Ajose has to take his chances

Johnnie Jackson says that Nicky Ajose has to take his first team chances when he gets them, although admits that he suffered from a lack of service against Swansea City under 21s: Has to take his opportunities

Ajose has attracted criticism from some Charlton fans who have argued that he is a waste of space or worse.

The disappointed No.2 also discussed Tariqe Fosu, commenting that he hoped he is coming closer to replicating the form that saw him bag nine goals from midfield last season. 'We know what he’s capable of,'' he said. 'We saw it last season. He hasn’t hit those heights yet this season. Walsall he did really well. He needs to play his way back into form. That was the idea behind giving him more minutes tonight. He’s missed a lot of football with injuries and sometimes to really get up to speed and back to top form you need to keep playing.'

Fans vote with their feet

Just 740 fans saw Charlton exit the Checkatrade Trophy last night with a 0-1 defeat at home to Swansea Under 21s - and some think that was a generous estimate.

The one point of interest was the return of Billy Clarke after eleven months out injured and he came the closest to putting the Addicks level: Lowest ever crowd

The EFL needs to take a long, hard look at this competition. Bringing in Under 23 sides devalues it in relation to the old paint drying trophy, and that is saying something. Of course, the real agenda here is bringing top flight reserve sides into the EFL as happens in Spain.

Interest grows in Grant

Karlan Grant has arguably been the most improved player for Charlton this season and has shown a real eye for goal, combining well with Lyle Taylor. Inevitably, he is start to attract interest elsewhere and has been suggested as a possible recruit for Birmingham City: Replacement waiting at Charlton

There's only one Toby Stevenson

Charlton came from behind in today's FA Cup match to to earn a first round replay with Mansfield Town.

Toby Stevenson bundled in the equaliser 17 minutes from time after CJ Hamilton had fired the League Two side in front on the stroke of half-time, seeing his left-foot shot go in off the post. Winger Hamilton, who had earlier hit the outside of the upright, then saw a second-half effort tipped around the post by Charlton keeper Dillon Phillips, who also saved well from Neal Bishop.

The Addicks created chances but failed to register an effort on target until they drew level. Teenage wing-back Stevenson, who became the first Addicks player to score a hat-trick on his debut in last month's club record 8-0 Checkatrade Trophy win at Stevenage, grabbed the equaliser when he stabbed in from close range as the ball bobbled around the Mansfield box.

Both sides had chances to win the tie as Stags keeper Bobby Olejnik saved from Nicky Ajose when through one-on-one, while Mansfield's Jacob Mellis saw his deflected effort hit the outside of the post and bounce wide.

By the time of the replay we will know who we have been drawn against and how much effort it is worth putting in. In any event, starlet Stevenson should start.

The Great War and Jimmy Seed

BBC North-East takes a look at the Great War and Jimmy Seed. Please note that this is a long report and Seed's story is interwoven with that of others and contemporary events: The Last Pass

Seed's grandson James Dutton commented: 'After arriving in France in the summer of 1916, he struggled, suffering with bad periods of depression, which were only relieved by playing football. He was captain of his battalion team and his good friend Tommy Wilson was captain of another battalion of the Leeds Rifles. These football games really helped him.'

Like so many of those that served, Jimmy remained secretive about many of the details of his time in the army. But his passion for football never wavered and undoubtedly helped him deal with war.

With her brothers away on their European tour of duty, Minnie Seed stole the spotlight. She worked in a munitions factory but had the family's sporting genes. She represented numerous sides in her native North East and beyond - including the most famous of all, Dick, Kerr Ladies.

Seed was gassed twice during the war, but good fortune allowed him to continue his football career and then become Charlton manager. I have dealt with his sacking in 1956 in a recent article in Voice of the Valley. Jimmy's daughter Gladys went into labour on hearing that her dad had effectively been sacked. James Charlton Dutton was born the same day, three weeks early. 'Grandad really struggled after being sacked by Charlton,' added Dutton.

Seed struggled with depression all his life, but he opened up just once to his grandson about his wartime experiences. Dutton describes how much his grandad meant to him.

Let's win or lose but not draw

We've only played Mansfield three times in our history, only once at their place which means we've never lost to the Stags: History is a poor guide

Even before all the injury worries, sagacious supremo Lee Bowyer indicated that he would put out a 'B' team at Mansfield, saying that the key aim is promotion. He's right in my view. If we lose, we can put up with a few headlines about a shock result and a few unhappy Addicks watching in the United States. If we win, well and good. In some ways a draw would be the worst result.

The Stags are currently 7th in League Two and 6th in the form table. Four Four Two forecast a 6th place finish. Last season Mansfield progressed to the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Odds: Home 6/4; Draw, 13/5; Charlton, 21/10.

Fan comment from Craig Gittins on 'One change I would make at our club' is 'to get rid of the meandering river of piss in the toilets next to the pie stand.'

Given rail disruption, you deserve a medal if you are going.

Victory on the M6 boosts promotion hopes

Charlton won 2-0 at Walsall tonight with a goal in each half, a Taylor penalty and a goal for the Pole. The Addicks are now back in the play off places at 6th. BBC Midlands, who like to use a 'Charlton were anything but Athletic' line captioned it as a 2-0 Walsall win, perhaps better than my 2-9 typo earlier.

Taylor (a surprise inclusion given injury worries) put Charlton ahead from the penalty spot after just six minutes, sending Liam Roberts the wrong way after Tariqe Fosu's clever turn in the area drew a clumsy foul from George Dobson.

The lively Fosu, who had a great first half, had already curled inches over from 15 yards on three minutes after cutting in from the left. On 20 minutes a Fosu shot was deflected after a Taylor cross. Cullen was booked for a foul. Charlton suffered a blow when Igor Vetokele was carried off on a stretcher with a shoulder injury. he has gone to hospital.

His replacement, Karlan Grant, almost made it 2-0 from Taylor's cross on the brink of half-time but Roberts' fingertips foiled his header with a great save.

In the five minutes added on Charlton had a free kick on the left side of the area after Aribo was fouled. The Charlton bench were calling for a penalty. Cullen's effort was unproductive.

Charlton did double their lead in the 51st minute as a corner fell to Arsenal loanee Krystian Bielik six yards out and he lashed home. Taylor received his fifth yellow card of the season for a foul on 73 minutes, meaning that he will miss the home game against Bristol Rovers while he recuperates.

Walsall took 77 minutes to register a shot on target as Morgan Ferrier's strike brought a great diving save to his left from Jed Steer. The injured Cullen was replaced by Lapslie. Cullen has also dislocated his shoulder. It's Derek Ufton all over again, but in those days you had to stay on the pitch.

Marshall, who had come on as a substitute, won a corner and Bielik's effort was just over the bar. The much criticised Steer then had to punch away under pressure on 90 minutes before the Addicks saw out the five minutes added on.'

Chant of the night: 'Naby Sarr, once he was s****, but now he's all right.'

Congratulations to the 328 Addicks who made it.

Satisfied supremo Lee Bowyer praised a professional performance from his team: Three points on the road

Bowyer now has the highest win rate under Duchatelet (47 per cent) if one discounts the special case of Nugent.