We go into the game in third place in the table following last night's 1-1 draw between Huddersfield and Blackpool at the John Smith's Stadium, that point taking the Seasiders one point ahead of us after they survived a late penalty scare and played out the last few minutes with ten men.
It's been a good couple of weeks for us since the disappointment of dropping two points through that late goal against Blackburn. We've beaten both Birmingham and Leeds in the league before progressing into the last sixteen of the Capital One Cup.
Not it's Charlton and despite their current position in the league it is likely to be as difficult as any other game. As is said so often, any side can beat any other in this league.
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| Michael Duff is expected to make his 300th Burnley appearance |
Today should, belatedly after he was omitted from the cup line up on Tuesday, see Michael Duff make his 300th Burnley appearance. He's expected to return alongside Jason Shackell in the centre of defence to become the latest Burnley player to reach that milestone.
The experienced defender certainly isn't getting carried away with our current position. His feet are firmly on the ground and, when speaking to the local press this week, would even consider drawing any comparisons with the team of five years ago.
He said: "You need to see where you are at Christmas and maybe re-evaluate where you go from there, but until you get Christmas and New Year out of the way there's no point talking about what's going to happen at the end of the season because it's got a habit of biting you on the backside.
"We're eight games into the season and it's great that we're sitting where we are. We had a run like this last year and then we went on a different type of run and all of a sudden we were looking over our shoulders. It's that sort of division."
Sean Dyche made four changes on Tuesday for the Forest game but, if all are fit, I'd expect those four players are likely to return. Duff will almost certainly come back in and I expect both Scott Arfield and Michael Kightly will come back for Keith Treacy and Junior Stanislas despite their performances on Tuesday, particularly that of Treacy.
The big question mark hangs over the two central midfield players. David Jones was stretchered off at Leeds and ruled out in midweek, a game that saw his partner Dean Marney substituted during the first half.
David Edgar, who replaced Jones in the starting line up, and Brian Stock, who replaced Marney as substitute, stand by to play but if Jones and Marney are fit then I'm sure they'll be in there come 3 o'clock.
If they are fit then I expect us to line up: Tom Heaton, Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell, Ben Mee, Michael Kightly, Dean Marney, David Jones, Scott Arfield, Danny Ings, Sam Vokes. Subs from: Alex Cisak, Luke O'Neill, Kevin Long, Danny Lafferty, David Edgar, Brian Stock, Junior Stanislas, Keith Treacy, Ryan Noble.
It's not been the greatest of starts for Charlton. They've won just once in the league, at home to Leicester and have added two further points with draws in away games at Barnsley and Watford.
They are currently down in 20th place in the table but do have a game in hand on most clubs for which they will be very thankful. They trailed 3-1 at home to Doncaster at the end of August when, because of a waterlogged pitch, the match was abandoned.
Since we last met they've added to their squad during the summer. Simon Church, a player linked with Burnley last January, signed after being released by Reading and their other forward options include a player that our manager knows only too well.
Just after the start of the season they clinched the season long loan signing of former Watford striker Marvin Sordell from Bolton. They also have another loan player in their ranks who was with Burnley when Dyche arrived at Turf Moor. That's Cameron Stewart. He didn't play for us after the change of manager but did play against us at Ewood last season. He'll be in the squad today after signing late on the last day of the transfer window until January.
The biggest concern today for manager Chris Powell is whether Yann Kermogant will be available. He's missed the last two games with an ankle injury after being forced off during the draw at Watford. Powell said he was hopeful of him returning.
Joe Pigott has deputised for him and could do so again today although Sordell will be pushing for a starting place.
Definitely out are Chris Solly and former Claret Leon Cort who are both nursing injuries.
Charlton's team last time out was: Ben Hamer, Lawrie Wilson, Michael Morrison, Dorian Dervite, Richard Wood, Rhoys Wiggins, Dale Stephens, Bradley Pritchard, Johnnie Jackson, Simon Church, Joe Pigott. Subs: Ben Alnwick, Cedric Evina, Jordan Cousins, Mark Gower, Cameron Stewart, Marvin Sordell.
Last Time They Were Here
Last season's home game against Charlton, a first home defeat for new manager Sean Dyche, was influenced by a refereeing decision very early in the game. With just thirteen minutes gone referee Bobby Madley decided to award Charlton a penalty and send off Kieran Trippier for deliberately handling the ball on the line.
Trippier twice cleared off the line before the ball hit the bar, but Madley was already pointing to the spot for the first clearance, a decision that Trippier and Burnley have always hotly disputed.
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| Kieran Trippier sent off for handling on the line |
A bemused Trippier left the field with the only good news coming when Lee Grant saved Johnnie Jackson's penalty.
Burnley switched Dean Marney to right back and even with ten players we looked the most likely of the two sides in the first half. although because of the formation we had to adopt it did make it more difficult to get players up to support Charlie Austin.
By half time it should have been 10 v 10. Rob Hulse elbowed Jason Shackell. It wasn't seen by Madley but the assistant saw it and flagged. Incredibly the referee gave nothing other than a free kick.
For much of the second half we looked comfortable but with just over twenty minutes remaining, and against the run of play, Charlton scored the only goal of the game to give them a 1-0 win. Hulse beat Danny Lafferty in the air. He headed the ball across for Danny Haynes who had pulled away from Shackell to head home.
Unfortunately there was no response from Burnley. Austin had a late header blocked and then tried to poke home the rebound but it was not to be.
Burnley: Lee Grant, Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell, Danny Lafferty (David Edgar 78), Brian Stock, Dean Marney, Chris McCann, Junior Stanislas (Danny Ings 72), Charlie Austin, Martin Paterson (Sam Vokes 83). Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Joseph Mills, Marvin Bartley, Cameron Stewart.
Charlton: Ben Hamer, Chris Solly, Michael Morrison, Leon Cort, Dan Seaborne, Eggert Jonsson (Ricardo Fuller 53), Bradley Pritchard, Johnnie Jackson, Salim Kerkar, Rob Hulse (Matthew Taylor 90+2), Danny Haynes (Dorian Dervite 86). Subs not used: David Button, Danny Green, Scott Wagstaff, Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Previous Games against Charlton
| Last 20 Years | |||||
| Season | Comp | Ven | Res | Att | Scorers |
| 1993/94 | FA Cup | a | 0-3 | 8,336 | |
| 1994/95 | Division One | a | 2-1 | 9,436 | Davis, Robinson |
| h | 2-0 | 10,045 | Eyres, Shaw | ||
| 1996/97 | Coca-Cola Cup | a | 1-4 | 4,874 | Eyres |
| h | 1-2 | 2,281 | Nogan | ||
| 2007/08 | Championship | a | 3-1 | 21,122 | Gray(2 1pen), McCann |
| h | 1-0 | 10,780 | Elliott | ||
| 2008/09 | Championship | a | 1-1 | 21,884 | Thompson |
| h | 2-1 | 14,404 | Thompson(2) | ||
| 2012/13 | Championship | h | 0-1 | 11,405 | |
| a | 1-0 | 20,065 | Austin | ||
Click HERE to see all previous results against Charlton