Crawley Town v Charlton Athletic
Tuesday 29th August 2017 … 7:45pm Kick-Off
Football League Trophy (Group Stage) – Round One
IntroductionSo that two matches on our away travels now complete… Defeat against Norwich in the League Cup last week was followed up by an impressive 2-0 win over Rotherham United, which despite this early stage of the season leaves the Addicks just short of the promotion places. Once again though it’s time to take a break from League action as we begin our campaign in the Football League Trophy with a trip to West Sussex and League Two: Crawley Town.
The OppositionName: Crawley Town |
Manager: Harry Kewell
Ground: CheckaTrade.com Stadium
When Harry Kewell was sacked as Head Coach of Watford U23s, few would expect him to pop up as the First-Team Manager of Crawley Town just a month later, yet that is where one of Australia’s most famous Footballers has ended up and you could say it’s been a bit of a learning curve for a man taking his first proper steps in League Management… After a steady pre-season which saw Crawley losing just two games they enter this game having just one game all season, although thankfully for Kewell that came last time out against high fliers: Swindon Town in what was a 3-1 win.
Yet the Football League Trophy is a whole different kettle of fish when it comes to form… Last season is a perfect example with Charlton being one of many teams favouring the League over a competition which fans have no belief in… Crawley last term the only side to defeat Charlton in normal time went on to reach the next round yet defeat against Coventry City in that next round quickly saw an end to the Red Devil’s hopes of a Wembley appearance.
One of the new changes to the competition has been the fact teams now don’t all play their games at the same time as others and the two other teams in our Group (Portsmouth and Fulham U21s) have already begun their Trophy campaigns which saw a 1-1 draw with Fulham taking the bonus point following their win in the penalty shootout that came at the end of the draw… Should Charlton or Crawley wish to advance to the next round, both teams already have some catching up to do!!
Charlton Team NewsOne of the more ridiculous rules in this competition is the fact that teams must play four players who appeared in their last League fixture, failure to do so and as Luton accepted last season then fines do get received… With the transfer window still open till Thursday you’d hope that Charlton wont risk the fine of £5,000 as this could jeopardise our attempts to sign a Striker!!
Two first-team players who should be missing this Tuesday will be Josh Magennis and Jay Dasilva who will have linked up with their respective countries for International Duty yet Karl Robinson did confirm over the weekend that Ben Reeves should be fit to play in this fixture, no doubt giving Billy Clarke a deserved rest.
Phillips
Dijksteel | Bauer | Konsa | Jackson
Crofts | Forster-Caskey
Ahearne-Grant | Reeves | Fosu
Novak
Substitutes Bench: Amos | Sarr | Pearce | Charles-Cook | Holmes | Aribo | Hackett-Fairchild
PredictionWe all make a mockery of this competition yet ultimately it’s down to Karl Robinson if he decides that he wants Charlton to have a cup run yet the fact that MK Dons under our Manager never went beyond the second round is some proof that he won’t bother… Defeat against Crawley won’t be great for the fringe players yet with bigger fish to fry this season we need to concentrate on other more urgent matters.
Comments
2-0 to us
As we're playing a L2 team, it makes no sense whatsoever.
Am I right in thinking that DaSilva will also miss a league game? If so I'd try Sarr or Barnes at LB and have Jacko in CM. We need to at least look at another option for that LB role. If we can't find a better option that Jacko then so be it but we have to try.
Phillips
Barnes Dijksteel Konsa Sarr
Jackson Aribo
Charles-Cook Reeves KAG
Novak
AMB Bowry Edwards Crofts Lapslie RHF Bowyer
Phillips
Dijksteel, Konsa, Sarr, Barnes
Aribo, Crofts
Charles-cook, Reeves, Ahearne- Grant
Hackett-Fairchild.
Interesting comments from Robinson, looks as though I was right to leave Lapslie on the bench (despite since changing him for Aribo)... Only going to be four subs as well with Johnnie Jackson and Lee Novak on there.
Makes you wonder (1) who'll be starting @ Left-Back (2) Looks like Reece Hackett-Fairchild will start which he deserves if so.
Also if we are going in with four subs shows how seriously we're taking the competition!!
Hopefully we can gain promotion this season and never have to worry about it again.
2.0 Charlton btw
Be an advanced competition like the Kent Senior Cup to give some great experience to the kids.
Told you.