FOR the second week in a row we find ourselves taking on a club who were two divisions above us last season.

Charlton, like MK Dons last Saturday, were a Championship side this time last year and will be doing all they can to get back to that level.

They are among the favourites for promotion – rightly so in my book because they are a good team.

I fully expect them to be in the running come the end of the season.

We will treat them with respect, but I was delighted with the attitude and character we showed last week.

And we are looking to build on an encouraging little run ourselves where we have gone three games unbeaten.

We have won the last two home games, against Rochdale and Swindon, and I think we are doing well.

It would have been nice to add another win against MK Dons, but we at least got something out of the game and we move on.

Having secured three clean sheets in those games a lot of focus has been on the defence.

Charlie Raglan has settled in as though he has been playing here for years, but you also have to give credit to Phil Edwards for his part in our recent run.

Phil does not get too many headlines, but he knows his trade, he is a terrific pro and his attitude is spot on.

Chey Dunkley and Joe Skarz are very consistent performers and have been in good form, while Simon Eastwood has been terrific ever since he arrived.

When you see Aaron Martin and Sam Long pushing for starts and Curtis Nelson only a couple of weeks away from a return, it shows you the depth we have in the squad this season.

That is the same all over the pitch.

Ryan Ledson did great as a sub last week, Wes Thomas and Kane Hemmings should be fit up front today, so we are going to have some interesting choices to make in terms of team selection.

That is what you want as a manager – everyone pushing each other and supporting them when not in the starting XI.

We will pick the team, and the shape, we think has the best chance of beating Charlton, hopefully in front of another fantastic home crowd at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon.

IT was interesting to take time out after training yesterday and pop along to the Freshers Fair at Brookes University.

The club are looking to build a stronger partnership with Brookes.

We went along to talk to students, encourage them to come to games, and talk about possible roles for them at the club.

We have had a number of students as interns and they have been great – Dan Bond and Liam McWhirter are part of the backroom team, having come to us from Brookes.

It was nice to meet people and another good initiative that I hope grows and grows.