FAC3 -Bring On The Addicks

Nottingham Forest take on struggling Premiership side Charlton Athletic at the City Ground on Saturday in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

The Addicks' are on their third manager of the season, having parted company with Iain Dowie (successor to Alan Curbishley) after only 15 games in charge. Les Reed took over and he lasted six weeks. During Reeds' tenure the club were knocked out of the Carling Cup by League 2 side Wycombe Wanderers. The present governor is former Hammers boss and former Charlton player, Alan Pardew, who was given a three and a half year contract on Christmas Eve.

Pardews' first two games got off to a good start with a win and a draw, but they were spanked in midweek, 4-0 by Arsenal. Adding to their woes is the fact that ace marksman Darren Bent could be sidelined for up to four weeks with a knee injury and they could also be without right back Osei Sankofa, who was sent off in the Arsenal game.

Forest are not without their own worries though. Having won only one of the last five, they have let slip a seven point gap at the top of League 1, to fall down to third and after Saturdays League games could be four points adrift of the top slot they held for four months. Add to that a team low in confidence after being thumped 5-0 and three influential suspensions, you would have to say things do not look too good. But this is the FA Cup and it's the 3rd round and it does love an upset. Oh, it would make a refreshing change to be on the other end of a Cup upset.

Despite all Charltons' troubles they have a wealth of talent in comparison to us. It will make a change though to see some quality on the pitch for a change with the likes of Hasselbaink, Traore, Kishishev, Myhre, Marcus Bent and not to forget Andy Reid(he maybe injured). All in all worth a visit, despite the prospect of a tonking, for them of course.

Clingan, Cullip, and Southall could be serving suspensions for this game. There will be no Kris Commons either as he is out with a hamstring. But fear not because we can call on Wes Morgan to come to the rescue and save the day, as he returns from illness.

Five goals in six games says it all. Possibly one of the few players in recent weeks to come out of this bad run with any credit.

Charlton could still be without former Red Andy Reid(hamstring) and Osei Sankofa(suspension). But they will still have enough firepower to make it hard for Forest

Former Leeds and Middlesbrough striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink may be 34 years old, but whenever he plays he is a handful. Even though he has only netted three times this season he will have to be watched closely. He should enjoy himself.

The two sides have only met once before in the FA Cup, back in 1998 when Charlton ran out 4-1 winners.

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