Freeman Aiming To Prove Charlton Wrong

The 23-year-old was on the Addicks’ books in his youth, only to be released a couple of years later, paving the way for his professional career to take off at nearby Gillingham.

City are not short of incentives with their hosts also stuck in the Sky Bet Championship drop zone, but Freeman has more motivation than most to win the game.

“That’s where it all began for me so it’ll be good to go back there and try to get three points,” he told Bristol City Player HD.

“Charlton and Gillingham were the local teams for me growing up.

“They (Charlton) scouted me playing Sunday league football and I went down there for a couple of years.

“They let me go because they said I was too small, so it would be good to go there and nick three points – especially when they’re down there as well.”

Freeman also admitted the Boxing Day draw at Ashton Gate remains a painful memory in the City dressing room, having dominated the Londoners for long periods only to have victory snatched away by a stoppage-time equaliser.

“We can look back at that and take a lot of positives from it,” he said of City’s performance that day.

“But at the same time we’ve got to make sure we don’t give away any silly goals.

“It’s a good chance to go down there, get three points and make that gap to them a lot bigger.

“With the amount of bad luck we’ve had I think it was a matter of time before things started to improve, but all we can do is keep working hard and hopefully that bit of luck will come our way.”