Your Fantasy Football Club by Club Guide: Charlton Athletic

The overview

Last season: 3rd (BWSL 2, promoted via play-off)

This season expectations: Aiming to avoid relegation

We come to the second of last season's promoted sides, and Charlton certainly did it the hard way, grinding through the play-off after finishing third. Where some go up all guns blazing, Charlton went up on the back of a mean, well-drilled defence picking up 42 points, with only 21 goals conceded, giving them one of the tightest defences in the division.

That defensive streak is the key to reading them for Fantasy. Karen Hills' side will find life tough in the BWSL, but if their defensive record continues, there’s no reason why they won’t pick up points. 

Jodie Hutton is the one who makes them tick. The 25-year-old is a lively winger who weighs in with goals, assists, and a steady stream of crosses from the left side. She would have scored 114 points last season, just showing her involvement in everything this team does. The goals were shared around pretty evenly; Lucy Fitzgerald and Gillian Kenney both found the net five times in BWSL 2, though whether that carries against sterner defences is the question.

Set-piece takers

Corners: Hutton is the clear number one; she took the majority of them last season and remains at the club. Regular corners from a player who also chips in with goals makes her Charlton's most Fantasy-relevant name.

Penalties: Both of last season's takers have moved on, so there's no established name heading into the campaign. Lucy Fitzgerald may be the most likely one to step up.

Direct free kicks: Hutton again, the most likely to have a go from range.

Player costs

Jodie Hutton (£6.5m) as mentioned, is the kind of all-rounder that can bag maximum points available. Want a player who could grab some big goals? Lucy Fitzgerald (£6.5m) is the one to go for here; if she can find her feet in the top flight, she will contribute goals to Charlton’s attack.

The bigger draw might be at the back. Charlton's whole game is built on keeping it tight, so their goalkeeper and defenders are worth a look. Sophie Whitehouse (£4.5m) enjoyed a brilliant season in BWSL 2 and was the hero of the promotion play-off penalty shootout; there’s no reason why she couldn’t carry that form into next season.

Make sure to download the WSL Football App ahead of the launch of the Barclays WSL and WSL2 Fantasy game.