Charlton v Norwich City
League form apparently goes out of the window in the FA Cup - and Charlton will be hoping that rings true when Norwich City roll into SE7 for the third-round fixture on Saturday (3pm) for what will be Phil Parkinson's first match as permanent Addicks boss.
Charlton will enter 2009 at the bottom of the Championship following Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, a loss that led to the equalling of the club's worst-ever run of 16 league games without a win.
But this weekend's match offers the opportunity to play without the pressure of league points at stake, although that can equally be applied to the struggling Canaries.
Two of the club's loan recruits - Jay McEveley and Martyn Waghorn - have been denied permission by their clubs to feature, so a much-changed Charlton side is expected to be on show.
After a gutsy 2-2 draw with London rivals Queens Park Rangers at The Valley on Boxing Day, the Addicks began the clash with the Blades in the best possible fashion, leading 1-0 at half-time thanks to Hameur Bouazza's 33rd-minute strike.
But it all went wrong in a second period mostly spent in a defensive frame of mind, and, when Stephen Quinn equalised with 25 minutes to go, Charlton's heads dropped and there looked like being only one winner - United.
Danny Webber put the Blades in front and Quinn grabbed his second to complete the victory and leave the Addicks four points adrift off the bottom of the table and five off safety, with a crucial clash against managerless Nottingham Forest up next on Saturday, January 10th.
Before that, however, is the cup date with the Canaries and, while it may be dismissed by some as irrelevant when league survival is on the line, a win for Charlton and the confidence it may gain could be just the catalyst needed to kickstart their flagging season.
The Addicks will also be aware that they have crashed out at the third-round stage for the past two seasons, so will therefore be bidding to prevent an unwanted hat-trick against Glenn Roeder's City, who defeated Charlton 1-0 at Carrow Road just two weeks ago.
If nothing else, there is also the carrot of a £75,000 prize to the winners of the cup game, and a potentially lucrative fourth-round tie.
The opposition
Former Norwich striker Rob Earnshaw came off the bench to seal a vital 3-2 Championship win for Forest at Carrow Road on Sunday.
Earnshaw's late strike came after Matt Thornhill had smashed in from the edge of the area and Lewis McGugan had scored a fine solo goal to give Forest a much-needed boost at the end of a traumatic festive period which saw the departure of boss Colin Calderwood on Boxing Day.
Defender Ian Breckin and forward Joe Garner did divert in own goals as Norwich attempted a late rally but Earnshaw's strike ensured Forest claimed the points.
Roeder steered the Canaries to a remarkable recovery last season when he took over, but they end 2008 back in the position they started it in after a 14th defeat of the season.
Former West Ham United manager Roeder admitted his side deserved to come away from the Forest game empty handed, stating: "I've praised the players quite a lot recently and they have deserved it, but today was as poor as the players have been for a long while.
"There were periods in that game when we seemed to be strangers. We didn't seem to know each other's way of playing and that was very disappointing.
"Not everyone played poorly but half a dozen players were out of sorts and we were nowhere near what we are capable of."
Roeder blamed a sluggish start for a defeat that leaves Norwich just two points above the relegation zone, adding: "We started poorly and were not quick out of the blocks at all - and that handed the initiative to Forest.
"We played too much tippy-tappy football in the middle of the park and didn't pose enough threat, but in saying that, we've had enough good chances in the second half to have got something out of the game. But I've got to admit that we did not deserve it."
With the league at the forefront of his mind, Roeder could make changes for the game, although Scotland international David Marshall is likely to start between the sticks.
A back four of Jon Otsemobor, ex-Tottenham Hotspur man Gary Doherty, Fulham loanee Elliot Omozusi and Ryan Bertrand played against Forest. Adam Drury is an option for Roeder, who is without centre-half Dejan Stefanovic for the remainder of the season with a knee problem. John Kennedy is also back at Celtic after a knee injury cut short his loan spell.
A five-man midfield is favoured by Roeder, with Lee Croft, David Bell, Sammy Clingan and Matthew Pattison starting behind the floating Wes Hoolahan on Sunday. Darel Russell and Mark Fotheringham are waiting in the wings if called upon.
Antoine Sibierski, Omar Koroma and Carl Cort will be battling it out for the striking role with Leroy Lita completing his loan spell and returning to Reading.
Roeder, though, is keen to sign Lita, who scored three times in an eight-game loan for Charlton last season, until the end of the term, saying: "We would very much like to keep him. Reading know that and we will be working on that over the next couple of days.
"He can stay on a second half of the season loan - we would like to do that and Reading know that. Whether we can achieve that we will have to wait and see, but we will certainly be working hard on trying to make that happen and, having spoken to Leroy a few times in the last week or so, he would very much like to stay.
