Weakened squad at Swindon

Charlton are going to be without Jordan Botaka, Ademola Lookman, Josh Magennis, and possibly Andrew Crofts, due to international call ups for the Swindon away game on 12 November. They have been able to call off games previously as three or more players have been called up for international duty but they agreed that Sky could televise the game at Swindon and by doing so also agreed that they couldn’t request for the game to be called off.

Charlton make hard work of it

Charlton beat lowly Chesterfield 1-0 at The Valley this afternoon thanks to a late goal by substitute Lee Novak. However, they made hard work of it. With the exception of the energetic Ricky Holmes they seemed to lack pace, allowing the Spireites to get all ten outfield players behind the ball as Charlton mounted one of their laboured attacks.

The game was held up in the first half by long lectures by the referee in an attempt to demonstrate that he had not recently been promoted out of the non-league system.

Both sides hit the post in the first half, in Charlton's case from Ajose as he burst through on goal.

A superb one-handed save by Ryan Fulton prevented Josh Magennis heading Charlton in front shortly before the break. Magennis again went close with his head 12 minutes into the second half, placing his attempt inches off target after being picked out by Ricky Holmes' delivery.

Ajose should have broken the deadlock with a quarter of an hour remaining but instead headed wide when it looked easier to score. But the winning goal eventually arrived four minutes from time when Novak headed home from a Holmes cross.

Charlton had improved somewhat in the second half. However, Ademola Lookman had a poor game by his standards and was eventually substituted. Nicky Ajose missed some chances to score and was also substituted. Once again the midfield surrendered possession too easily.

The result puts Charlton 14th in the table and four points off the play off places.

I can't remember it being so empty and quiet walking back to the station and at the station itself, reflecting the low attendance. 'Free Speech Day' was a bit of a damp squib inside the ground apart from a few home made banners and the occasional North Korean flag.

'Tough assignment' for Spireites

Chesterfield admit that they face a 'tough assignment' at The Valley this afternoon. They have not won since September 17th and have not hit the net in the last four outings. They are yet to win away in League One. However, apparently there is 'understanding' of the situation of manager Danny Wilson who is in the ninth post of a managerial career that stretches back 22 years: Spireites

Wilson thinks that Chesterfield were bullied too easily last season and selected players to put a stop to that, so we can expect a physical encounter. For his part, Russell Slade should put out a strong attacking formation.

In 2011-12 we beat them 3-1 in Yann Kermorgant's first match for Charlton.

Odds are: Charlton 4/5, Draw 13/5, Chesterfield 10/3.

The unasked questions

VOTV editor Rick Everitt has supplied a list of questions he would have liked Katrien Meire to be asked in her TalkSport interview today: What she should have been asked

The club has insisted that they did not ask Talksport to block calls from fans: No censorship

I am away on holiday with the family this week so haven't yet had a chance to listen to the interview, but my impression from comments on social media is that she largely got away with things and that the interventions by Danny Murphy weren't helpful.

One Addick commented, 'What an abjectly weak performance by the interviewers who demonstrated a woeful lack of background and in depth knowledge, that allowed KM to trot out the usual company line without any real challenge of what was said.

Most of which was to gloss over the massive errors of the past and focus on the current situation that was presented as all is now ok. None of her past statements where really challenged except when asked about her opinion of the history of CAFC and allowing her to explain it was misinterpreted - all without question from the interviewers.

As a neutral listener I would come away with the impression that there had been a couple of minor problems in the past but everything was now ok and the fans were being unreasonable.'

VOTV editor Rick Everitt was interviewed on Talksport yesterday. His contribution is four minutes in on this segment: Rickster

Charlton rode their luck

Charlton were lucky not to get a penalty awarded against them at Gillingham on Saturday, reckons Jason Pearce. Nicky has been disappointed not to be in the side and the centre back line up is the side's greatest strength, allowing them to ride out a virus crisis: Pearce's analysis

Do it yourself

A Manchester Addick talks to Matt Wright and Voice of the Valley about the perils and pleasures of making your own protest banners: Protest

Time to fly

That was the message delivered to Roland and Katrien by a plane flying over the Priestfield Stadium yesterday. Just think if all this energy and innovative ideas could be used in conjunction with new owners willing to work with the fans.

A 1-1 draw saw Charlton slump to 17th in League One, sandwiched between Millwall and Gillingham. The Addicks showed no attacking verve in the first half, Having slept on it, those who went think it was as bad as it seemed at the time.

Gillingham went in at half-time a goal to the good after Bradley Dack headed home a Paul Konchesky cross. Charlton's Ricky Holmes saw a second-half penalty saved by Stuart Nelson, who had replaced the injured Jonathan Bond on the half-hour mark, but the Gills stopper could do nothing about Ajose's spot-kick a minute into time added on.

Dack saw Charlton goalkeeper Declan Rudd race out to block a 25th-minute shot before he looped a header home for the opening goal five minutes before half-time.

Charlton were much improved after the break but could not find a way past Nelson, who tipped a Josh Magennis header over before denying Holmes from 12 yards after Ryan Jackson had pulled down Fredrik Ulvestad. But in injury time Gillingham's Chris Herd handled in the area and half-time substitute Ajose stepped up to fire the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.