County welcome League One Charlton Athletic to Edgeley Park on Wednesday night live on ITV4, looking to finish the job and secure a place in the Third Round of the FA Cup for the second time in three years.
Myles Hippolyte’s 97th minute header at The Valley last week secured County a replay – a first ever draw between the two sides, and a result we thoroughly deserved following a strong second-half showing against The Addicks.
Having built on that result with a dominant 5-0 win at Hartlepool at the weekend, Dave Challinor’s side go into this game full of confidence and looking to cause an upset – with fellow League Two club Walsall awaiting the winners in the Third Round.
Coming to the game on Wednesday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
Don’t forget, County fans can now park at the NCP Car Park at Stockport Train Station for a discounted price of just £3 on a match day, via the ParkPass App! Click here for more information.
Since we last met:
11 days can be a long time in football, and much has changed off the pitch at Charlton since that meeting at The Valley.
The struggling Addicks took on Cheltenham Town in League One on Friday night and were once again undone by a late goal at The Valley, as Alfie May capitalised on a mistake by goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray to give the away side a 1-0 win.
Frustration from the home fans greeted the full time whistle, following a result that leaves the side in 17th place in League One and seven points clear of the relegation zone after picking up two points from their last five games.
It was a result that spelt the end of manager Ben Garner’s time in charge, with the news breaking on Monday evening that the Club had parted company with the 42-year-old just six months into the three-year deal that he signed in the Summer after joining from Swindon.
Despite success in the Carabao Cup, guiding Charlton into the fourth round where they host Brighton later this month, Garner won just three of his final 16 league games in charge of the Club, a run dating back to August.
First-team coach Anthony Hayes has been appointed as caretaker boss whilst the Club search for a permanent replacement, and will take charge of Wednesday’s game alongside former Addicks captain, Jason Pearce.
Hayes has been coaching at the Club since 2016, having been involved in their academy set-up before stepping up to the first-team last season, and takes the job just days after gaining his UEFA Pro-License on Sunday.
His first task will be to address Charlton’s poor record on the road this season, with the side picking up just eight points from ten away games in League One – winning just once, at Shrewsbury in October.
Match Stats:
- County have lost just one of their last ten FA Cup games at Edgeley Park, winning eight, with our only defeat in that time coming to Premier League West Ham.
- Our last, and only, previous home win against Charlton came back in February 1998, as two goals from Kevin Cooper and an Andy Mutch goal secured a 3-0 win.
- Ben Hinchliffe has now kept seven clean sheets in his last ten games, as he closes in on his 300th appearance for the Club.
