Tough and crucial match ahead

These Addicks from the Rose of Denmark will be wearing kit from Peru's Deportivo Wanka tomorrow (apparently a corruption of the name of the local district, thanks to Richard Pool of Lima for this information). Each to his own

Tomorrow's FA Cup tie against Brentford at The Valley is a tough and crucial fixture. Charlton's one remaining chance of making something of their season is the FA Cup, although it should be remembered that even if they beat Brentford they will undoubtedly come up against a Premiership side for the first time in the quarter finals.

The media scenario for a Brentford victory runs something like this:
1. Charlton are vulnerable to giant killing in the Cup. At home that actually amounts to Walsall and Leicester in recent years. Whereas Exeter, Rochdale, Yeovil and Leyton Orient were beaten.
2. Brentford are on a roll, having won all their last five games. Well, yes, but some of still think there is a difference between League 1 and the Premiership (leaving aside Sunderland at home) and the Bees may actually be over confident.
3. Michael Turner will be out to make a point. Maybe. He's a good League One player, but that doesn't mean he can win against a Premiership side.

Unfortunately Charlton will be without the cup tied Marcus Bent so the increasingly effective double Bent partnership will not be able to swing into action. I would still play 4-4-2 and bring in Bartlett, even if he is the only defensive forward in the Premiership. Bothroyd is a useful person to have on the subs' bench if things go wrong, but I don't think he can deliver over 90 minutes.

One of our problems this season has been shipping goals and one reason for that is the lack of a consistent back four. I would play HH at left back and Young on the right, of course. Centre backs are harder, but I would probably play Perry if available because I think his experience is useful and I would pair him with Spector who is better at centre back than on the left. El Karkouri is just too big a risk in a tie of this kind because he fouls too much and could get sent off.

I did read somewhere (New York Addick, I think) that Andersen is a better keeper than Myhre, but I would keep the Norwegian in goal.

Midfield is more of a problem, in part because Holland appears to still be injured and Rommedahl is not 100% fit. I would certainly include Thomas and also Kishishev whose battling qualities are needed. Ambrose should also be there. I'm not sure that this is Smertin's sort of game, but the alternatives are Hughes (who can at least finish against lower division sides) or Euell (who was apparently not that convincing as a sub against the Massives).

Greg Dyke, formerly head of the BBC but best known as the man who brought Roland Rat to breakfast television has been giving it large in his capacity as non-executive chairman of Brentford. He reckons that the Bees will draw at The Valley and then win at home. I think a draw is quite possible, but that we would win the replay.