUR BET AND HELP THE CLUB