Everyone involved at City is probably still getting their breath back after the frantic 5-3 win over Barnet in the FA Cup last Saturday, with Gary Caldwell’s side playing host to another London club this coming weekend. With Johnly Yfeko now confirmed as missing the next few weeks with injury, Ben Purrington has stepped in to his role on the left of the defence, while Demetri Mitchell’s impact in the two cup wins last week will have assured Caldwell that he is sharp and hungry, but may still have to content himself with a spot on the bench, while Kamari Doyle and Reece Cole will be fighting over a place. Jay Bird’s goals in both cup games have probably moved him above Sonny Cox in the pecking order, while Josh Magennis’ hat-trick against Barnet will have been a welcome boost to his confidence.
While City made it through late on in the match last week, Charlton needed extra time to beat non-league opposition in their own frenetic fixture – Gassan Ahadme’s goal coming just as the managers were finalising their list of penalty takers to clinch a 4-3 win at Southend. After winning their first three league matches, Charlton’s form has become a little more erratic in recent weeks, with three successive draws (albeit against strong sides in Stockport, Barnsley and Wrexham) meaning Nathan Jones’ side is currently one place below City. Ahadme, who scored a penalty against City last season while on loan at Cambridge, was one of Jones’ summer signings, off-setting the departure of Alfie May to Birmingham. Another signing, ex-Coventry forward Matty Godden, has currently notched six goals in all competitions including strikes in his last two matches, while Miles “son of Carl” Leaburn scored twice at Southend to register his first goals of the season.
Charlton provided the opposition on Good Friday last season, where Purrington’s early goal against his former club was cancelled out late on by a Diabate own goal. That represented a better result than the 4-1 thrashing at Charlton which was marked by a typical David Rock refereeing clanger. City led early on through James Scott, but Blackett-Taylor equalised on the stroke of half time. Charlton were awarded a soft penalty which Sinisalo saved from May but he was unable to prevent May scoring from the rebound. From the kick off came Rock’s intervention, as Aimson slipped while trying to tackle May, who threw himself to the ground under no contact – Rock saw it differently and issued a red card. Leaburn and a second from May completed a 4-1 win.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Matt Corlett
Assistant Referees: Thomas Staten and Richard Morris
Fourth Official: James Durkin
Matt Corlett has taken charge of just the one Exeter game, which was back in February when Exeter lost 1-0 away to Lincoln City.
Pre-match interview with Gary Caldwell
Pre-match interview with Reece Cole
