'We are staying up'

That was the chant of the Addickted after a 1-1 draw at Southampton this afternoon.   Charlton are currently 17th in the Championship.

Sonny Carey equalised for Charlton in the second half after the home side went ahead.   They then tried to throw the kitchen sink at Charlton, but the Addicks resisted the pressure.  Carey drilled a shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net from the edge of the box.

10 minutes was added on to the second half, but although Southampton huffed and puffed, they were unable to take advantage of the referee's timekeeping.

“Carey had told Richard Cawley: 'I think we can use it as motivation,” Carey said when asked about coming up against opposition that inflicted heavy damage last time around. “After what happened in the home game, the gaffer said we need to bury it, forget about it, but at the back of your mind use it as fuel to go and put in a performance.

“We know that day was a very bad day and that we need to put that right at the weekend.”

Southampton went close in the opening moments when Tom Fellows floated a cross to the back post, where Scienza was in space to send a right-footed effort at goal that was cleared off the line by a diving Lloyd Jones.

Ryan Manning also went close for the hosts when he struck the crossbar with a curling effort just before the half-hour mark.

Saints came close again moments later, when a corner was flicked on by defender Amari'i Bell to James Bree at the back post and he failed to keep his header down.

They took the lead early in the second half, when Scienza crossed the ball into the box from the left and his in-swinging pass found the head of Stewart, who glanced the ball into the net.

The Addicks found an equaliser with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Greg Docherty aimed a pass across the top of the box to Carey, who took a touch before shooting low past keeper Daniel Peretz.

Flynn Downes and Conor Coady came face-to-face in the final 10 minutes, with a melee breaking out among players in the moments afterwards.

The Charlton fans wanted Southampton's Downes sent off for what they thought was a headbutt, but referee John Busby only produced a yellow card before both Downes and Coady were substituted immediately after.

Southampton pushed for a winner, pumping balls into the box to try to find a goal, but the Charlton defence held strong.   Richard Cawley reported: 'The Addicks absolutely stood up to heavy late pressure from the home team.Lloyd Jones absolutely superb - 23 defensive contributions. Got his head on so much when it really mattered. Big point and nicely sets up the trip to WBA.'

Fans praised the contribution of debutante Collins Sichenge who put his body in front of everything. Fans chanted: 'We've got a big ****ing Kenyan.'

Nathan Jones told Richard Cawley: “We let ourselves down sometimes but it is our first year at this level - look at what we’re coming up against. Structurally we were good and tactically we had to be good. I would have liked us to be a little braver and shown a bit more quality in the moments we had, right at the end we might’ve even nicked it if Miles (Leaburn) could just play (Charlie) Kelman clean in. But would we have taken a point before the game? Absolutely."

Supremo excited about Sichenge signing

Nathan Jones seems as excited as some Kenyans about new signing Collins Sichenge who may make his debut against the Super Hoops tonight.    CAS Trust has even extended a welcome to new Kenyan members.

Jones says he is athletic and has good technical ability.    He has settled in well with the other players.  Getting a centre bank with Championship experience could cost 35 to 40 million pounds.   The club had hoped to sign the Kenyan last May.

Jones said that Sichenge was hungry for success, but all his all round game needed polishing.

Charlton have a good record at home against QPR so at least a draw should be possible tonight.   We have lost just one of our last ten home league games against the Super Hoops and have won the last three without conceding.  Away from home QPR have won four, drawn five and lost six.

Leicester have been complaining that their six point deduction was disproportionate but many pundits were forecasting nine points,

CAS Trust point out that QPR are an incredibly attacking side, but also solid at the back: https://www.castrust.org/2026/02/every-minute-matters-on-friday-night/

Transfer window went better than hoped for

For me, Collins Sichenge is one of the most interesting signings Charlton have made so far.  For once they have looked outside the box and signed someone from Europe who hails from Africa.

Richard Cawley has commented: 'Sichenje had been the subject of interest from Luton Town and MLS side Colorado Rapids.   One experienced recruitment source told us that the player is “one of the most athletic centre-backs in Europe” but added he could be “very erratic”. It is a case of backing the judgement of Jones and head of recruitment Phil Chapple.'

And, of course, many fans are reluctant to give any credit to Jones or 'Chapple of Rest'.

I think signing Conor Coady was a smart move.  He brings commitment, steel and energy to a faltering defence.  He may have slowed down a bit, but he has a football brain.  He is prepared to tell other players what to do.

I have not heard of any reports of supporters in despair at the departure of Karoy Anderson on loan.

The move of Ademola Lookman to Atlético should give us some money, although I have no idea how much.

The January transfer window is a tricky one to operate in and this is one of Charlton's better performances in my opinion, but no doubt many will disagree.

With the third smallest budget in a very competitive division, anything better than relegation is a considerable achievement.

There may be something in Kenyan player story

I was sceptcal yesterday, but it appears there may be something in stories suggesting that Charlton are on the verge of signing their first Kenyan player.

There have been reports that Charlton have agreed a deal with Serbian side Vojvodina for Kenyan centre-back Collins Sichenje.  That includes claims that he has passed a medical and will cost in the region of £2 million.

Last week Jones told Richard Cawley that a link to Junior Ligue, who moved this week from FC Zurich to Venezia, was wide of the mark.*  He was more guarded on Sichenje, only responding: “Anything happens on that we’ll let you know as soon as we can.”

The Kenyan defender has spoken about the move to The Star, a publication in his home country: “I want to challenge myself in the Championship. It’s a demanding league, and I believe I can make an impact here."

Cawley  has heard that Brighton are still trying to get a deal for Micah Mbick over the line.

 “That is between Brighton and the football club,” said Jones, when asked if the Premier League club were pushing for an agreement. “What it means is that our development structure for Micah Mbick and our progression for him has been excellent - because a top Premier League club is trying to buy our players. That is what we want to do.

“If we’d kept Micah here and played him in the U21s and used him sporadically, would we have been able to do that? There is the proof in the pudding of what we do - how we’re building a football club and assets. How we’re developing assets and keeping this football club moving forward.

In his interview with Cawley;s website Jones has denied falling out with Rob Apter or other signings. Well he would, wouldn't he?  

*I still think theee was at least some Charlton interest in Logue.  German language sites aren't going to run stories about Charlton, a club that perhaps twenty or thirty people in the German-speaking countries know about,