TIMOTHEE Dieng is hoping to catch a break at the Valley tonight – just as he did last season.

City head to Charlton for a contest that was always going to be significant, given their current league positions in the scramble for play-off places.

Now there is an extra edge to the evening as new boss Simon Grayson takes charge of the team for the first time.

Charlton are currently two points behind the Bantams in seventh with two games in hand but similarly came unstuck against a late equaliser on Saturday.

It is the second time in successive games they have dropped points to last-gasp goals, Doncaster's leveller following on from Oxford's double strike to snatch an unlikely away win the week before.

Dieng said: "That is good for us because Charlton's confidence is probably a bit low at the moment. We'll give everything to try to beat them.

"I thought we showed good character against Bury. If we play with the same heart down there then we won't lose that game."

City's first visit to the Valley for 17 years last season saw them come away with a point after Dieng pounced on a rebound when home keeper Declan Rudd spilled Mark Marshall's shot. Yet he feared it would not count.

"I think I was offside but it was good to score," said the Frenchman, who will now face winger Marshall in Charlton colours.

"Marshy is a dangerous player, we know that. We're going to have to block him.

"Charlton are a good team. They won here in the first half of the season and we'll have to play well.

"It's a massive game for us and we have to win if we want to stay in the top six.

"But we've got players back from injury now and that gives us a boost. I'm confident about it.

"Saturday was a big frustration, conceding a goal so late, but it was good to stop that losing run. Now we need to build on that."

Grayson has plenty of options to choose from, although Nicky Law is unlikely to be ready after his serious bout of tonsillitis. He did some training over the weekend but is not expected to be risked.

Jake Reeves is also still sidelined as he rests the groin problem that has curtailed his season.

After the difficulties with the Valley Parade pitch, Charlton's surface should come as a welcome relief.

Greg Abbott, who was in caretaker charge for the Bury game, hopes the improved conditions will benefit the team.

He said: "Hopefully the pitch there might suit our players. We know it will be a different shake-up.

"Charlton are another big club in this division with a super stadium. But they've also had a couple of tricky results and losing late goals is a double whammy."