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Charlton v Doncaster | Sat 01 Dec | 3pm KO | Match Preview, Predictions, News & Views

Charlton Athletic v Doncaster Rovers
Saturday 1st December 2018 … 3pm Kick-Off
FA Cup Second Round Proper

Introduction

Gawd its irritating isnt it… Have a nice run of cup games in both the FA Cup and Football League Trophy and then find your potential run of form ruined by two needless League games. Well the way the last few weeks have gone it certainly feels as though cup games are priority over the league, purely with the amount that have been played – This Saturday will see the Addicks looking to reach the FA Cup third round where a tie against the big boys could potentially await; the victors of Chorley: Doncaster Rovers are all that stand in our way!!

The Opposition
Name: Doncaster Rovers | Manager: Grant McCann
FA Cup 1st Round (Replay): Doncaster Rovers 7-0 Chorley

Seeing that we’ve already faced a League encounter with Donny I thought I’d go down memory lane this week;

The FA Cup has never been a happy competition for Doncaster Rovers; the fifth round (on four occasions over a five year period in the 50s) is the furthest they've ever gotten, yet during their time out of the Championship have only failed to reach the third round on one occasion, losing 2-1 at Oldham Athletic in 2016/17.

Their association with the competition began in the 1924/25 season, losing again 2-1 to Norwich City in the first round... For Charlton that season too is one for the history books as it is our sole FA Cup campaign that saw the Addicks failing to get through the Qualifying Rounds, despite beating Dulwich Hamlet (4-0) in the fifth qualifying round; Walter Rayner and his reds would be defeated by Queens Park Rangers (2-1) in Sixth (and last) Qualifying round that year... QPR would go on to lose in the First Round at the hands of Stockport County whilst Norwich would bow out in the second round against the giants that were Notts County.

Of course as already mentioned, being an all League One affair these two have already met and only met a few weeks ago at the Valley; Doncaster would prove to be a difficult opponent, and with despite Charlton just about deserving the win that day, will no doubt be difficult to beat again this time round.

Charlton Team News
When he made his return in the FA Cup against Mansfield am sure we all thought that an appearance in the league would quickly follow yet for Billy Clarke that hasn’t been the case… Post-Match against Bristol Rovers on Saturday; Lee Bowyer would confirm that Clarke’s only issue at the moment is his rustiness from having been a year out of Football and so wasn’t quite ready for League action – Having been involved again for the U23s midweek you’d expect the important playmaker to try and improve his match sharpness against the type of opposition he’ll be coming up against on a weekly basis.

Elsewhere you’d naturally expect Chris Solly to take a rest so he can be prioritised for League games whilst Patrick Bauer only now back from injury could also be rested so that he’s fresh for two vital games coming up in the next few weeks – One player back in the squad will surely be the cup specialist: Toby Stevenson, having been on the bench for the last two fixtures will see Saturday as a good chance for him to reclaim third spot in the goal scoring charts having by ousted by Joe Aribo.

Phillips
Dijksteel | Bielik | Sarr | Stevenson
Marshall | Clarke | Lapslie | Fosu
Ajose | Taylor

Substitutes Bench: Steer | Pearce | Morgan | Grant | Hackett-Fairchild

Prediction
Following the end of the first Mansfield tie; Bowyer would confirm that the draw was the worst possible outcome for the side – On this occasion a draw may be the best outcome as it would mean another re-arrangement of the Portsmouth game, defeat though wouldn’t be the end of the world and so allow the Addicks to concentrate on the main prize in May!!
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Comments

  • Comfortable home win 4-0.
  • Depends entirely on what sort of team Bowyer picks I suppose.
    Does he rest a few players and not risk anymore injuries?
    I'm going to this game and it would be nice to see us win and get a good draw in the third round.
    On the other hand I am also going to Blackpool next week and that is far more important in my opinion.
    3.1 Charlton.
    In Bowyer we trust.
  • 2-1 Charlton , Taylor and Grant with the goals.
  • Charlton 2-1 win COYR might aswell go for it properly and hopefully we can get a glamour 3rd round tie
  • I'm so in 2 minds about going to this, if i go and Bowyer puts out the kids i'm going to be very pissed off! Hopefully the fact its a Saturday game means that he will play the proper team (minus the players @ForeverAddickted mentioned)
  • Would be nice to go through and get one of the 'big' teams in the 3rd round - but I, along with most I guess, see getting out of this crap division as the priority. Team will be a mixture of 'regulars' and squad players but should still have enough to beat Donny.
    Having said that they quite impressed me in the first period of the league match - and of course could also depend on the team they put out - as they are also going for promotion. Hard to call, could win but might go to a replay. I'll stick my neck out and go for 2-0 to the Addicks.
  • edited November 2018
    Personally think that Ward will play some part, we have a week between this game and the Blackpool one so it’s not a three day turnaround. Not a clue about the rest of the team to be honest, think that Bows could definitely change a lot of the team. We also can have seven subs, so I would assume that players like Maloney will be in the squad, as will Reeves.

    My complete guess of the team would be something like:
    Phillips
    Dijksteel Bauer Sarr
    Marshall Lapslie Clarke Stevenson
    Ward
    Ajose Taylor

    Steer, Pearce, Maloney, Morgan, Reeves, Fosu, Grant

    Team could easily switch into a 4-1-2-1-2 with Dijksteel at the base of the diamond and Marshall dropping to right back, if necessary.
  • I am surprised you have not included Reeves FA, Bowyer said he was not quite ready for Tuesday, but I would have thought he may be involved in this one. As it is at home, even though we know it will not be our best team, if Taylor starts 2-0 if not 1-0, (that is if we can win 1-0) :smiley:
  • Two in-form teams .. result will depend (as hath been writ above) on the selected sides .. do the respective managers rest a few for the arduous league campaign to come, or go all out for cup glory ? .. answers on a postcard please

    On the guess that each side will be a 50/50 split between first team regulars and fringe players, I reckon that we have the stronger all round squad .. therefore:

    CAFC 2 v Doncaster Rovers 1 (and Man Utd at home in Round 3)
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  • That is the team I think he’ll go with, will rest a few but play to win with a replay probably less favourable than a loss. All depends how they approach the game really if they play full strength I think we could get beat. I’d like to see Aribo start as the energy levels look low when he’s not in the team.

