Charlton 4 Stockport County 3

Well, our games can certainly warm the fans if not the boss. But crap defending again as this time 3 goals are conceded in 15 minutes to a Tier Four team and that after seemingly cruising at half-time two goals in front. Pardew, when he recovers, will be telling himself that these cup games are a thing apart, that they are one-off battles against lower league teams that don't reflect real life in the fizzies. But....

Anyway, our frankie was there and somehow forecast the correct score, shame he didn't have time to visit the bookies, and over the water chicagoaddick watched it on his PC. Our man from blackheath enjoyed himself for a tenner and helps Pards out with some player scores. MOM to Semedo with a 9, Racon and Sam were the pick of the midfield with 8's but only 5 marks out of 10 for both central defenders McCarthy, despite winning the tie, and Jon Fortune.

There's talk of squeaking into the next round from the sportinglife. And if you want to see how everybody else got on there's a resume thingy on 365 that points out that Monica's lot are still cruising and maybe we should be pleased that we're avoided any injury scares unlike the hamsters with Dyer breaking his leg.

But are we happy? Despite the win and all the excitement, Pards cannot be too pleased with the size of his current problem, the defence.

From the CAFC site Pards said: "The back four have to accept a lot of responsibility for what happened in the second half. We were comfortably controlling them in the first half so we have that ability, but we just lost focus in the second-half. Paddy showed the determination that he has in him to score winning goal but we want that at the other end as well. We were fine up to half-time then some sloppiness came into it. We need to batten down hatches a bit and be a bit more solid. We will tighten up at the back and I will bring in a defender, maybe two, if I think we need to. I'm not going to say any names, but we are close on one player - and there could be movement on two or three before the window shuts.”

In the spirit of giving everyone a runabout, there were eight changes from the team on Saturday with his first start for the Addicks for the French midfielder Therry Racon. Faye and ZiZi also started their first game of the season as did captain for the night Chrissie Powell. Darren Randolph also swapped places with Nicky Weaver in goal.
But with only 3 days to go before the transfer window closes, we await with baited breath for the announcement of our defensive saviour.

The Addicks: Randolph; Semedo, Fortune, McCarthy, Powell; Sam, Faye, Racon (Ambrose 81), Zheng, Todorov, McLeod (Iwelumo 71).
Subs (not used): Weaver, A Thomas, Sinclair.
Goals: Todorov 35, Zheng pen 42, Sam 74, McCarthy 89