Charlton surrender lead

Charlton went 2-0 ahead at Blackburn this afternoon through two Charlie Kelman goals, the second one a penalty, but ended the game 2-2 to win an away point.   The Addicks remain 19th in the table, Oxford and Norwich lost at home.

After a low-level first 25 minutes, the game sprang to life around the half hour as Charlton scored twice in six minutes. Charlie Kelman netted both goals, scoring the rebound after Miles Learbun's header had come back off the crossbar.

His second came via the penalty spot after Harry Pickering as judged to have brought down Lloyd Jones. Replays showed there was no contact on the Charlton defender but Kelman made it 2-0.

It was Charlton who took control and the lead. It was another goal that originated from Rovers' final third as the ball was turned over and a quick breakaway saw Bree's cross headed onto the bar by Leaburn and the rebound was gobbled up by Kelman.

Six minutes later, things went bad to worse for the home side. Pickering was judged to have brought down Jones in the area. On first viewing, it looked clumsy but replays showed that the Rovers man pulled out yet Charlton's defender went over. Referee David Webb pointed to the spot.

Kelman stepped up and rolled the ball away from Aynsley Pears, giving Rovers a mountain to climb on 35 minutes. Considering the hosts were staring down an eighth successive half without scoring, things looked rather bleak.

However, just three minutes later, Rovers gave themselves a lifeline. Good work from Yuki Ohashi saw Cantwell cross for Baradji, who steamed between two defenders to power home a header. That was his first goal for Rovers and a very timely one too.

Charlton had the first chance of the second half with the feeling that a third for them would be the killer blow. Bree got down the right again and delivered a teasing cross but Miller intervened before Tyreece Campbell could convert.

Atcheson then went mightily close to his first Rovers goal after winning the ball back and skidding a volley towards goal which had to be pushed away by Thomas Kaminski.  With 20 minutes to go, the tension inside Ewood Park began to rise. For all their territory, the Charlton goalkeeper had only made one save of note.

At the other end, the Addicks continued to threaten on the break. Leaburn had a clear sight of goal but a block from Sean McLoughlin prevented him from getting his shot off.

With 12 minutes remaining, Rovers found the equaliser. Miller's initial cross was blocked but he fired the rebound hard and low which picked out Baradji, who arrived into the box and finished from 12 yards for 2-2.

Hibs fan gives Dykes sp

Our Scottish correspondent 'Angus from Portobello', who is a Hibs season ticket holder, reports: 'I've no information about Hibs interest in Dykes, although it wouldn't surprise me. I believe that Hibs were disappointed not to get him in the summer, and so it's possible that they are still interested. 

The main Hibs concern is that they may lose Josh Mulligan, who is attracting a lot of interest from elsewhere. He's been a star performer since his arrival in the summer and will be missed if he moves on. It's suggested that he may have a release clause in his contract. 

Otherwise it's going well for Hibs - three consecutive wins, including one against Hearts. Zach Mitchell is now getting a bit of game time. I was surprised that Hibs had not made more use of him sooner.'

Last ditch Dykes?

Richard Cawley thinks there is something in rumours linking Charlton with out of favour Birmingham City striker Lyndon Dykes,  Certainly adding a striker is a priority in the transfer window.

However, Hibernian have offered the Scottish international - thought likely to feature in the World Cup this summer - the kilt.    They nearly secured his signature in the summer.

The 30-year old is known as a model professional, although he is a physical player.   Price tag is thought to about £1m, although Chicago Addick thinks he could be a loan until a summer signing.

I have asked my Scottish correspondent who is also a Hibs supporter for any insights.

Rovers 'running on empty'

The games are coming fast and furious and tomorrow Charlton travel to Blackburn to face the team one place below them in the Championship table.   I suppose there is some risk that weather conditions could see the game called off, but I expect it to go ahead.

My best memory of Ewood Park was a 1-1 draw that saw us promoted back to the Premier League.   Andy Hunt played up front that day

Blackburn have done better away from home than at home this season.  They have won just two at home, drawn three and lost seven, the latest being a 0-2 defeat by Wrexham.   According to their coach they were lacking in energy.

They are running on empty, fractured by a long injury list and the residual effects of a baffling and chaotic summer transfer window.   Rovers are short of quality and the head coach appears to know it.

They lack enough attacking potency or enough players who have proved they are good enough at Championship level.    Rovers have some players who are consistently capable but not enough to make significant progress - so much of that appears to rest with botched recruitment and player sales.

Academy products stand out in a team without its top goalscorer Andri Gudjohnsen for several weeks, and one that does not feature striker Makhtar Gueye at all - fully fit but left out completely in favour of players making the bench who were unheard of until winter began.

Gueye does not run enough in training to warrant a place in the squad according to Rovers boss Valerien Ismael, who really did not hold back when asked about the Senegalese player.  

New Charlton 'discovery' Rankin-Costello was, of course, a summer signing from Blackburn and the Lancashire lad has pledged to give his all against his former employers.

CAS Trust are billing this as the first away game of the new quarter century, perhaps a reminder I could do without as I look forward to my 80th year.  Their assessment is that Blackburn will be 'tough physical opponents', but I am not expecting any protection from the referee: https://www.castrust.org/2026/01/first-away-game-of-the-new-quarter-century/

  

Charlton recover from early blow

Charlton went behind early doors against league leaders Coventry at The Valley this afternoon, but Rankin-Costello equalised in the second half, scoring his first goal for the club.  Kaminski made some good saves to keep the Addicks in the game.  However, Charlton could have done better at their many corners.  

