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The lowest crowd ever to watch a Charlton first team match beating the Bradford Members Cup tie at Selhurst in 1986! What an utterly crackpot idea the Football League’s Checkatrade Trophy is. Nonetheless it does give Karl Robinson an opportunity to assess Jason Euell’s young players, and although he was critical of the performance after, it was good to know that Steve Avory’s factory line is still whirring.

For the few that were there most were impressed with young debutant Jamie Mascoll. The 20-year old has had quite an acceleration into the first team. Spotted by Steve Avory at Dulwich Hamlet, where he wasn’t even a first team regular, Mascoll has impressed in the U23’s playing left and right back as well as further up in midfield. Good luck to him, and great to see another Catford boy doing well.

Did I mention Catford Boy? None of us that saw some of his early games in a Charlton shirt can be surprised by Joe Gomez’s call up to the full England national team. Gomez is a rare talent and despite an terrible injury, he has once again slipped into Liverpool’s back four like has played 500 first team games. I said something similar when I first saw him play in an Addicks shirt.

Onto tomorrow then and Karl Robinson has said he will play a strong side. He listed if off at Bromley Addicks the other night. I have no doubt it won’t be easy. It’s Charlton in the Cup remember, but hopefully it will be a comfortable and fun day out for those that attend. I hope the Cornishmen and women enjoy their day too.