Charlton vs Cardiff Predictions

• Neil Harris takes charge of Cardiff.
• However, the former Millwall boss has won just three of his last 31 Championship away games.
• Cardiff head here winless on the road this season.
• Charlton’s top scorer could return from injury.

Bluebirds’ New Beginning

Will the new manager bounce give Cardiff a lift this week? The Bluebirds traded a Neil for a Neil over the international break, as Neil Warnock stepped down six months early. Former Millwall boss Neil Harris is quickly back in work just over a month after departing the Den, making a quick return to south London as his side head to Charlton this weekend.

Charlton manager Lee Bowyer was an early candidate to take over the Bluebirds. Instead, he continues his impressive reign at the Valley, having taken Charlton up from League One to the top half of the Championship. Will their strong form continue in this weekend’s meeting with recently relegated Cardiff?

Charlton’s Valley Victories

The hosts are coming into this one following some patchy results, with less-than-stellar displays coming on the road. However, their home form this season has been solid, despite facing some of the league’s bigger teams. Charlton have already met four of the top five at home this term, including a victory over title contenders Leeds.

Outside those clashes, Charlton have picked up solid wins over Brentford, Derby and Stoke. Their only slip up at home to a bottom-half side came in a narrow loss to Birmingham. They will hope to add to that solid return against a Cardiff side who have struggled away, despite only facing two of the top 11 on the road.

Road-weary Cardiff

That could help the hosts add to their record of four wins in eight at home, especially with Cardiff failing to win a game on their travels this season. They have the 21st-best away record in the league, while new boss Harris was hardly great on the road with Millwall. He led the club to just three wins in 31 league trips, so he’s hardly likely to improve their fortunes.

Charlton have a huge potential boost here, with Lyle Taylor in contention for selection this weekend. The hosts are much improved with the striker back in the side. They won four and drew two of the six games he played before injury, while he’s still their top scorer despite sitting out since August. That would be a major boost for the Addicks, who have kept picking up results without him. We’re backing Charlton to claim a result on the Draw No Bet market.

We’re also backing a 2-0 home victory in Saturday’s early game. This season, Charlton have conceded less than a goal per game at home, while they’ve kept a clean sheet in three of their four home wins. Cardiff have shipped 16 goals in eight away, including nine in their last four trips. We expect them to ship another couple to this solid Charlton side, so 2-0 is our correct score prediction.