Sky Blues On The Road - Charlton Athletic

You can listen to the game on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire if you are in reception range. Sky Blue World for those on the net. Or Radio Kent 774 MW and digital radio
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WEATHER
Showers are forecast but temperatures are expected to reach twenty degrees.
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THE LAST TIME
This will be the 33rd meeting of the two sides. City have won on twelve occasions with eleven draws, City have scored 51 goals to Charlton's 44. Last League Game 29/09/07 City 1-1 Charlton

This will be the 15th time that City have played at the two grounds used by Charlton (The Valley & Selhurst Park)

City have won only once in a League game (2-1 win in Feb 1966) but have drawn on seven occasions. The last was in September 2000 in a Premiership fixture and the previous six consecutive games all finished in a draw and means that City have not lost at the Valley for 43 years.

City are 19th in the table with Charlton in 12th place.
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THE MATCH OFFICIALS
Andy D'Urso has been appointed referee for Coventry City's final game of the season at Charlton Athetic on Sunday.

The Essex based official was in charge of City's 2-0 defeat at Norwich City and Charlton's 3-1 League Cup defeat at Luton. Mr D'Urso has been in charge of forty matches this season, issuing 92 yellow cards and five reds.

J.D.A.Hopkins and J.E.Pearce will be running the line with the fourth official Dave Whitestone.
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TRAVEL

By Car

From the M25
The easiest way to get to The Valley is to use the A2, accessed from junction two of the M25. Heading into London, the dual carriageway becomes the A102M - the approach road to the Blackwall Tunnel. Leave at the junction after the A2 exit and take the right-hand exit at the roundabout - the A206 Woolwich Road.

After the major set of traffic lights at Anchor and Hope Lane and Charlton Church Lane, travel around second roundabout and take the last exit to drive back on yourself. Then take the first left into Charlton Lane. Cross the railway line and continue up the road, then right into Harvey Gardens. The stadium is on the left.

Access to Floyd Road and Harvey Gardens is restricted on matchdays.

Via the South Circular

Follow the A205 South Circular Road to Woolwich and turn left into the Woolwich Road at the roundabout for the free ferry. You should then turn left into Charlton Lane and proceed as described above.

From central London: From north of The Thames, take the A102 through the Blackwall Tunnel. Come off at the second junction and take the first exit at the roundabout. Go along the A206 Woolwich Road as above.

Train and Tube services
Southeastern runs train services to the railway station at Charlton, from central London in the west and north Kent to the east. The station is a short walk from the ground.

Frequent services depart from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge, with limited departures from Victoria and Cannon Street. Some services come through Dartford continue to Charlton, while connections for others can be made at Blackheath, Lewisham and London Bridge.

The Docklands Light Railway from east London connects with rail services from Greenwich and Lewisham to Charlton, while the Jubilee Line underground station at North Greenwich is a short bus ride from The Valley.

Travelling by bus
Numerous bus routes serve the ground. They include the 53 (Plumstead, Woolwich, Blackheath, New Cross, central London), the 54 (Lewisham, Catford, Beckenham, Elmers End) and the 161 (Chislehurst, Mottingham, Eltham, Woolwich, North Greenwich).

Others are the 177 (Thamesmead, Plumstead, Woolwich, Greenwich, New Cross, Peckham), the 180 (Thamesmead, Plumstead, Woolwich, Greenwich, Lewisham), the 422 (Bexleyheath, Welling, Plumstead, Blackheath, North Greenwich), the 472 (Thamesmead, Plumstead, Woolwich, North Greenwich), and the 486 (Bexleyheath, Welling, Shooters Hill and North Greenwich).

These services discharge passengers on the A206 Woolwich Road, or in Charlton Village, both a five-minute walk from the ground.

Parking at the ground
Free parking is usually available at the ground but access on matchdays is restricted to permit holders. In many roads around The Valley there are restrictions in force. Yellow lines apply at weekends, as well as weekdays, and most parking bays are free - except around the railway station. The use of some of the bays, however, is suspended on matchdays. Restrictions are vigorously enforced, and local retail car parks operate a clamping policy.
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BETTING ODDS
City are 25-1 to be relegated. Southampton (6/5), Leicester (13/8), Sheff Wed (15/2)

Match Odds Charlton (24/13) Draw (9/4) Coventry (9/5)
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ON THE GAME
Chris Coleman said to the CT: "We want to go there and get the point or points that we need to do the job, and that's what we have got to do now. "You should always try to finish as strongly as you can anyway, even if there was nothing riding on the game, because you finish your last game in the way you want to start your first one next season. "We said a few weeks ago that we had four or five cup finals and this is the last one, so let's go down to Charlton and finish it off."

Alan Pardew said to his club's website: "Our fans will be coming on Sunday, and we'll have to put on a display with character, tenacity and a bit of quality. "The players need to show some spirit, and we are looking to finish the season on a high note. "First and foremost we want to give our home fans something to cheer. We want to end the season on a positive note and make sure that everyone has something to look forward to over the summer."
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TEAM NEWS
Stephen Hughes and Kevin Thornton have over come knocks and will go into the squad along with Elliott Ward and Michael Doyle who will have their operations after the game rather than before it.

Alan Pardew is again expected to name a blend of youth and experience.
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