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MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs Stevenage | Tuesday 12th August 2025 - 7:45pm KO

ForeverAddicktedForeverAddickted
in General Charlton
League Cup First Round
Charlton Athletic vs Stevenage
Tuesday 12th August 2025 - 7:45pm KO
Referee: Craig Hicks

Our 2025/26 campaign couldn't have started any better on Saturday afternoon, with Harvey Knibbs scoring a late winner over Watford and so cementing our League spot in the Championship Play-Offs. However its time to take a brief break from League action, and turn our attention to the League Cup, a competition which going by most seasons, will be see short involvement.

The Opposition
Name: Stevenage - Manager: Alex Revell
Division: League One (5th)
Ground: Broadhall Way

Ah this upcoming fixture looks much better isn't it... Heading up to the Championship, whilst joyful is equally like starting a new job... You don't know anyone, and tend to get shunned until they realise just how weird you really are... Not that I'm talking from experience.

On the other hand, Tuesday nights encounter will see us hosting a familiar face, with Stevenage a side that we faced in League One action back in February, with the hosts running out 2-0 winners, courtesy of goals from Matt Godden and Luke Berry... In terms of League Cup pedigree and the visitors to the Valley, well they don't have the best of records either, having exited the League Cup at the first stage in five of the last eight occasions.

In terms of what we can expect from Stevenage on Tuesday, well there will be reunion of sorts, with Chem Campbell having signed from Wolves for an undisclosed fee in the summer, and so bringing his spell in the loan wilderness. Stevenage themselves have started the season strongly, with a 3-2 win at Blackpool, and 1-0 win over Northampton, keeping their small 100% record in tact.

With Championship survival the greatest prize, another defeat at this stage of the League Cup wont be the worst thing in the world

Charlton Team News
Am sure Nathan Jones on the other hand, will have no plans to give up in any competition quite so easily, and with a bigger squad to keep happy this campaign, its a chance for some more fringe individuals to get some minutes. The likes of Harvey Knibbs and Charlie Kelman, didn't exactly get a full Pre-Season, having joined the club late, so this will be an opportunity to hand them some more minutes.

Elsewhere and Will Mannion was a welcome return to the bench on Saturday, he himself has missed the entirety of Pre-Season, so could be a good chance for him to earn some minutes himself. It could also be a chance for Thomas Kaminski to get further experience behind his Defence ahead of bigger challenges. Whilst its a chance for the likes of Ibrahim Fullah or Micah Mbick to get minutes in Senior Football.

Mannion
Z.Mitchell - A.Mitchell - Gillesphey
Apter - Coventry - Anderson - Bell
Knibbs
Kelman - Olaofe

Substitutes: Kaminski - Jones - Ramsay - Enslin - Fullah - Costello - Berry - Mbick - Leaburn
«134

Comments

  • Clem_SnideClem_Snide
    Is this being streamed on Charlton TV? Have a vague notion that they weren’t allowed to show these games last year?
  • Weegie AddickWeegie Addick
    edited August 10
    Think it will be Enslin and JRC for Bell and Apter. 
    Be great to see Fullah with a run out too, though maybe coming on as sub for Berry.
    Are there still any rules about having to start a number of players from the previous league match? I’m assuming not.
  • ForeverAddicktedForeverAddickted
    edited August 10
    Clem_Snide said:
    Is this being streamed on Charlton TV? Have a vague notion that they weren’t allowed to show these games last year?
    Yes it will be on CharltonTV

    All League Cup games get shown on Sky Sports Plus from last season onwards now, we got to see Birmingham just about beat us 1-0 last year.

    Weegie Addick said:
    Think it will be Enslin and JRC for Bell and Apter. 
    Be great to see Fullah with a run out too, though maybe coming on as sub for Berry.
    Are there still any rules about having to start a number of players from the previous league match? I’m assuming not.
    Forgot about Costello's ability to play Right-Back... it was just the EFL Trophy that had that silly rule about previous league matches I think.
  • se9addickse9addick
    Weegie Addick said:
    Think it will be Enslin and JRC for Bell and Apter. 
    Be great to see Fullah with a run out too, though maybe coming on as sub for Berry.
    Are there still any rules about having to start a number of players from the previous league match? I’m assuming not.
    No, not like the JPT. 
  • IR94IR94
    edited August 10
    Looking forward to this one, nice to see some more of the squad get minutes. For me, 
    Mannion
    Z.Mitchell - A.Mitchell - Gillesphey
    Apter - Costello - Anderson - Enslin
    Knibbs
    Kelman - Olaofe

    Kelman needs a chance to get some confidence. Hopefully Berry and Godden can get some minutes as well.
  • MarcusH26MarcusH26
    Would expect pretty much full rotation 

    Mannion
    Z.Mitchell A.Mitchell Gillesphey

    JRC Anderson Coventry Enslin
                             Knibbs 

                      Tanto Leaburn 

    AMB
    Bell
    Ramsay
    Apter
    Fullah
    Berry
    Doc
    Kelman 
    Dixon 


  • wolfgangwolfgang
    IR94 said:
    Looking forward to this one, nice to see some more of the squad get minutes. For me, 
    Mannion
    Z.Mitchell - A.Mitchell - Gillesphey
    Apter - Costello - Anderson - Enslin
    Knibbs
    Kelman - Olaofe

    Kelman needs a chance to get some confidence. Hopefully Berry and Godden can get some minutes as well.
    I like your team, except that I would play Coventry instead of Anderson to maintain some shape with all the changes.

