CHARLTON made a promising start to the league season with a 2-0 win at home to Swansea City last Saturday.

Despite the scoreline it was not all plain sailing for the Addicks who at times were, as manager Alan Pardew openly admitted, slightly over-run by Swansea's midfield.

This will certainly be food for thought for Aidy Boothroyd who has opted to play one central striker with two wing forwards in pre-season.

A much changed Charlton side but by no means a second XI went down 0-1 at home in the Carling Cup first round on Tuesday to League 1 side Yeovil Town. Pardew made six changes to the starting line up from the Swansea clash.

Pardew seemed disappointed with the display, which has caused concerns about the depth of the squad for the coming season, particularly at centre-half, highlighted by the hip injury to Johnathan Fortune.

Charlton will be looking to improve upon last season's disappointment in the league. They finished in 11th place, six points behind Watford and out of the play-offs in a season where they were expected to challenge for promotion.

However, as with Watford, some of the Addicks' bigger names have left over the summer as the club's budget adjusts to a second season in the Championship.

Ten goal Chris Iwelumo, Majid Bougherra, Marcus Bent, Ben Thatcher and Amdy Faye will all be plying their trade elsewhere this season.

Charlton are still one of the big fishes in the Championship after playing eight of the last nine full campaigns in the top flight.

However it's the present day that counts and their large fan base will want to see their side perform, especially at home where they lost seven times and drew the same amount at the Valley.

New faces include former Golden Boy, Hameur Bouazza, who has joined the club on loan. Watford fans, well aware of the Algerian's explosive pace, will be hoping he takes time to adjust at his new club.

The other major addition for Pardew's men this summer has been the signing of centre-back Mark Hudson, named as their new skipper, from Crystal Palace on a free-transfer who marked his league debut with a goal inside two minutes.

Hudson is a commanding centre half and looks to be a great acquisition for the south Londonders.

Watford's defence will have to be on their toes on Saturday with Charlton's strike partnership of Andy Gray and Luke Varney.

Boss Alan Pardew

Gray has a proven goal scoring record at this level, scoring one goal every two games in spells at Burnley and Sheffield United, although having scored last week it will hopefully be his week off this time at the Vic.

Charlton's main threat so far this term has come from set pieces, which is sure to test the aerial abilities of the developing partnership of Leigh Bromby and captain Jay DeMerit in the heart of the 'Orns' defence.

Both the Charlton goals against Swansea came from set plays. Despite not finding the net against Yeovil on Tuesday the delivery of young Jonjo Shelvey's set pieces again caused many troubles for the lower league opposition.

Shelvey is certainly one to look out for in the future as he entered the Charlton history books recently as their youngest ever first team player.

However with the return to fitness of the experienced Matt Holland and the form of Therry Racon, who made the Division's team of the week last time out, it might be the youngster who is the makeweight as Alan Pardew looks to stabilise the centre of his midfield.

Highly rated midfielder Darren Ambrose is missing through injury

TEAM NEWS

Fortune was substituted after 40 minutes on Tuesday with a hip injury but is expected to be fit for Saturday, rejoining skipper Hudson who was rested for Yeovil, in the centre of defence.

Zheng Zhi remains unavailable for the foreseeable future due to his commitments with the Chinese Olympic squad.

After undergoing surgery on a hip and groin problem in May, last meeting's scorer Darren Ambrose is yet to make a full recovery.

Charlton have made a £750,000 swoop this week for Southend midfielder Nick Bailey who is expected to go straight into the first team squad for Saturday's clash, which will also help to bolster Alan Pardew's options in the centre of the park.

LAST TIME THE TEAMS MET

The last meeting between these two sides was a classic example of the old cliché 'It's a game of two halves'. On 16th February earlier this year the spoils were shared 2-2 at The Valley.

The Hornets managed to overturn a half time deficit of two goals to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat in an extraordinary 80 second passage of play midway through the second half.

The gaffer briefs his troops at the Valley

Darren Ambrose had put the home side in front after 15 minutes and that lead was doubled before half-time by Dan Shittu turning the ball into his own net, against his old employers.

However an inspired substitution at half-time by Boothroyd turned the tide of the game.

John-Joe O'Toole was brought on for Al Bangura and the youngster popped up with a timely equaliser after 53 minutes.

The big man Shittu then managed to atone for his mistake at the other end with a towering header to tie the game up at 2-2.

The game drew to a close with both teams still well in with a shout of all three points.

Despite an end-to-end finish with chances in both penalty boxes, both teams failed to produce a winner so the tie ended honours even just like the previous three meetings between the sides.

O'Toole strikes at the Valley

It will no doubt be another tight affair this Saturday with both teams looking to kick-start their league campaigns after encouraging performances last week although the home side go into the game as slight favourites with the bookies.

HEAD TO HEAD

Watford and Charlton have met a total of 58 times in their history.

Charlton have had the better of the exchanges winning 20 games to 16 for the Golden Boys.

The two sides have drawn a total of 22 games including their last four league encounters.

Watford however will take comfort from their home record against the Addicks winning on 11 occasions to Charlton's six.

HORNETSBET

Home win - 13/10
Draw - 9/4
Away win - 21/10

Scorecast - Tommy Smith 1-0 - 56/1.

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