Sheffield Wednesday get free-kick just outside the corner of the area after big striker Atdhe Nuhiu is shoved in the back.

It's in a good position to put in a cross.

It's been a fairly low-key opening at The Valley, but Sheffield Wednesday have threatened slightly just outside the Charlton area before the hosts manage to clear their lines.

Charlton get us under way in south-east London.

Tim Robinson is today's referee.

Image source, .

The teams are out onto the pitch at The Valley to a raucous welcome from the home crowd.

Once the pre-match rigmarole is over, kick-off will be upon us.

Image source, Rex Features

Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer makes four changes to his side from the 2-1 defeat at Luton in midweek.

Adam Matthews, Deji Oshilaja, Erhun Oztumer come in while Ben Purrington has dropped out with illness so 19-year-old Alfie Doughty moves off the bench to make his full league debut.

Bowyer is only able to name five sustitutes on the bench amid an injury crisis at The Valley.

Charlton XI: Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Oshilaja, Doughty, Pratley, Morgan, Oztumer, Bonne, Leko.

Subs: Harness (GK), Pearce, Solly, Davison, Vennings.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk makes four changes to the side which drew 1-1 at home against his former club Birmingham on Wednesday.

Tom Lees, Sam Hutchinson, Fernando Forestieri and Atdhe Nuhiu all come into the starting line-up, with Julian Borner, Massimo Luongo, Kieran Lee and Adam Reach all dropping out.

Sheff Wed XI: Dawson, Odubajo, Iorfa, Lees, Fox, Harris, Bannan, Hutchinson, Forestieri, Nuhiu, Fletcher.

Subs: Jones (GK), Lee, Luongo, Pelupessy, Reach, Murphy, Winnall.

The Championship is known for its competitiveness and this season is no exception.

Although West Brom and Leeds have opened a buffer at the top, mid-table is seriously congested, with only six points separating Bristol City in seventh from Charlton in 17th.

Lee Bowyer's side begin today three points behind their opponents and know a win would catapult them back into the top half of the table before everyone else plays.

Meanwhile, victory for Wednesday would send Garry Monk's side to within a point of the play-off places ahead of the 15:00 GMT games.

Image source, Rex Features

On the pitch, recent results have not been pretty reading for either side.

Charlton, having started the season so brightly, have taken only two points in their past six games since thumping Derby 3-0 at The Valley in early October.

They are six without a victory while visitors Wednesday have picked up three draws during a five-game winless run since beating Stoke 1-0 last month.

Between them it's five draws and six defeats in their past 11 games combined - will something give today?

Here's an example of the anti-Duchatelet feeling down in Charlton.

A group of fans who have protested against the Belgian during his reign will hand out free scarves to celebrate his departure.

There could be a bumper crowd at The Valley today too, as some fans end their boycott at the ground.

Image source, Getty Images

Outgoing Charlton Athletic owner Roland Duchatelet has been a divisive figure in south-east London for a few years now.

Fans have long protested about the Belgian businessman's stewardship of their club.

But it seems they have finally go their wish after he agreed to sell the club to East Street Investments with Tahnoon Nimer and Jonathan Heller - chairman and CEO of Abu Dhabi Business Development - join as directors and Matt Southall becoming club chairman.

Addicks fans had held a series of protests against Duchatelet, who had been trying to sell since 2017.

"We are privileged to take ownership of such an historic club and it is incredibly exciting to be part of the process of building a fresh future for the fans, loyal club staff and players of Charlton Athletic," said Southall., external

"Their [the fans'] support throughout some difficult times, both recently and in the past, has been inspirational and we intend to build on that loyalty."

The Championship weekend got started last night, as Fulham move to within two points of the automatic promotion places

Two goals from the division's top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic gave the west Londoners victory at Swansea.

With the FA Cup second round we have just nine Championship matches kicking off at 15:00 GMT in the EFL today, as well as one game in League Two, where Macclesfield Town play host to Bradford City.

Charlton's game at home to Sheffield Wednesday is the early kick-off.

• Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday (12:30 GMT)
• Barnsley v Hull City
• Birmingham City v Millwall
• Brentford v Luton Town
• Bristol City v Huddersfield Town
• Derby County v Queens Park Rangers
• Leeds United v Middlesbrough
• Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City
• Stoke City v Blackburn Rovers
• Wigan Athletic v Reading

Good afternoon and welcome to live text coverage of today's English Football League action.

The FA Cup has eaten into the schedule in League One and League Two, but we still have 10 Championship matches to look forward to.

The first of those comes at The Valley, where Charlton Athletic fans will be in party mood after news yesterday that a takeover of the south-east London club had been agreed.

More on that as we look ahead to kick-off against Sheffield Wednesday in 20 minutes' time.

Image source, Rex Features