Is that Wembley I see?

Charlton took a step nearer Wembley with a 1-0 defeat of MK Dons in the Papa John trophy.  It took a 93rd minute strike from Jonathan Leko after a superb cross from Papa Souare nodded on by Burstow.

Ever faithful to the Franchisees, Gobby was there commenting for Three Counties Radio.

The teams left as it stands in the pizza trophy are: Rotherham, Wigan, Exeter/Portsmouth (winner has to play Cambridge for a quarter final place), Arsenal/Chelesa U21, Harrogate, Hartlepool and Sutton. Johnnie Jackson has said he wants a home time, it would be just our luck to get Rotherham or Wigan away.

Souare disappointed on Saturday

In his four takeaways from the defeat at Shrewsbury, Louis Mendez thought that Papa Souare was disappointing, a view shared by some fans on social media.   He was really brought in as cover when Purrington was injured: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-defeat-at-shrewsbury-an-ugly-end-to-an-untidy-contest/

Shrewsbury offer a physical challenge

Jonathan Leko should be available for Saturday's match at Shrewsbury.   Johnnie Jackson also discusses Papa Souare and Harry Arter who is fit but hasn't been getting game time because other players have been doing so well in his position: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-injury-news-leko-set-to-available-as-souare-and-arter-absences-explained/

Jason Pearce is a doubt and we will also miss Jayden Stockley against a physical Shrewsbury side.  They drew 1-1 with Sunderland midweek despite playing with 10 men for almost all the second half.   Their home record is much better than their away record where they have not won a match.  At home they have won four, drawn two and lost three.

The match with Charlton is regarded as a stern test: https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2021/11/26/shrewsbury-town-urged-to-repeat-sunderland-display-against-charlton/

Manager Steve Cotterill reckons that the two teams play a similar formation and is hoping to avoid a hat trick of red cards: https://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/2021/november/steve-cotterill-previews-towns-fixture-with-charlton-athletic/

CAS Trust warn that the Shrews have improved their home form: https://www.castrust.org/2021/11/the-shrews-are-no-pushover/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-shrews-are-no-pushover

Stockley rebuts head butt allegations

Jayden Stockley has responded to claims by Sunderland supremo Lee Johnson that he head butted one of his players.  Stockley stated: 'I sometimes think that comments like that can be used to cover up a result.  I don't think it's right that it gets put out there in the media: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-forward-jayden-stockley-hits-out-at-sunderland-boss-lee-johnson-over-headbutt-claims/

Stockley says that Johnnie Jackson has transformed the atmosphere at Charlton and allowed the quality of the squad to be displayed: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/johnnie-jackson-has-transformed-the-atmosphere-at-charlton-and-were-all-behind-him-jayden-stockley/

Stockley says that he was desperate to play in Saturday's FA Cup game and score more goals: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/jayden-stockley-i-told-pape-souare-you-had-a-whole-goal-to-aim-for-and-youve-hit-it-towards-me/

Happy 64th birthday to Alan Curbishley and happy 40th birthday to Yann Kermorgant.