Charlton Athletic have competed in two FA Cup Finals, both consecutively and have won the famous trophy once. In 1946, following the conclusion of the professional game after WW2 had given a six year disruption they beat Bolton Wanderers (2-0) in the semis at Villa Park but were outclassed in the final against Derby County, losing by four goals to one. It was the Rams first ever victory in a final having been runners-up of three occasions previous but much sympathy can be given to Bert Turner, the Athletic full-back.
He made FA Cup history when he became the first player to score in the final for both sides, having put through his own net with five minutes remaining he scored at the right end 60 seconds later to set up extra-time. The Rams however played smart and through Peter Docherty took the lead before Jackie Stamps scored a further two to put the game beyond reach.
Not to be dismayed Athletic were to make amends a year later, having dismantled Rochdale (3-1), West Bromwhich Albion (2-1), Blackburn Rovers (1-0) and Preston North End (2-1) they beat Newcastle United (who had eliminated Sheffield United in the previous round) by four goals to nil at Elland Road. They met Burnley in the showcase final and like the previous year extra-time was once again required but this time it was Charlton who found that winning strike, Chris Duffy scoring after 114 minutes. It was a memorable day for the Londoners, one which they haven't experienced since.
Their road to the 2014 Quarter-Finals have been fairly straight forward despite almost taking a stumbling block in the third round when they were forced to rely on a replay after drawing 2-2 at home to League Two outfit Oxford United in the Third Round after coming from two goals down. However they weren't to be mistaken in the replay at the Kassem Stadium when two goals from Yann Kermorgant and one from Danny Green sealed a three goal victory.
They swiftly marched into the fifth round when Simon Church scored The Addicks only goal of the game at Huddersfield Town and he became hero of the hour again when they travelled to Hillsborough in the last round to face the ever massive Sheffield Wednesday...
24 February 2014 - Sheffield Wednesday 1 Charlton Athletic 2
Sheffield Wednesday were denied a Steel City derby date after they were beaten 2-1 by Charlton in the FA Cup fifth round on 24 February. Simon Church controversially converted Captain Johnnie Jackson's 65th-minute free-kick with his arm after Wednesday forward Leon Best had cancelled out Callum Harriott's first-half opener for the Addicks. All of Sheffield had been hoping Wednesday would see off the London side to set up the first Steel City derby in the FA Cup since the famous Wembley semi-final against Sheffield United in 1993. But Chris Powell's Sky Bet Championship relegation battlers were reading from a different script and instead booked their own place in the sixth round for the first time since 2006.
But it took a breathtaking stoppage-time save from Charlton goalkeeper Ben Hamer, who hurled himself at Chris Maguire's deflected shot to turn the ball away from the top corner, to deny Wednesday a replay. Wednesday, who made six changes to the side that won 2-0 at Huddersfield on Saturday, were fortunate not to go behind in the 12th minute when a shot from Astrit Ajdarevic, the Standard Liege midfielder signed on loan last month, rolled agonisingly wide. Charlton boss Powell had also rejigged his starting line-up, with five new faces added to the team that clinched a 1-0 home win against QPR, but the Londoners' tails were up after that surprise and their early enterprise was justly rewarded in the 21st minute.
Ajdarevic played the ball into the penalty area and after it came back off a Wednesday defender, Harriott smashed home the rebound on the volley from 15 yards. It was one-way traffic and visiting midfielder Jordan Cousins soon forced a smart near-post save from Wednesday goalkeeper Damian Martinez. Wednesday's on-loan Aston Villa midfielder Gary Gardner crashed in a 25-yard effort that Hamer did well to hold shortly before the interval. Another Wednesday loanee, Blackburn striker Best, lifted the Hillsborough faithful further with a dipping volley from similar distance soon after as the home side at last rose to the challenge.
Wednesday began the second half full of purpose heading towards the kop and, although Jackson rifled a low shot just wide, the hosts drew level in the 57th minute. Maguire's free-kick into the area was headed down by Wednesday defender Miguel Llera and, from 10 yards, Best fired home his first goal for the club since arriving last week from Ewood Park. But parity was short-lived. Llera was penalised for obstructing Church and, from Jackson's subsequent free-kick, the former Reading forward stole in unmarked to convert with his elbow beyond Martinez in the 65th minute.
Wednesday thought they had equalised for a second time seven minutes later when Llera's header hit the inside of the post and bounced straight into the fortunate Hamer's clutches. The visitors enjoyed more good luck in the 88th minute when Best shot straight at team-mate Atdhe Nuhiu after a goalmouth scramble and, after former Wednesday defender Richard Wood was booked for his blatant foul on Nuhiu, more frantic defending from the visitors prevented a late equaliser following Maguire's free-kick. Maguire's stoppage-time effort appeared destined for the top corner after taking a slight deflection, but Hamer pulled off a terrific save to keep the Yorkshire outfit at bay.
Championship Form
Following a 3-0 defeat at promotion hunting Leicester City the Londoners dropped into the relegation zone along with Yeovil Town and Barnsley. They have won two of their last six fixtures in all competitions, claiming wins against Queens Park Rangers (1-0) and Sheffield Wednesday (see above) and suffered defeats to Doncaster Rovers (0-3), Wigan Athletic (1-2), Birmingham City (1-2) and at the King Power Stadium with goals from Jamie Vardy, Danny Drinkwater and David Nugent. Despite their troubles are just one point behind Millwall and have three games in hand over their London rivals.
Possible Addicks Line-Up: (4-4-1-1):
Hamer
Morrison - Cousins - Wood - Wiggins
Poyet - Wilson - Jackson (c) - Harriott
Ajdarevic
Church
Charlton are likely to retain Left Full-Back Rhys Wiggins amongst the starting eleven, he returned to the side in the defeat at Leicester having missing the club tie in Sheffield 6 due to a hamstring injury and assuming that he pulled through the game unscathed will play at Bramall Lane. However they are without duo Chris Solly and Leon Cort (both knee) through injury. Striker Simon Church could be rested in favour of Iranian Reza Ghoochanneijhad whilst