    Optimistic 2-1 us. Taylor & Fosu
  • Scrappy home win.
    2-1
  • expect doncaster to play a weakened side although they do not have a game tuesday, there next 2 are bristol rovers a then a derby of scunthorpe at home, i would like to see us get to the 3rd round get one of the premier league big boys away have a day out lose by a small margin then save the wembley trip till may and get promoted via playoffs.

    what will be quite annoying is resting players saturday to be turned over badly by pompey on tuesday.
  • 0-4 and we focus on the league after fielding a weak side.
  • expect doncaster to play a weakened side although they do not have a game tuesday, there next 2 are bristol rovers a then a derby of scunthorpe at home, i would like to see us get to the 3rd round get one of the premier league big boys away have a day out lose by a small margin then save the wembley trip till may and get promoted via playoffs.

    what will be quite annoying is resting players saturday to be turned over badly by pompey on tuesday.

    We've got Pompey Tuesday week 11th Dec.
  • If Doncaster play their 1st team: away win
    If Doncaster play a weaken team: draw
    If Charlton play 1st team : draw
    If Charlton play a weaken team: away win

    Conculsion: Doncaster to advance to 3rd round after winning either the match at valley or replay.

    2nd conculsion: Dont support Cafc if you want a long cup run.

    Can we move on to the League where we need to at least draw two difficult away fixtures.
  • “Ben Reeves will play on Saturday,” he said. “On the injury side of things, who plays on Saturday is more about how tired they are today [Thursday], there's a lot of tight groins and stiffness.
    Bowyer also confirmed that – like for Charlton’s first-round clash against Mansfield Town – he is set to make a number of changes to his team for the game.

    He said: “It gives opportunities to other players to get some minutes and a chance for some to show that they're ready for when we need them.

    “We'll still be going out there to try and give 100 per cent and to win the game. That's the way they are and that's the way I am.

    https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5bfff29735da3/charlton-midfielder-to-return-for-charltons-emirates-fa-cup-tie-against-doncaster-rovers
  • We should more or less be looking to play the same players for this game, Blackpool and Pompey (assuming they win the first two of course)
  • Scrappy home win, 1-0.

    I hope we put out a strong team and try and get it won in 90mins. If we can some minutes under Clarke and Reeves would be a huge bonus for us.

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  • clive said:

    “Ben Reeves will play on Saturday,” he said. “On the injury side of things, who plays on Saturday is more about how tired they are today [Thursday], there's a lot of tight groins and stiffness.
    Bowyer also confirmed that – like for Charlton’s first-round clash against Mansfield Town – he is set to make a number of changes to his team for the game.

    He said: “It gives opportunities to other players to get some minutes and a chance for some to show that they're ready for when we need them.

    “We'll still be going out there to try and give 100 per cent and to win the game. That's the way they are and that's the way I am.

    https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5bfff29735da3/charlton-midfielder-to-return-for-charltons-emirates-fa-cup-tie-against-doncaster-rovers

    In that case, wrapping players up and making sure they’re right for the league will include Bauer. So for that I would assume we carry on with the diamond and Reeves slots in to the midfield.

    To anyone going, I won’t be myself, just be prepared for a much changed team, but still hopefully strong enough to progress because a big tie in the third round would be great for us fans and the club.
  • I'll be annoyed if we rest too many players, there's a whole week after Saturday until the next league game, while Solly, Pearce and Aribo have just had 2 1/2 week break before last Saturday. I seen no reason to rest Pearce or Aribo

    It's not as if we're unique, Doncaster had a cup replay last Tuesday followed by 2 league games. Indeed they're in good form at the moment.

    Bauer may be back from a long injury break, but to me he's more physically mature than Bielik, so playing the latter might be more of a risk.
  • Reckon Pearce and Ward will both start. 1-1, another worst possible result
  • So, in short, if we select a strong team we could win but if we field a weak team, we could lose.

    1-1
  • So, in short, if we select a strong team we could win but if we field a weak team, we could lose.

    1-1

    In tights, if we play our normal game we will lose, but if Doncaster play like they should, we will win.
  • edited November 2018

    I'll be annoyed if we rest too many players, there's a whole week after Saturday until the next league game, while Solly, Pearce and Aribo have just had 2 1/2 week break before last Saturday. I seen no reason to rest Pearce or Aribo

    It's not as if we're unique, Doncaster had a cup replay last Tuesday followed by 2 league games. Indeed they're in good form at the moment.

    Bauer may be back from a long injury break, but to me he's more physically mature than Bielik, so playing the latter might be more of a risk.

    We want our players to get and stay match fit and you do that by playing matches. Resting players if they are not carrying an injury or are exhausted is self-defeating because they will have lost the edge a little by the time the next game they play comes around
  • edited November 2018
    Groundhog Day on team selection again, can't wait for the debate on the 3rd round match preview thread.
  • Reckon Pearce and Ward will both start. 1-1, another worst possible result

    A replay would presumably mean the Pompey away game gets moved back to 2019, so there are no extra games in December. The worst possible result would be if we got a spanking.
  • Is Jamie Ward out?
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