The FA Cup third round will continue on Saturday after kick-starting on Friday with four ties. The proceedings on an action-packed day featuring 19 matches will end at The Valley with Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea.
Charlton Athletic’s recent outings have produced frustrating results, as they have failed to win their last four games. The poor run has dropped the Addicks to 19th in the EFL Championship standings, and Nathan Jones will aim to manifest the “Magic of the Cup” this weekend.
On the other hand, Chelsea’s own frustrating run continued earlier this week, as they have won only two of their last 11 games. The latest setback was a 2-1 defeat to Fulham earlier this week, a result that dropped the West London club to eighth in the Premier League standings.
Liam Rosenior now takes charge of the Blues for the first time since they confirmed his appointment. So, after replacing Enzo Maresca, the 41-year-old English tactician will hope to turn Chelsea’s campaign around and end the unravelling of recent weeks.
The most recent clash between Charlton Athletic and Chelsea ended in a 1-0 win for the Blues in February 2007, with Frank Lampard scoring the match-winning goal. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Nathan Jones has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Charlton Athletic manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players vs Chelsea on Saturday.
Kayne Ramsay and Onel Hernandez remain in the treatment room due to their hamstring injuries, while Josh Edwards and Matty Godden are recovering from their respective ankle and knee problems.
Thomas Kaminski will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Saturday. The central defensive unit will feature Macaulay Gillesphey, Lloyd Jones, and Amari’i Bell. Meanwhile, James Bree and Tyreece Campbell will start as the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will protect the centre-backs and provide width in the final third. As for the midfield unit, Conor Coventry will marshal the troops in the middle of the park, with Sonny Carey and captain Greg Docherty being the creative midfielders. Finally, Miles Leaburn and Charlie Kelman will be the two strikers for the home side.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Kaminski; Gillesphey, Jones, Bell; Bree, Docherty, Coventry, Carey, Campbell; Leaburn, Kelman
Unlike his counterpart in the Charlton Athletic dugout, Liam Rosenior has a new roster issue to worry about ahead of the trip to The Valley. The Chelsea head coach will be without five first-team players on Saturday.
Marc Cucurella is the latest absentee after being sent off in the game against Fulham earlier this week. Levi Colwill (knee), Dario Essugo (thigh), and Romeo Lavia (hamstring) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk’s suspension continues after he failed a doping test several months ago.
Filip Jorgensen will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Charlton Athletic on Saturday. The backline will feature Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Jorrel Hato.
As for the midfield unit, Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos will line up in the double pivot. Estevao Willian will reprise the no. 10 role, with Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joao Pedro will spearhead the Chelsea attack against Charlton Athletic this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Gittens, Estevao, Garnacho; Pedro
While Estevao Willian, Charlie Kelman, and Conor Coventry were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Joao Pedro as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s FA Cup clash between Charlton Athletic and Chelsea at The Valley.
The Brazilian international has been involved in seven goals in his last four starts in the FA Cup (G6 A1), with that output coming while he was playing for Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion. With Pedro blowing hot and cold in recent outings, he will be eager to deliver the goods for his team and end the recent winless run.
The two teams have been dreadful in recent weeks, and they will be desperate to get a victory this weekend. That may be a recipe for disaster for Chelsea, in particular, as Charlton Athletic’s offensive unit has enough ingredients to cause trouble.
The home side will take the game to Chelsea, and a closely-contested affair is on the cards. However, Estevao and Joao Pedro will deliver the goods for the visitors, earning them a narrow and much-needed victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Liam Rosenior and his charges.
