Charlton Athletic v Rochdale
The FA Cup, Third Round
The Valley
08 January 2005

The FA Cup is a rare blot on Alan Curbishley's copybook at Charlton.

He has never taken them past the Quarter Finals and hasn't gone beyond the fourth round in the last four seasons. Twelve months ago, they lost at Gillingham at the first hurdle, in 2002 Walsall beat them at The Valley.

Fortunately, winger Bryan Hughes isn't tainted by Charlton's cup curse. This is his first season at The Valley and knows from experience what to expect from underdogs like Saturday's opponents Rochdale.

"I've been successful with a smaller club in The FA Cup," he says. "I reached the quarter-finals with Wrexham in 1997. We beat Birmingham and West Ham along the way and we were eventually put out by Chesterfield.

"The thing for us to do on Saturday is to pretend it's a Premiership game.

"We have to give Rochdale exactly the same respect and focus we would a team like Arsenal or Manchester United. Then there is a much better chance of progressing rather than thinking 'it's only a League Two side'."

Curbishley said some of his players looked fatigued after four games in nine days over Christmas and New Year.

That means Hughes, a substitute at Blackburn on Monday, is likely to get his chance against Dale as are Jason Euell and Francis Jeffers.

The 28-year-old Hughes has settled in well at Charlton since a summer Bosman from Birmingham but is eager to seize his chance to start regularly.

"Like every player, I want to be in the team. Others are complaining of fatigue but I feel I've been resting for three months!

"I've settled in London really well and get on with everyone not just the other Liverpudlian new boys Danny Murphy and Franny Jeffers!

"It's disappointing not to start every week but if there are a few tired legs, hopefully I will get a chance against Rochdale.

"I enjoyed my time at Birmingham but contract talks dragged on for 12 months. Steve Bruce wanted to bring in new people so when Charlton came in with a three-year deal, it was a good opportunity."

Charlton's management team are scratching their heads about why their cup record is so poor.

"We are due a run in The FA Cup but we say that every year," says Curbishley's assistant Keith Peacock.

"We don't like to tempt fate now. We have to take Rochdale very seriously and concentrate fully on getting past them."