After the Sky Blues were allowed to score too easily within three minutes, the visitors had keeper Rushworth to thank for making a good save to deny Miles Leaburn pulling level five minutes later as he advanced on goal.

Charlton had a big shout for a penalty turned down when Joel Latibeaudiere blocked a goalbound shot from Charlie Kelman after the half-hour mark.

The same defender also did less controversial work to deny Luke Berry, recovering to poke the ball back to his keeper when the Charlton man was about to shoot just before half-time.

Wright was denied by Kaminski early in the second half, but Coventry were forced to defend in numbers as Charlton mounted a fight back with some sustained pressure.

Charlton were the better side in the second half but they needed goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski to pull off a double save from Haji Wright and Jamie Allen three minutes after the restart.  On 69 minutes they pulled themselves level.

Strong work from Kelman saw the left-sided forward latch on to a through pass from inside his own half and out muscle Miguel Angel Brau. His shot across goal was parried by Carl Rushworth into the path of Rankin-Costello, who finished high into the net from eight yards.

Coventry nearly snatched the lead back three minutes later, Liam Kitching spinning and poking a shot goalwards as Charlton struggled to clear but Kaminski once again pulled off an excellent save low to his left to turn it around the post.

The five minutes added on were nerve wracking as usual, but the Addicks managed to remain in control.

Charlton are now 19th.  Portsmouth lost 5-0 to Bristol City and Blackburn lost at home to Wrexham.

Attendance was 20,789.

On transfers, Nathan Jones told Richard Cawley that the club knew exactly who they wanted.   He was working 15 hours and sleeping at the training ground, but it all depended on other clubs.

Another tough test: time to change keeper?

Charlton face league leaders Coventry City at The Valley this afternoon.  Although the Sky Blues lost 0-2 at home to a resurgent Ipswich earlier this week, there is no doubt that they pose a very real threat to a faltering home side this afternoon.

Away from home Coventry have won six, drawn four and lost two.  They have scored far more goals (27) away than any other Championship club.

I fear that my former next door neighbour will once again have bragging rights.  My Badger League prediction at the start of the season was a 2-4 win for the visitors.

Questions have been raised about Thomas Kaminski's performance in goal.  Richard Cawley comments on his Substack page: 'Kaminski has conceded 29 goals this season from 90 shots faced - his xGOT (expected goals on target) is 26.71. The 33-year-old is 15th in the division when it comes to save percentage (67.8). By way of comparison, that is better than Norwich’s Vladan Kovacevic (65 per cent) but lower than Oxford’s Jamie Cumming (69.4) and Schmid (72.9).

Kaminski and Lloyd Jones are the only ever-present league starters after Sonny Carey was dropped to the bench at Portsmouth.

There are definitely some sections of the club’s fanbase who would like to see Will Mannion, who ended last season as first choice, handed a chance. His only appearance came in the 3-1 EFL Cup win over Stevenage in August.

Mannion kept three clean sheets in the League One play-offs but has never played at Championship level.'

That was the year that was

Another roller coaster year with Charlton!    I didn't anticipate us getting promoted yet again through the play offs, but Nathan Jones deserves credit for persistence and conviction after armchair managers demanded his dismissal following the home defeat to Crawley.

Personally I prefer Alan Curbishley's cool style of management, but then I knew Curbs well as one of his kit sponsors.  Each Christmas I would send him a case of champagne so he could celebrate after victories.

But I know some fans prefer the more passionate style of Nathan Jones.  Of course, now the armchair critics are after him again.

Many years ago Murray Mints said that the Championship had in effect became a Premier League Division 2.  That is even more the case today.  We are up against clubs receiving substantial parachute payments and others funded by people with deep pockets. Our owners have done the best they can to fund us within their means.

Fans are now turning their focus to the January transfer window, but don't expect too many quality players to want to join in a relegation battle.   It's always difficult to get value in this window.  We can't pay over the odds and all too often we end up with injury prone players.

I do not accept that we are now effectively relegated.  I think it's about 50-50,  I think that at the start of the season some teams saw us as relegation fodder so that they just had to turn up to claim three points.  Now they have worked out how to play against us, plus injuries have devastated a thin squad.

One big disappointment for me was my summer expedition to Deal, although we enjoyed the pier and some great fish meals.

I was hoping to track down Desmond from Deal, the leading spokesman of the Kent coast moaners.  The first disappointment was when we changed trains at Ramsgate and instead of being greeted by Rick Everitt in full municipal regalia there was an empty platform.

I thought I might be on the right track when Graham at the King's Head said that some older Charlton fans did come in from time to time to moan about the club and Nathan Jones in particular.  To cut a long story short, it turns out that Desmond is an avatar created by AI.

The pessimism and negativity of so many Charlton fans depresses me more than shortcomings on the pitch.  Try and keep the faith, let us at least have a Fortress Valley.

Best wishes to all Addicks for 2026 from C(h)arlton House in the Royal Spa: we have the only Travellodge visited by Queen Victoria!