Charlton Athletic welcome Ipswich Town to The Valley on Saturday lunchtime looking to make it three wins on the bounce under Karel Fraeye.
The Addicks have improved in recent weeks following a shaky start to the campaign, but they will face a stern test against a visiting side now unbeaten in five.
Charlton Athletic
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Fraeye may have been forced to defend the club's decision to appoint him on an interim basis last month, taking over the reins from Guy Luzon, but the Belgian boss has since started to enjoy an upturn in fortunes.
Following an 11-game winless streak in the Championship, including nine defeats during that run, the Addicks have finally put some points on the board either side of the international break thanks to a couple of impressive victories.
A 3-1 triumph over an in-form Sheffield Wednesday set the ball rolling, before claiming an opportunistic narrow win to capitalise on Birmingham City's home struggles last time out.
That leaves Charlton in a far brighter position now compared to this time last month, with one point the difference between themselves and a place in the relegation zone.
Not since March have Athletic picked up three wins on the bounce, though, so Fraeye will have to now add some consistency to his side's game if they are to make the most of this positive spell and drive up the table.
The third victory in that aforementioned three-game winning run eight months ago came against Cardiff City, but one of the goalscorers that day has now joined the Bluebirds in a surprise loan move.
Tony Watt is arguably Charlton's most exciting prospect, yet he has been overlooked too often this season and has now been sent out until January, with the view to make the deal permanent in the transfer window according to some reports.
There is a fear that this weekend's match could be overshadowed by events off the field, however, as supporters look to make their disenchantment with the running of the club known once more in front of the Sky cameras.
Recent form in Championship: LLLLWW
Ipswich Town
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Just when Town looked as though they had finally built up a head of steam by winning two on the bounce, last weekend's 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers denied them the chance to climb to within a point of the playoffs.
Inconsistency has plagued the Tractors Boys for much of this season, underlined by their high number of draws, but seven points from the last nine on offer certainly provides supporters with a reason to be cheerful.
It is five games without defeat now in fact, their longest such run of the campaign, which has turned what was looking to be a hugely underwhelming season - by last term's standards, at least - into another potential top-six finish.
The good news for Mick McCarthy, who has sent out a number of players on loan over the past few days, is that the goals have returned to his side's game.
While the Blues may struggle when it comes to putting together flowing moves, holding claim to a league low pass-accuracy rate of 62.8%, they have managed to rectify an alarming scoring stat which had seen them score just one in five.
Since drawing a blank in a goalless draw with Cardiff at the end of October, Ipswich have now scored nine in their last three.
That stat may be skewed a little by the five scored against strugglers Rotherham United, granted, yet the Tractor Boys now certainly look in a far better shape up top.
The return to scoring form of last season's Championship top scorer Daryl Murphy has certainly helped in that regard, with the Republic of Ireland international bagging four in his last two after previously going 15 games without a goal from the start of the campaign.
Recent form in Championship: LDDWWD
Team News
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Charlton could welcome Chris Solly back into the starting lineup after his return to training this week, though Igor Vetokele and Ahmed Kashi are both out.
Fraeye also confirmed in his pre-match press conference that fellow summer signing Cristian Ceballos will be forced to sit this one out through injury, but Ricardo Vaz Te is in contention for a home debut after joining on a short-term deal.
Johnnie Jackson will likely start once more, having scored with all three of his shots on target for the Addicks this season, two of which have arrived in his last two appearances.
In terms of the visitors, they will once more be without the striking prowess of David McGoldrick who remains absent with a groin strain.
Bournemouth loanee Ryan Fraser, out of action since the start of last month due to an injury picked up on international duty, is close to a return but will not be considered for this weekend's trip to South London, while Teddy Bishop is Town's only other sidelined player.
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Holmes-Dennis, Bauer, Sarr, Fox; Cousins, Jackson, Gudmundsson, Diarra; Vaz Te, Lookman
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Gerken; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Bru, Skuse, Douglas, Sears; Murphy, Pitman
Head To Head
Charlton have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 11 encounters with Ipswich, with their last shutout coming during a top-flight meeting in 2001.
Four of the last five games between the pair have been won by the Tractor Boys, who have shipped just two goals during that time.
Town won both fixtures last season, including a 3-0 rout at Portman Road last December which saw them close the gap on top spot in the Championship.
We say: Charlton Athletic 2-2 Ipswich Town
Ipswich may have had the better of this fixture in recent times, but they will face a Charlton side who appear to be improving under their temporary boss. The Addicks are still in real danger of relegation and in desperate need of maximum points, despite the upturn in fortunes, making for an entertaining clash at The Valley.
Daniel Lewis
