Charlton Athletic Online

Charlton host Orient in the Fourth round of the FA Cup tomorrow, and all Addicks supporters are hoping for a win and a place in the fifth round draw.

Orient will be bringing over 6000 supporters to the Valley, and that should make for a stranger atmosphere than normal amongst the 20,000-odd crowd, as they will be seated in both the East and Jimmy Seed stands. Hopefully, it will kick start the North stand into some vocal action, and provide a fantastic local cup derby atmosphere.

Orient will be no push-overs, having an excellent away record in division two this season, and currently sit in fourth place. After beating Fulham away in the last round, I doubt if any of the Charlton team will be taking the game against Orient too lightly.

For Charlton, Alan Curbishley (left) is forced into a few changes from the team that played so well at Chelsea last Sunday. He may also take the opportunity to shuffle the pack somewhat, though a strong side will undoubtedly be put out.

The live BBC TV pictures from the Valley just now showed Peter Varney in front of shirts hanging on pegs for Murphy, Smertin, Holland, Thomas, Bothroyd, Bartlett, Bent (D), Andersen, and Powell amongst others. Whether this is an early indication of the likely team or just for show is unclear! My own opinion is that this was not a picture of who will play...

In goal, the situation is a little clearer following the Dean Kiely transfer to Portsmouth. Thomas Myrhe should start, with Stephan Andersen as sub. I cannot see this situation changing until Myrhe makes mistakes, and we know that he doesn't make too many of them...

In defence, it's difficult to imagine Curbs making any changes unless forced. Luke Young was rested for the 3rd round tie against Sheffield Wednesday, but should play in this match. Chris Powell will resume his good form at left back hopefully, and in the centre, Hermann Hreidersson and Jon Fortune are getting a better understanding with each match. Fortune has been excellent since he came into the side on Boxing Day.

Up front, Darren Bent will play, and the likelihood is he will have someone alongside him in a 4-4-2 formation. With Marcus Bent cup-tied, Shaun Bartlett is the obvious answer.

Dennis Rommedahl has a broken rib - courtesy of his clash with Luke Young last weekend - and will miss the next couple of matches at least. Darren Ambrose was man of the match last Sunday, so he can expect to play (probably out left or behind the front two), and also in midfield, Matt Holland (left), Radistan Kishishev and Bryan Hughes (possibly switched to the right side where he may be more comfortable) look to have fairly secure places.

With the injuries fairly obvious, as are the players whom Curbs has said are available for transfer, the outfield substitutes are likely to be from Chris Perry, Jon Spector, Kevin Lisbie, and the now fit Alexei Smertin and Jerome Thomas. Danny Murphy continues to be discounted, probably on personal grounds.

Pedro45's score prediction is a resounding win for the home team - 4-0. It's about time that Charlton put their seemingly annual trial and tribulation against a lower league team behind them and I expect to see plenty of chances created and shots on target. Orient have had their moment of glory and should be brushed aside to concentrate on the league.

The one-to-watch is Bryan Hughes (above), who seems to have a habit of scoring against inferior teams - Palace, Birmingham, Hartlepool, etc.

The dome is currently up at The Valley as the light snow has been falling in South London this evening, and this should make for a good pitch; the benefit here being with Charlton I feel, who should be the better passing team. But this is the Cup, and anything can happen!