BBC: Charlton moving in right direction for promotion

Injury hit Charlton moved up to fifth in the Championship table by beating West Brom with a goal in the sixth minute of added time.

Addicks midfielder Greg Docherty had a first-half penalty saved by visiting goalkeeper Josh Griffiths and in a game of few clear cut chances the contest had looked destined to finish goalless.

But a long range effort from Sonny Carey, which took a deflection off substitute Chris Mepham and beat the dive of Griffiths, delivered the hosts a late three points.  Charlton extended a superb run of just one defeat in 10.

The win also put another brick in the formidable defences being built by Nathan Jones and his side at The Valley where they have lost just one match in 24 in all competitions stretching back to December last year.

West Brom will be left wondering how they came away with nothing, but in truth, while their approach play delivered chances, particularly in the first half, their finishing and decision making in front of goal left plenty to be desired.

The best chance of the lot fell to the hosts after they were awarded a penalty when Ousmane Diakite was deemed to have handled under pressure from Miles Leaburn just after the half-hour mark.

The midfielder argued long and hard with referee Lewis Smith but in the end it mattered little as Docherty's telegraphed spot-kick was easily kept out by Griffiths diving low to his left.

The second period saw more life from both sides with Price forcing a fine save from Thomas Kaminski on 50 minutes, despite better options being available to his left.

And Carey served notice four minutes later of what was to come with a straight snap shot from distance which Griffiths kept out superbly diving low to his right to tip around the near post.

With the game heading into added time a point apiece seemed fair and generally acceptable to all parties, but a corner from the left for Charlton found its way to Carey on the edge of the box.

Gathering the ball and turning back towards goal he took one last speculative swing of his boot to earn his side three points and spark wild celebrations with the substitutes and management team on the touchline.

The  BBC commented, ‘Ipswich secured back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League in 2022-23 and 2023-24 and while there is still a long way to go to emulate their rise, Charlton are moving in the right direction.’

Nathan Jones on Sonny Carey: “He is positive in everything he does. "Every pass and touch he has is forward. Whatever run he makes is forward. Every shot zings or tests something. He has been an absolute revelation and it’s why we’ve brought him to the football club."

Nathan Jones just made an appreciative noise when he talked about Ibby Fullah. "I don't think he made a bad touch all night. I told him to light the place up - and he did."

 

Cup defeat gives moaners a boost

League Two Cambridge United beat Championship Charlton Athletic to reach the third round of the Carabao Cup and moaners rounded on Nathan Jones.

The shell shocked supremo told BBC Radio London: "I thought we were way, way off. I don't want to use any adjectives that are disrespectful but we were way off our level, we were outbattled, outfought.

"There's three or four things in all those goals that we could have done better, that we do well normally.  I didn't see any fight, any energy. Normally we outwork, out-press, outrun teams. Tonight I can't remember us doing that."

Jones changed his entire starting XI from Saturday's defeat to Leicester City and the U's made the much stronger start to the game, with goals from James Brophy and Kylian Kouassi putting them 2-0 up inside 30 minutes.

Ibrahim Fullah struck from range to halve the deficit just before half-time with his second goal in two EFL Cup games this season.

Zak Bradshaw restored the home side's two-goal lead 10 minutes into the second half before Neil Harris' side saw out a deserved win against the Addicks, who had Karoy Anderson sent off deep into added time for catching Ibsen Rossi in the head with a high boot.

Summer signings Charlie Kelman and Tanto Olaofe came into the Charlton side both looking for their first goals for the club, while Joe Rankin-Costello and Harvey Knibbs were also included as Jones gave his new players a chance at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.

But the visitors looked disjointed in the early stages and the visitors took full advantage as Brophy swept home his third goal of the season following a neat cutback from Elias Kachunga.  Blackpool loanee Kouassi doubled the lead on 29 minutes as he outmuscled Charlton defender Zach Mitchell before clinically finishing past Ashley Maynard-Brewer for his first goal for the club.

Charlton improved as the half wore on and a moment of quality from Fullah brought them back into the game.   The 18-year-old cut inside from the left before smashing an effort past U's keeper Jake Eastwood with a minute of normal time remaining in the first half.

Bradshaw reacted quickest following a strong save from Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer to deny Kachunga and put the hosts in control on 55 minutes with his first goal at EFL level.

Both sides made several changes in the second half which was interrupted by multiple head injuries, resulting in 14 minutes of added time at the end.   But the Addicks would not find a way back and had Anderson sent off as he made contact with the head of Rossi in the Cambridge box and was shown a red card.

The word from the King’s Head at Deal is that this is the worst cup defeat since Northwich Victoria, but that was televised.   It would have been nice to progress, but minutes have to be given to players who have lacked them.

 

Addicks ease past Stevenage

Charlton comfortably beat League One side Stevenage 3-1 to reach the second round of the Carabao Cup.   Miles Leaburn calmly slotted the Addicks into the lead before Ibrahim Fullah doubled the advantage with a goal on his first start for the club.  Luke Berry made the game safe as he headed in the Addicks' third after the break.

Having beaten Watford 1-0 thanks to Harvey Knibbs' late winner on their return to the Championship on Saturday, Nathan Jones gave his goal scoring signing his first start since joining from Reading.

Knibbs was one of 11 changes with Joe Rankin-Costello making his debut alongside Fullah at The Valley.

Leaburn, who scored 10 goals last season as Charlton won promotion via the play-offs, opened his account for 2025-26 as he slotted in Isaac Olaofe's pass after Dan Phillips had given away the ball.

Nine minutes later, Fullah made it a debut to remember as he outmuscled his marker to shoot home Henry Rylah's cross into the bottom corner.

Dan Kemp blasted over for Stevenage shortly after the break, while at the other end Taye Ashby-Hammond was on hand to keep the ball out after Berry had redirected Rankin-Costello's shot towards goal.

Berry did find the net soon after as he stooped to head home Daniel Kanu's cross to seal matters.

But Stevenage finished the tie strongly and cut the deficit when Freestone headed in Jasper Pattenden's cross before Phoenix Patterson forced a good save from Will Mannion.

Charlie Kelman saw a stoppage-time effort deflect just wide for the Addicks as they progressed to the next round.

Richard Cawley reports Nathan Jones praised Isaac Olaofe for the assist that led to Miles Leaburn's opener for Charlton  last night but also talked about the summer signing 'over-thinking' a good scoring chance in the first half.    Jones was also very bullish on Danny Hylton stepping up his coaching responsibilities following the departure of James Brayne to Sunderland.