Free pass

A bit of a free pass this week as the Sheffield clubs don’t meet until Sunday lunchtime, MK Dons do play tonight but there are a huge 6 points up for grabs these next four days.

The games come thick and fast now, no time to dwell on past performances that have caused a little anxiety amongst Addicks, but also include wins against three of our rivals.

We were due a poor run, no one can play for 9 months and beat everyone in sight convincingly. If this is our bad run, then I’ll bite your hand off.

Rochdale can be a bit more expansive than some of their relegation rivals but this is a team in trouble that could well end up back where it took them 36 long seasons to escape. Dale will come with a bus full of supporters and then park it in front of the goal awaiting the final whistle.

Patience is required but so is the importance of a lively start from Powell’s charges. Powell hasn’t been radical in his team selection this season (dropping Solly at Stevenage aside, which we hope he has learnt from) but I would carefully consider putting Hayes and BWP back together tonight.

I question how much football Hayes has had recently but he deserves his chance as does players such as Evina, who I would also be tempted with on the left.

There has to be a temptation to do something up front, particularly as Haynes will be out for 4-6 weeks with a hamstring strain and I think I’m right in saying that Hayes still has our most assists, even though he hasn’t played for a month of Sundays.

Definitely with Stephens in midfield we have a more measured, some would call it slower, build up and Hayes plays very well with his back to goal.

Kermie is so good in the air that there is an obvious enticement to find him with a long ball but he would present a terrifying figure on the bench to Dale. It’s a squad game and we have four or five players who must be so hungry to start a game. We’ll wait and see.

One game at a time. Stevenage can wait.