Football League Cup - First Round
Charlton Athletic v Dagenham & Redbridge
7:45pm Kick-OffINTROUDCTIONThe road to Wembley starts here as the first teams from the Football League contest for what will be the first silverware of the season, for Charlton Athletic, the road to Wembley will probably end here, many fans will want to look away and hide behind the sofa for our next match this Tuesday night, with First Round memories still fresh many will remember the 4-3 defeat against; League Two: Shrewsbury Town (When we took a 3-0 lead into Half-Time) or the 1-0 defeat at the hands of League Two: Wycombe Wanderers in the Quarter-Finals which turned out to be the last match in charge for Les Reed… Thankfully though there is now a glimmer of light, it has been two years since the Addicks failed to get past the first stage of this competition, now… can they make it third time lucky against
Dagenham and Redbridge?
THE OPPOSITIONQuite surprisingly there is a bit of history between these two sides (albeit friendly), it began in 2001 when the sides first met when Dagenham almost became the first Non-League side to defeat a Premier League side in the FA Cup, thankfully it didn’t happen yet fast-forward nine years and the two sides would be meeting in League One together for the first time, despite only lasting one season in League One, Dagenham have struggled in the fourth tier and sadly, relegation back to the Conference may not come as a surprise to many this season.
Last Season: Wayne Burnett has only been the Dagenham manager since 2013 yet is already working wonders at the club as they maintained a respectable mid-table placement (aided by the impressive Charlton loanee: Ayo Obileye) whilst working on one of the lowest budgets in the Division, their run in the League Cup last season was brief although they did take Championship side: Brentford to a penalty shootout.
Pre-Season: Many top sides depart these shores for foreign tours in the summer, teams like League Two: Dagenham got to tour the Non-League clubs winning at St. Albans City (4-0) and Maidstone United (1-0) whilst also defeating Southend United (2-1) and the biggest Non-League side of the lot; Crystal Palace (1-0)… Of course their biggest friendly of the summer also ended in defeat… In July they hosted Charlton Athletic losing 2-0, hopefully for Charlton fans, Tuesday result will go much the same way.
This Season: Of course we’re only one match into the new season, but Dagenham began their campaign with a 3-0 defeat away at Portsmouth, of course for a team with such a low budget, all transfers have been on a Free, most notable is the signing of
Kane Ferdinand from Peterborough United, cousin of Anton / Rio and Les Ferdinand.
KEY PLAYERIs certainly difficult naming a key player from the Dagenham side when I don’t know many names from their squad, in terms of links between the two sides, I’ve already mentioned young Defender; Ayo Obileye who appeared on loan for Dagenham last season whilst Danny Green and Paul Benson are the other two players with links between the two sides after making the move to the Valley from Essex.
I know though against Queens Park Rangers, I used Charlie Austin as the key player which was a bit of an easy option yet for this match I believe that the key player for Dagenham is almost certainly veteran Striker:
Jamie Cuerton - At the age of 39 you’d expect Cureton to be making limit appearances yet ended last term as the Dagenham top goal scorer with 19-goals… In a career which has spanned 16 clubs, from the Premier League to League Two via South Korea, he may lack the pace of a young up and coming Striker but he has the brain to know where the goal is and our Defence will have to stay alert to stop him adding to an already impressive goal tally.
CHARLTON TEAM NEWSIt will once again remain to see what team Guy Luzon plays in what could be seen as a glorified Pre-Season Friendly for those still lacking match sharpness, with Dimitar Mitov still maybe too young for the First Team we should see Nick Pope once again in goal… As for the likes of others I’d be surprised if Naby Sarr, Zakarya Bergdich, Cristian Ceballos and Reza Ghoochanniejad don’t get given the chance to increase their fitness.
Pope
Solly – Sarr – Lennon – Bergdich
Charles-Cook – Cousins – Jackson – Ceballos
Ahearne-Grant – Ghoochanniejad
PREDICTIONWith Luzon admitting that he hates losing I can’t see the team taking this match easy, especially if it’s a chance for the fringe players to impress.
Charlton Athletic 4-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
Comments
Charles-Cook Sarr Lennon Holmes-Dennis
Ceballos Jackson Muldoon Bergdich
Ghoochannejhad Kennedy
Pope, Solly, Bauer, Cousins, Harriott, Ahearne-Grant, Watt
----RCC Sarr Bauer THD
JBG Jackson Ceballos Bergdich
-------KAG Reza
Mitov, Solly, Diarra, Lennon, Cousins, Harriott, Kennedy
is about what I'm expecting.
Another 2-0 win and we'll draw West Ham at Upton Park in the next round.
Barnes Sarr Lennon H-Dennis
C-Cook Jackson Ceballos Bergdich
A-Grant Makienok
2-2, we win on pens and get Bolton away in Round 2.
Pope
Charles Cook
Sarr
Bauer
Holmes Dennis
Ceballos
Jackson
Cousins
Bergdich
Makienok
Reza
I hope we have enough quality out there to win. A balance between young and old will be ideal.
£1 u18's with accompanying adult
My team, with a few sub options;
Pope
Charles Cook
Sarr
Bauer
Fox (Lennon)
Bergdich (THD)
Jackson
Cousins
Ceballos
Makienok (Watt)
A-Grant (Reza)