"The club is being very supportive in trying to make that happen. Of course we would like him to stay. The squad at the moment is very, very lightweight to say the least, everyone knows that."
Past meetings
Lita hit the only goal of the game when the two sides clashed in the league on December 20th, losing Mark Hudson to fire past Rob Elliot on the hour mark.
The equivalent fixture last term also took place during the festive season, when the two clubs shared a 1-1 draw that featured a red card for on-loan centre-half Sam Sodje.
There was drama when the sides met earlier in the season at The Valley when substitute Izale McLeod won two penalties in the final five minutes and Andy Reid converted both for a 2-0 win. Dion Dublin was dismissed in the last minute following a clash with Danny Mills.
Prior to last term's draw, Charlton's previous trip to Norwich came in the Premier League in April 2005.
The Canaries took the spoils on that occasion, as an 88th-minute strike from former Addicks man Mathias Svensson won the game and maintained their hope of beating the drop until it was eventually extinguished on the final day of the season.
The Addicks had thumped Norwich 4-0 at The Valley earlier that season thanks to a Jonatan Johansson double and further efforts from Paul Konchesky and Jason Euell.
The first meeting between the sides in the league came on Boxing Day 1921, with Billy Cox and Dan Bailey netting in a 2-1 win for the Addicks in front of 14,000 fans.
Back in the days where return matches came quickly after the first fixture, Norwich triumphed 2-0 at their former ground The Nest a day later, and the same venue was the location for a game on Boxing Day 1922 when Charlton ran out 3-2 victors after beating the Canaries at home on Christmas Day.
The sides have never been tied together in the FA Cup before but Charlton have the edge in the overall stakes, winning 31 games to Norwich's 25, with 17 draws.
Team news
Phil Parkinson will be forced into at least two enforced changes against Norwich, with McEveley and Waghorn not being given permission to play in the cup, although Bouazza is available after Fulham agreed to the Addicks' request.
Derby County and Sunderland respectively have told Charlton that they don't want their players to be cup-tied in the event of their potential return to the clubs, but there was a further boost on Wednesday with news of the return of Darren Ambrose from his loan spell, and consequent availability for Parkinson on Saturday.
Nicky Weaver will be pushing Elliot for a recall in goal, while Darren Randolph is also available for the first time in several months after his loan spell at Hereford United was cancelled at the onset of January.
Grant Basey or Kelly Youga could replace on-loan Derby star McEveley at left-back. Another option for Parkinson would be to retain Basey, who played in midfield at Bramall Lane on Sunday, on the left flank.
Hudson and Jonathan Fortune are expected to continue at centre-half, but Martin Cranie has returned to Portsmouth after the end of his loan spell, so his right-back spot could be taken by Yassin Moutaouakil or Jose Semedo.
In midfield, Lloyd Sam or Ambrose are likely to line up on the right, with two from Nicky Bailey, Matt Holland, Semedo, Josh Wright or Jonjo Shelvey in the centre and Bouazza or Basey on the left. The game is Bailey's last before a one-match ban for the Forest encounter after picking up five yellow cards.
Deon Burton played on his own up front against United and will be hoping to retain his place as his switch from Sheffield Wednesday is made permanent at the start of January, but Andy Gray, Svetoslav Todorov, McLeod and the transfer-listed Chris Dickson will all be itching to start. If not, at least two are likely to earn a place amongst the seven substitutes allowed in FA Cup games. If Hudson, Burton or Youga are booked against Norwich, they will join Bailey in missing the clash with Forest through suspension.
Ticket news
U18s are able to watch the FA Cup third-round fixture with Norwich for just £1. Adults will pay £15, while it's £10 for over 60s and U21s, tickets are currently on general sale.
Places can be purchased in person from the Valley commercial centre and Bexleyheath retail outlet and on the 0871 226 1905 hotline. What's more, seats will be available from the ground in advance of kick-off, although fans are urged to purchase their seats as early as possible to avoid queues at the commercial centre.
See an extensive list of Charlton's Christmas and new-year opening times by clicking here.
A substantial Valley Express service will run to the home cup tie, although a number of pick-ups will not operate. These are Ash, Borough Green, Culverstone Green, Darenth, Dartford, Eastbourne, East Grinstead, Godstone, Gravesend, Greenhithe, Hailsham, Horsham, Littlebourne, Longfield, Meopham, Rye, Swanscombe, Vigo Village, Westerham and Wingham. The fare will be £6-per-head return, and for more details about the pick-up points, times and availability, click here.
If a replay is required, this will be played at Carrow Road on Tuesday, January 13th (7.45pm).
Supporters not attending the game can listen to full BBC LONDON audio commentary thanks to the club's new video website at CAFC TV. Updates will also be broadcast on BBC LONDON 94.9.
Fans can see CAFC TV - and sign up - here.
Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Directions | © Charlton Athletic 2010