    Berry is way down the queue to play these days (Cambridge beckons), and I believe Godden is not yet fit enough, though I look forward to his return. Leaburn look lively on Saturday so I hope he gets at least another 30 mins, or 45 mins if the medical staff think that is safe,
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  • NabySarrNabySarr
    Sage said:
    Would be really disappointed if Fullah doesn’t get a start. I’d like to see him play a good chunk of minutes in a competitive game against decent opponents. If that happens and he impresses, he’ll put himself in a great position going into this season.

    Leaburn and Tanto to start too, should be interesting game.
    I think Fullah will play wing back, it’s where we are light and we will want to save Apter and Edwards for Saturday. 
  • NabySarrNabySarr
    I’d start Leaburn and Kelman, they are the ones that need minutes. Olaofe played enough in pre-season and can come on again from the bench maybe even at half time for one of those 2 starters to keep him ticking 
  • killerandflashkillerandflash
    With our large squad, I imagine NJ will want a reasonable cup run to give minutes to more of our players, rather than seeing it as a nuisance.

    Stevenage won't have that luxury, though maybe might be motivated to avenge the 3rd round penalty shootout win back at their place in 2022, the EFL Cup run being the highpoint of that mediocre season. Looking up our team that day, TC as an unused sub is the only player still at the club.

    https://www.charltonafc.com/news/charlton-progress-penalty-shootout-thriller
  • stoneroses19stoneroses19
    We went for a strong side last season in League Cup (losing to Birmingham in 1st round).


  • letthegoodtimesrollletthegoodtimesroll
    Can’t see us being in the Championship making much of a difference to the attendance but you never know. This was how many turned up to see the game against Birmingham a year ago



    Whoever plays for us is definitely going to want to earn their place in Saturday’s line up, especially the strikers but also that ‘second  wave’, so that might make things a bit more interesting tomorrow night.
  • Char1t0nChar1t0n
    edited August 11
    For any one interested, I have a spare ticket for this game in the North Stand E Block, no cost, just message me.

    Once again I apologies if this is not how things are done on here, new to Charlton Life despite supporting the club for over 20 years.

    THIS TICKET IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE - THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO MESSAGED REGARDING THIS :smile:

  • letthegoodtimesrollletthegoodtimesroll
    Addickted2TheReds said:
    If Coventry, Jones or Ramsay are within 5 miles of The Valley tomorrow night I will be annoyed.
    They need the minutes with their new team mates. They don’t need to do the full 90 but they do need to be playing.
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  • 801912601801912601
    Can’t see Knibbs starting as can’t risk an injury if he’s had little or no preseason
  • soapboxsamsoapboxsam
    Addickted2TheReds said:
    If Coventry, Jones or Ramsay are within 5 miles of The Valley tomorrow night I will be annoyed.

    I hope they are there watching their team mates !
  • soapboxsamsoapboxsam
    801912601 said:
    Can’t see Knibbs starting as can’t risk an injury if he’s had little or no preseason

    Harvey said he was blowing after his short cameo on Saturday as he had no pre season matches.
    45 minutes for Knibbs either starting or coming off the bench to help his match fitness.

    Charlie Kelman needs game time as well to get him back on his form and fitness of last season and work on his confidence as he makes the step up to the Championship.

  • SouthbankSouthbank
    IR94 said:
    Looking forward to this one, nice to see some more of the squad get minutes. For me, 
    Mannion
    Z.Mitchell - A.Mitchell - Gillesphey
    Apter - Costello - Anderson - Enslin
    Knibbs
    Kelman - Olaofe

    Kelman needs a chance to get some confidence. Hopefully Berry and Godden can get some minutes as well.
    Godden out til September
  • SouthbankSouthbank
    stoneroses19 said:
    We went for a strong side last season in League Cup (losing to Birmingham in 1st round).


    Interesting that of that 'strong side' only 3 were starters on Saturday.
  • soapboxsamsoapboxsam
    Southbank said:
    stoneroses19 said:
    We went for a strong side last season in League Cup (losing to Birmingham in 1st round).


    Interesting that of that 'strong side' only 3 were starters on Saturday.

    We are such a stronger starting 11 now and we have 16 players on match days we can have confidence in whether we get the rub of the green or not we will be competitive.
  • FishCostaFortuneFishCostaFortune
    I don’t think Jones is going to make as many changes as some are suggesting. He alluded to it a little in his post match press conference.

    Knibbs, Berry nor Leaburn will start I imagine because they’ve not had as much of a pre-season, and I also can’t see him completely changing the back line.

                               Mannion
    Apter - Ramsey - A.Mitchell - Gillesphey - Bell
                 Rankin-Costello Docherty
                                Carey
                         Kelman, Olafe

    Is how I imagine we may line up.
  • soapboxsamsoapboxsam
    edited August 11
    Callumcafc said:
    This has got 0-1 Stevenage and focus on the league written all over it.

    History might agree with you but If the squad players want to make the 20 on match days then likes of the Mitchell brothers, Phil and Grant will need to play well.(If selected)
    Big game for Mannion as well (if selected) as he had a strong 2nd half to last season with commanding his area.
  • cliveclive
    There will be delays in Woolwich, Plumstead and the surrounding areas due to bridge parapet replacement and resurfacing works on Pettman Crescent.
    11 August to 5 September: lane closures and temporary traffic lights.
    28 August to 31 August: full closure at Plumstead High Street junction.
    Read more about the diversions: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/roadwork-delays
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