Doncaster Rovers defender Andy Butler believes Charlton are making too much of seeling out the Valley for tonight’s play-off clash, seeing it like a monkey on their back and not a reason to boast.
24,000 supporters are expected to attend the game in south London, with a place in the play-off final against Sunderland the prize for the victor. Rovers trail 2-1 from the first leg, but are buoyed by the fact they’re the last side to beat Charlton on their home soil.
The bumper crowd will bring a special atmosphere, but Butler believes that could hinder Lee Bowyer’s side, not help them.
“They’re making a big deal out of selling out the stadium but the extra fans put extra pressure on them,” Butler told the Doncaster Free Press.
“There’s no pressure on us. They’ll be the ones getting booed if they’re losing, not us. They’ve sold out but I don’t know what happened for the FA Cup game [against Rovers in December]. I think there was 3,000 there.”
Butler and his teammates will have watched on as a dour game between Sunderland and Portsmouth ended 0-0, with the first leg deficit enough to send Pompey out at the last hurdle.
Thanks to Matty Blair’s late consolation at the Keepmoat, Butler knows his side have a chance if they can do better than Kenny Jackett’s side did last night.
“The goal changes the outlook. We’re going there full of confidence. We’ve got to express ourselves. If we hold anything back now it’s too late.”
Our View
This is a huge fixture and having watched two decidedly average teams battle to a dull stalemate last night, both sides will feel confident in a one-off game.
Caution will not be the route to success for Rovers, but if they’re too open and adventurous they might be hit on the break.
It’ll be an engrossing fixture, we only hope it’s more entertaining than last night’s match!
