Charlton Athletics’ attention turns back to the FA Cup on Wednesday night, after a decent draw at Portsmouth last Saturday. They will hope to avoid an upset – for the second time – when they travel to the humble confines of Cray Valley Paper Mills.
The first round replay is a game that the Isthmian League South East side are looking forward to, having secured a replay after their efforts in securing a 1-1 draw in a game that was televised live.
On the other side of that is Michael Appleton, the Addicks boss that knows that anything short of a win and advancing into the next round would leave him with some big questions to answer.
Whereas last time out in the first game, he made a whole raft of changes in an effort to rest players, and give others some much needed minutes, this time his selection will be enforced with several players out on international duty.
https://twitter.com/CAFCofficial/status/1724370336731550148
The South London Press have reported on this today, and the Addicks gaffer said. “We have to be as humble and respectful as we possibly can but, at the same time, be ruthless. You have got to play the game in front of you.
“Our players, at some point, have been in the situation and environment they are going to be faced with on Wednesday night. If they haven’t then they have got to learn really, really quickly. I see it as an exciting game, more than anything.
“It is an opportunity to answer one or two questions and hopefully we will do.”
The unpredictability of non-league teams in the FA Cup is always a cause for concern. Having had one experience of Cray Valley, Appleton has been keen to stress the importance of not being complacent.
“We didn’t prepare any differently at all. The footage we had on them wasn’t as good as you’d expect if you received it from a League One club but we had an understanding of every single one of their players.
“We knew they had got a bit of pace in the wide areas and they are comfortable defending in a low block and that they are hard to break down. We have to move the ball quicker, take less touches of the ball and switch play as well as we can. If we do that it gives us the best possible chance to win the game.”
Of course this is one extra game that Charlton could’ve done without, but they only have themselves to blame as they didn’t see the original tie through.
There has been some debate about scrapping FA Cup replays to ease fixture congestion.
“If you don’t get the job done then that’s what you’ve got to do – face another fixture. I’m not going to be sat here telling anyone there shouldn’t be replays. The reality is that Cray earned the right to bring us to their own backyard to try and beat us. That’s what they will try and do.”
Writer’s View
Michael Appleton will prepare his Charlton Athletic team for a battle, as that is exactly what they will be involved in if they let non-league Cray Valley PM any sniff of an upset. The professional team will have to be just that and be clinical so to avoid an upset.
The winner of the tie gets an away trip to Kent where Gillingham await. Not quite the biggest incentive, but beyond that is the third round and the potential of an upset chance of their own.
