County will be looking to reach the third round of the Emirates FA Cup for the second time in three seasons at the weekend, as we travel to League One Charlton Athletic looking to cause an upset.
Dave Challinor’s side booked their place in the second round with a resounding 4-0 win against League Two high-fliers Swindon Town, despite making seven changes for that game at Edgeley Park. It’s the third straight season in which County have made it through to the second round of the competition.
Despite suffering a first defeat in eight games last time out, confidence remains high around Edgeley Park after a good display against league leaders Leyton Orient, and Dave Challinor will be keen to use the Cup as an opportunity to build momentum heading back into the league campaign.
Charlton also come into this game off the back of a defeat in their last league game, having lost 1-0 at Port Vale last Saturday – a result that leaves them sat 14th in League One after one win in their last five.
They’ve had better luck in cup competitions so far this season, and comfortably booked their place in the second round with a 4-1 win against non-league Coalville at The Valley. The Addicks are looking to reach the third round for the second successive year, having lost to Norwich City at that stage last season.
Our Opponents:
There was a change in management over the Summer at The Valley, as former player turned manager Johnnie Jackson departed the Club in May after leading The Addicks to a 13th place finish in League One.
The Club soon turned their attention towards Swindon Town boss Ben Garner, eventually agreeing a deal to sign the 42-year-old on a three-year-deal after he guided the Robins to the play-off semi-finals in League Two last season.
Too many draws have been a feature of his first few months in charge of the Club – nine of them already in the league from just 19 games, with five wins and five defeats. That leaves them 14th in the league going into this game, six points off a play-off spot and ten above the relegation zone.
They’ve had success in cup competitions so far this season – still in the Carabao Cup after wins over Stevenage, Walsall and Championship side QPR, the Addicks will host Premier League Brighton in the Fourth Round next month. They also made it out of their Papa John’s Trophy group, before exiting the competition to League One leaders Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night.
One thing they have been able to rely on is a really solid home record, having picked up 16 points from nine league games at The Valley this season, compared to just eight points from their ten games on the road. It gives them the sixth best home record in League One.
Already dealing with something of an injury crisis, the Addick’s preparations were dealt a further blow in midweek with news that striker Jayden Stockley had been handed a retrospective three-match ban, following an off-the-ball incident in that defeat at Port Vale last weekend.
Garner himself will be returning from a two-game touchline ban for this game, having been sent off for improper conduct in his side’s recent draw with Ipswich Town.
Match Stats:
- This will be just the ninth ever meeting between the two sides, and first since March 2010. County have won just two of the previous meetings, whilst there has never been a draw between the two teams.
- Our only previous win at The Valley came in September 1997, winning 3-1 in the Championship thanks to Brett Angell, Alun Armstrong and an own goal.
- County have knocked a League One side out of the FA Cup in each of the last two seasons, beating Bolton Wanderers last year and knocking out Rochdale in 2020/21.
