More pizza progress

Charlton beat Aston Villa under 21s 2-1 tonight in front of a crowd of 1,283 including Thomas Sandgaard.

Mason Burstow put the Addicks ahead in the first half.   Villa equalised, but shortly afterwards Jayden Stockley was brought down and scored from the penalty spot  on 43 minutes.

An Albie Morgan free kick rattled the inside of the post on 55 minutes.

Stockley made way for Leko on 65 minutes with Friday in mind.

Harness had a good game in goal.

Johnnie Jackson said: 'Really pleased. The most important thing was that we got through. But some good performances in there and good football at times. Some things to learn from as we do every week. But a good night’s work in all.'

The draw for the third round is on Saturday, still regionalised.

Sandgaard stays on

Thomas Sandgaard was originally going to return to the US on Sunday, but is now staying on until the Cambridge United fixture on December 11th.   He is spending a lot of time talking to Johnnie Jackson and the caretaker manager is hopeful of a positive outcome: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-caretaker-jackson-hoping-for-positive-outcome-soon-to-managerial-discussions-as-sandgaard-extends-stay-in-uk/

Wholesale changes tonight

Johnnie  Jackson is going to make wholesale changes for tonight's pizza trophy game against Aston Villa, seeing it as an opportunity to use the squad.   However, he still wants to put out a strong squad: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-set-to-be-much-changed-for-efl-trophy-tie-against-aston-villa/ 

Clarion call from Thanet on cup

Banana skin or the cup that cheers?   VOTV editor Rick Everitt makes the case for taking our cup clash with Gateshead seriously: http://www.votvonline.com/home/the-2021-22-blogs/29-11-it-can-be-the-cup-that-cheers-at-last/

The Rickster has further commented: 'Disappointing to hear that the club are not planning to run a supporters’ coach to Gateshead. I think that’s a poor decision that lets down some of the most diehard fans for the sake of risking a few hundred pounds, which is easily offset by profit they have made on other journeys.

Remember that the club will get a cut of ticket revenue from this game - if it chooses to accept it - and presumably a share of the TV fee too. Plus there is substantial prize money if they win the game.

I suspect this is a decision based on not understanding the fan base rather than the financial impact of possibly running with low numbers, which is trivial.'

One fan remarked: 'Especially with the replay, meaning fans had to wait 10 days to see who we played whilst travel and hotels prices increased each day.'

Update: the club has changed its position and will take bookings from this morning.

Stockley to feature in Villa clash

Jayden Srockley will get some game time in tomorrow night's pizza trophy clash with Aston Villa undre 21s, helping him to return to match fitness after his suspension: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-striker-jayden-stockley-set-to-feature-in-efl-trophy-against-aston-villa-u21s/

He will also qualify for a free pizza with choice of toppings.

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/

All set for a cup classic

The Non-League Paper reckons that Friday night's game at the International Stadium between Gateshead and Charlton has all the makings of a FA Cup classic: 'A Friday night under the floodlights pitching an in-form National League North club against a former Premier League side now struggling for consistency in League One.'

The NLP points out that Charlton have not won more than one game in the same FA Cup campaign for eight years.

Gateshead was beset by unscrupulous individuals who nearly wrecked the club, an all too familiar tale in football.  They are now controlled by a supporter-led consortium.  They have remained a full-time club and are viewed as 'one of the most attractive clubs in Non-League's second tier.'

We need to put out a strong side to avoid the humiliation of another defeat by a non-league side on television (Northwich Victoria) and because there is a chance of securing a really exciting tie in the third round.