For Charlton, this weekend might seem about everything apart from their game against Pompey. But the visitors won't go into battle thinking they can relax with the Addicks' minds elsewhere.

It's 25 years this week since Charlton made a triumphant return to The Valley after seven years of playing home games elsewhere. Pompey were the oppositiion that day and all in red and white will be out for a repeat showing - for Athletic won 1-0 on that occasion to dent Pompey's promotion bid.

The anniversary will be celebrated with memories and the reappearance of some Valley greats from down the years, but once the pre-match party is over, red and blue minds will be on trying to force a result that will show better times could be ahead for either of these famous old clubs.

Charlton go into the game sixth, Pompey eighth, and both sides can be forgiven for thinking a play-off spot may not be beyond them come the end of the season. In fact Athletic, having a solid campaign under Karl Robinson, may even be eyeing up an automatic promotion spot - they are only five points behind second-placed Shewsbury.

Pompey have won five of their last six games, if you include League Trophy matches that is, and who really wants to do that, so can go to South-East London in confident mood.

Boss Kenny Jackett believes he and his staff have moulded a strong squad, one that can cope even when there are one or two key people injured, as there are at present.

Looking ahead to the Valley visit, the boss told The News: ‘Where we got to two or three weeks ago is establish a really strong 18 and now some people are on their shoulder. The likes of Stuart O’Keefe and Nathan Thompson came back from suspension and I didn’t decide to change a winning team, so they had to come back in as subs.

‘That’s a great position to be in as a manager because you are then dealing from a position of strength and can create competition. We have worked hard with the group and if we possibly can get everybody back then that will be great but you have to be capable of winning games when you do have players out.'

Skipper and top scorer Brett Pitman is due to come back into the team but Kal Naismith, Dion Donohue, Oli Hawkins and Ben Close are all still said to be doubtful.

For Charlton boss Robinson it's a case of respecting the past and the anniversary of the return to their home, while being focused on the here and now.

He said: 'We’re looking forward to our job in hand, but we’re also looking forward to reminiscing, and to respect what’s been before. We put pressure on ourselves every single week to go out and get results for the football club – that never changes.

'We still try and do our best regardless, and I put pressure on my players, the players put pressure on me, and we have to deal with that in every game.'

Follow @Pompey_Fans

Click here to sign up for an account and reserve your username! You can then post on the Forum and add your comments to articles

Photo: Action Images

Portsmouth Polls