Swindon Town v Charlton
Just three days after opening the 2007/08 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Scunthorpe United, Charlton head to Swindon Town on Tuesday night in the first round of the Carling Cup.
Just like the Iron, Swindon were promoted last season, in the case of the Robins to League One, and Paul Sturrock's side will be keen to record an upset.
For Charlton the match will be another exercise in ensuring the Addicks justify pre-match favourite staus, and Alan Pardew will not be thinking of anything else than a first victory of the season.
As with most things, dealing with the initial suffering is one thing - but coping with the recurring torment is quite another. So it is with relegation.
Charlton showed they had quickly adapted to life in the Championship on Saturday by having much the better of things in the 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe United. Encouragingly, there were no signs of any 'big-time Charlies', and it was clear that, with a largely new team, last term's mishaps have been firmly consigned to the memory banks.
But just like a childhood scar brings back memories of past pain, so Charlton seem set to endure distressing and regular reminders of the club's new status at every turn during the new campaign.
Tuesday night's match against League One side Swindon Town is another one. It's been 10 years since the Addicks last played in the first round of the League Cup - against Ipswich Town back in August 1997, before even Chris Powell had arrived at the club - yet that is where Alan Pardew's men will start their assault in this term's Carling Cup.
There were highs and lows in this competition last season, of course.
The history books will report the club reached the quarter-finals for the first time, only to be stunned at home to lower-league Wycombe Wanderers.
What they don't record is the anticipation present among fans ahead of that Valley tie, with a first major cup semi-final for almost 60 years on the horizon, and then the anger and despair after defeat. Head coach Les Reed lost his job just one match later.
That was then, however, and manager Pardew will be keen to continue his side's promising start to 2007/08 at the County Ground. But he will be sure not to underestimate the opposition.
The opposition
Swindon, of course, are one of 20 clubs outside the top flight who once called themselves a Premiership club - Charlton are squaring up to no fewer than 13 others in the Championship alone this campaign - and they also boast more League Cup pedigree than their visitors.
While the Addicks reached the quarter-finals for the first time last season, back in 1969 Swindon completed a famous Wembley win in the competition despite plying their trade in the third tier.
Don Rogers was the hero, netting twice in a 3-1 upset against Arsenal, and the following season they were denied a place in Europe due to their league standings and instead competed in the Anglo-Italian Cup, which they won.
Among the scorers in the final against Napoli was ex-Addicks striker Arthur Horsfield, the trophy being awarded to the Robins after crowd violence forced a premature end to the final as Swindon led 3-0.
The striker would move on to Charlton for £20,000 as Ray Treacy moved the other way, and he netted an impressive 61 goals in 156 games for the Addicks.
The Robins finally took their place at the top table of the English game in 1993 under Glenn Hoddle, having won a dramatic play-off final against Leicester City 4-3.
They had won a similar shootout, against Sunderland, three years earlier, only for financial irregularities to intervene and eventually leave them in the second tier, but Hoddle's influence guided them to the Premier League.
Under John Gorman, the Robins lasted just a season in the top fight and have slipped down the leagues, so such halcyon days may seem a thing of the past for Swindon these days - although the club is heading back in the right direction.
Relegated to the bottom tier of English football at the end of 2005/06, they recruited Dennis Wise in the close-season but he then left to join troubled Leeds United in October.
In his place stepped Paul Sturrock, who had most recently been in charge at Sheffield Wednesday and whose English managerial career has also taken in stops at Plymouth Argyle and Southampton.
And the Scot took his new side to promotion last term, taking the Robins up in third place, and they began their new campaign with an encouraging draw at Northampton Town on Saturday.
Midfielder Christian Roberts notched the equaliser against the Cobblers, although Sturrock has insisted that he will be making sweeping changes ahead of the cup clash.
The boss has already confirmed that Slovakian goalkeeper Peter Brezovan will take over between the posts and he also wants to see more of his squad men in action.
Defender Andy Nicholls seems certain to miss out with a heel injury and the manager's tinkering may see his son Blair replaced up front.
That window of opportunity may open up front for Spaniard Ibon Perez Arreta and Welsh youngster Kaid Mohamed.
The Addicks will do well to keep an eye on the former Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester City midfielder Lee Peacock while defender and skipper Hasney Aljofree has played under Sturrock for four different clubs.
Past encounters
The last time Charlton played Swindon Town was a memorable occasion back in March 2000, a 1-0 defeat, when Dean Kiely fumbled a cross over the line to end an extraordinary run of 12 successive league wins for the Addicks as they marched to the Championship title.
In the same season, Charlton won 2-1 away from home courtesy of goals by Shaun Newton and John Robinson and also emerged victorious by the same scoreline from an FA Cup tie, with two Mark Kinsella goals proving the difference.
Team news
In terms of Charlton team news, Pardew admitted after Saturday's match that the result had given him plenty to ponder ahead of Tuesday night's fixture.
The crux of his comments was that, had his side won, he would have changed things around at the County Ground.
Given the result and the performance, however, he admitted that the players involved against Scunthorpe might benefit from further match action as a unit to enable them to better get to know one another.
That might be especially important defensively, with a few breakdowns in communication across the back-line evident at The Valley.
But Jonathan Fortune will no doubt be particularly keen to be involved ahead of Saturday's match at the Britannia Stadium, the ground at which he played on loan last season.
The nature of the opposition means that Pardew may be inclined to subtly change his midfield. Whether an expected battling and bitty cup match against a League Two side is the right time for Jose Semedo to play his first away match for the club remains to be seen (the same applying to new French midfield recruit Therry Racon), so Dean Sinclair could come into the equation.
But Lloyd Sam impressed and will surely benefit from a run in the side, and Pardew will be loath to abandon the team shape, exemplified by Darren Ambrose in the centre and Andy Reid on the left, utilised during pre-season.
The absence of Jerome Thomas against Scunthorpe will probably mean his next targeted return date is Saturday's match against Stoke rather than in midweek, but there could be changes up front with Chris Iwelumo, Izale McLeod (whose efforts both caught the eye chasing a late goal at the weekend) and Chris Dickson hoping to feature.
With extra-time and penalties required if necessary, the tie will be settled on the night, but Pardew won't be thinking about such matters.
His and his team's focus will be concentrated on showing Charlton's superior quality, coupled with the grit and determination the Addicks will need to gain promotion this term.
The draw for the second round, should Charlton progress, will take place on Sky following Thursday night's live Rotherham United v Sheffield Wednesday match.
Tickets
Seats for the Carling Cup first-round game at Swindon Town on Tuesday, August 14th (7.45pm) remain on general sale, priced £12 adults, £7 seniors and £5 U16s.
Call 0871 226 1905 or click here for more details.
Fans can see the pick-up points and times for restricted service Valley Away coach travel to the County Ground here but all coach places sold out on Monday afternoon.
- Live commentary from the County Ground will be available on BBC LONDON 94.9FM and also BBC Radio Kent 774MW.
- Opposition website: www.swindontownfc.co.uk
Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Directions | © Charlton Athletic 2009
