Oxford United v Charlton Athletic

Oxford United v Charlton Athletic

Tuesday 21st January 2014
7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: Unknown

One week ago Charlton finally played their first game of 2014 after the first two games were postponed due to the adverse winter conditions… that match was the re-arranged tie against Oxford United in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup, of course this competition is notorious for Giant-Killing and when the game finally did go ahead last Tuesday, Charlton once again almost became part of FA Cup history for the wrong reasons.

Of course as this match was only played out last week it feels strange writing up a second Match Thread for basically the same game (even though the original was typed up almost two weeks prior to the match) so this will only be a small preview… comparable in size with the type of attendance Charlton get in these 3rd Round ties.

The Original Encounter
Of course as already said… Charlton almost unwillingly became part of giant-killing history in the FA Cup… 2-0 down in the first half, it took one of Chris Powell’s harshest team talks to get the Addicks back into the tie, and back into the tie they did with second half goals from Morrison and Kermorgant meant the tie would be played out again this Tuesday.

Since Then...
Both Charlton and Oxford were on their travels this Weekend… Charlton travelled to Middlesbrough dropping to a 1-0 defeat which Oxford played out and won in a local derby against Wycombe Wanderers with Nicky Wroe scoring a late winner with just three minutes to spare.

Charlton Team News
Am slightly unsure on Team News with this fixture… Both Thuram and Ajdarevic played in the defeat at Middlesbrough yet after being signed too late to appear last Tuesday am unsure if they’re eligible for this one.

If they are both unable to play then the highlight will be on the Goalkeeping slot… Ben Hamer didn’t travel to Middlesbrough after tweaking his ankle, Ben Alnwick missed the match through illness and Nick Pope has returned on loan to York City for the rest of the season resulting in Dillon Phillips making his first appearance on the bench and should the crisis continue, could make his First Team debut…

In other news Rhoys Wiggins was sent-off against Middlesbrough to mark the beginning on a three match ban so the Left-Back berth will be played out between Cedric Evina and Morgan Fox.

Possible Team to Face Oxford United
Alnwick
Wilson – Morrison – Wood – Evina
Green – Cousins – Jackson – Harriott
Kermorgant – Church

Substitutes Bench
Phillips – Fox – Dervite – Hughes – Pritchard – Jordan – Pigott

A4L’s Prediction: 3-0 (Kermorgant (2), Jackson)​

 

Great preview again

I'd love to see Smith or Pigott get a chance from the start, to see if they can cut it and to give Kermorgant a rest, plus Poyet, although I admit that's unlikely.

(One thing - I really don't want to develop a reputation as a nitpicker, but our first game of 2014 was against Ipswich on New Year's Day)

 

Unfortunately Smith is cup-tied so isnt able to play in this fixture.

Cheers for that spot again... I meant to say it was our first home match in 2014

 

Good work again, A4L! I think you've bowled a googly, putting Bradley Jordan on the bench, do you know something we don't? CP doesn't put youngsters on the bench, even when we're allowed 7 subs, and Jordan I'm afraid, looks destined not to make the step up. Despite that, I think your prediction for the first team is spot on.

 

I should have realised that, as I remember watching him score for Wimbledon on TV.

We can correct each other

 

Perhaps the team last Tuesday knew something we didn't because it is a good game to use up one of Wiggins bans, then if we win tonight the Udders game would use up a second, this would leave Wiggy with a one genuine game ban

Good man A4L

 

Have to admit I was a little bit stumped at who to put on the bench and after I posted the thread I did look at the squad list and realised I'd left off Stephens... Seeing that the team have missed a lot of games in 2014 I cant see Powell making whole sale changes.

I had originally put Bradley Jordan in there because of the Oxford League Cup tie yet after he failed to make the matchday teams for Notts County I'd be very surprised to see him in there and reckon he should be loaned out to a League Two side now

And as I type this I also realise I've left out Jordan Cook

 

I am going tonight, mainly because the Kassam (?) is one of the grounds I haven't chalked off yet.

Just hope our players show a bit of pride in the shirt, although to be honest I am not expecting a great deal performance wise.

 

I really can't see us winning this one 2-0 to Oxford, and the clamour for Powell to leave increases.

 

Oxford have a terrible Home record... their manager Chris Wilder was saying after the game last week that he wished it was being held at the Valley again rather than the Kassam

 

I think we'll win although I'm finding it hard to give a toss about this game. At least it uses up a Wiggy suspension before he leaves us in the window.

 

5-0 Oxford. The secret footballer getting a hat trick then sent off.

 

I assumed that was because he enjoyed the opportunitu to play ball to feet football on a real top class surface like we do every week. Plus that special cup atmousphere you only get at the valley with two sides closed.

 

Do you accept that CP has got to go if we lose tonight ?

 

You're very persistent Volly but no. None of the factors I've mentioned have changed. Losing would be a terrible result, probably worse tham the home draw. What's worse are the performances, none of which I've defended, but we've still got the same cut-price squad we've had all season.
If we lose tonight, which I see as a distinct possibility, I'll be furious too, but it's a question of getting netter players.
Should Powell and the squad be capable of getting past lower league opponents? Yes, and should have done last week, but this is Charlton;- it's what we do.

 

Evening all

Charlton: Alnwick; Wilson, Evina, Morrison, Dervite; Green, Stephens, Jackson, Harriott; Church, Kermorgant.

Subs: Phillips, Sordell, Pritchard, Wood, Lennon, Pigott, Poyet

So a strong side, good to see Lennon, Pigott and Poyet all on the bench.

 

Excellent to see Diego on the bench although very surprised to see Sordell there as well only three weeks after pulling him hamstring, well done to him for getting fit again so quickly

Hopefully we can race into a good clear early lead and maybe give Poyet a run out for 10-15mins

 

On the bench, yes and that's where I predict they'll stay.

 

Oxford: Clarke, Hunt, Raynes, Wright, Newey, Davies, Mullins, Ruffels, Smalley, Constable, Rigg

Subs: Rose, Marsh, Long, Lynn, Shama, Bevans, O'Dowda

No sign of Kitson then.

 

It's good to see Poyet on the bench. That said why the hell are we paying Gower a wage if he can't even make the bench for a game like this. Not one of CP's better ideas.