Charlton Athletic warned of FA Cup 'hindrance' as Preston North End could 'build finances'

Charlton Athletic take on Championship opposition this weekend in the form of Preston North End as FA Cup action grips the UK. Nathan Jones' side visit Deepdale on Saturday afternoon looking to book a place in the fourth round.

The Addicks have beaten Southend United and Walsall already in the FA Cup this season to make it this far, having been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League One rivals Birmingham City in August. The London outfit haven't made it past the third round since making it to the quarter final in 2014.

Charlton Athletic have won the FA Cup before, but that victory came all the way back in 1947 when Burnley were defeated in the final. Ex Addicks defender Danny Mills has admitted that being dumped out of the FA Cup this weekend may not be the end of the world for his former side.

FA Cup could be ‘hindrance’ for Charlton Athletic

Jones' side sit 11th in the League One table but a strong run of recent form has them looking up at the play-off places. The club are seven points off sixth-placed Reading but do have a game in hand on the Royals.

Mills, who won the Football League First Division play-offs with the Addicks in 1998, labelled the FA Cup a potential 'hindrance' for Nathan Jones as he tries to remain a promotion contender this term.

Speaking to OLBG, Mills suggested that progressing this weekend may mean much more to the hosts. He said: “Preston are mid-table Championship side. Again, they are a club that I know relatively well from my days at Leeds due to the Peter Ridsdale connection at Preston, and he’s done a really good job there. They are just a very steady Championship side. A playoff would be amazing for them, but they're never really gonna be in too much doubt of relegation.

“Charlton made my career. It’s as simple as that. It took me to a new level. Winning the playoffs, playing in the Premier League for the first time, a season there, and then leaving when we got relegated. Without Charlton, I would never have the career that I had, it was a sliding door moment if you like.

Preston North End could eye FA Cup financial boost

“Charlton are trying to consolidate. They need to get themselves out of the division that they're in. Sometimes the cup competition can be a little bit of a hindrance in that. It's interesting that all the Premier League managers complain about too many fixtures. They want to try playing in the Championship or League One or Two when it is Saturday and Tuesday all the way through the season and you don't have the big squads like the Premier League sides have.

“I think it'll be an interesting game, but I think we've seen in recent times that league is more important. Preston are consolidated in the Championship, a cup run might be more important to them to build finances.

“Charlton will look at this and just think, if we get through, great, it would be good to get a huge team after that, but most importantly, we need to keep our players fit and raring to go for the league. They need to get out of that division and they need to start climbing the tables.”

Preston North End host Charlton Athletic following a 1-1 draw with Championship strugglers Oxford United last weekend. The Lilywhites are 15th in the second tier after 26 fixtures under Paul Heckingbottom.