Charlton go top

Charlton went top of the Championship after a 1-0 win over Preston North End, Karlan Grant scoring after 56 minutes.

It was the prodigal's first goal since returning and it came in front of the Covered End.

They are the only team with a 100 per cent record, Millwall losing 5-1 at Southampton.

It was a clean sheet for Arthur Okonkwo. The home side took the lead after the break when Karlan Grant finished tidily after making a yard for himself in the area.

Preston, battered 4-0 at home by Everton in the Carabao Cup in midweek, looked for a way back into it but could not force Addicks keeper Arthur Okonkwo into a save of note.

Grant gave the home side the lead with his first goal for the club since leaving for Huddersfield in January 2019 as Millenic Alli's cross came to him in the area.

Alli had a chance to wrap it up late on but was denied by a good save from Preston keeper Daniel Iversen. in his home debut.

It was a bit of a hard grind, but better second half.  Fans rated Leaburn's contribution.   Supremo Nathan Jones said: “Miles Leaburn was outstanding. He led the line against three big centre-halves and had zero protection from the referee. At time it looked like Aussie Rules out there. It was his best game for us. “He was exhausted and had a cut eye when he came off - that’s what I want to see from my centre-forward.”

Nathan Jones has credited his coaching staff for the half-time change which helped lead to the winning goal.   Carey was replaced by Alli.

Preston's assistant supremo McCall was booked.  Fan: 'That's just for your haircut.'

It was the first time Paul Heckingbottom had lost to a Nathan Jones team after four encounters.  The under pressure Preston supremo said it had gone wrong in both boxes for them.  Attributing unusual powers to the Addicks, he said that Charlton were willing the ball into the net.  They had smelt the chance to score.

The chances of Heckingbottom falling to the curse of Charlton are reduced by takeover talk at Preston.

AI avatar Desmond from Deal commented: 'I have to admit that Jones rides his luck, but there are 43 games to go and nine points won't save you from relegation.  Charlton started well last season, but they face a real challenge away at the Baggies on Wednesday.'

 

Highest position in EFL for 11 years

Swansea City ended the Championship season with victory as substitute Adam Idah's late double and a sparkling Leo Walta free-kick secured a 3-1 triumph over Charlton Athletic. in front of 2,000 Addicks who had made the journey to sunny South Wales.

There was something of a party atmosphere for both sets of supporters, although the home side dominated possession,

A forgettable goalless draw between two sides with little to play for had looked on the cards until Idah met Josh Key's pass with a crisp first-time finish to put Swansea in front 16 minutes from time.

Charlton responded swiftly as another substitute, Miles Leaburn, headed home from Sonny Carey's corner.

But Nathan Jones' were only level for three minutes before 19-year-old academy product Thomas Woodward – who had only just come on for his senior debut – centred for Idah to steer home his second with the aid of a deflection off Gillesphey.

January signing Walta put a layer of gloss on Swansea's triumph as he scored a memorable first goal for the club, a curling effort from 25 yards which bounced into net off the post.

Victory sees Swansea finish the season in 11th for the second successive season, though the Welsh club are three points better off than they were this time last year.

Charlton end 2025-26 in 19th, their highest finishing position in the EFL pyramid in 11 years, despite ending the season with only one win in their final nine games.

'Fan write' Paul Sullivan gives the BBC his verdict on the season: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cdrp0852xggo

Charlton stun Ipswich

Charlton Athletic stunned Ipswich Town with three goals in 12 second-half minutes at Portman Road to pick up their second away win of the season.   The Addicks are now in the play off places at 5^th.

The home side, previously unbeaten on their own patch this term, dominated the first half - but Ivan Azon had an effort smothered by Addicks goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski and Ipswich forward Chuba Akpom hit the crossbar.

Charlton, who have now won four of their past six games, made them pay, as Sonny Carey scored his fourth goal in seven games and then Macaulay Gillesphey headed in a second.

Ipswich, who have now lost two on the bounce and saw goalkeeper Alex Palmer limp off injured in the first half, were clearly rattled, and Miles Leaburn added a third shortly after going on as a substitute.

The south London side had conceded a total of 14 goals in their previous three games against the Tractor Boys, and with the home side dominant early on, this meeting looked like going a similar way.

Azon was denied by Kaminski, the dangerous Jack Clarke had an inswinging corner headed off the line by Charlton's Greg Docherty, and then Akpom smashed a shot against the bar after great approach work by Azon.

The loss of Palmer, who seemed to suffer a muscle problem as he raced out of his area to sweep up, did not interrupt the flow of the game, but Charlton then created the two best chances of the first half as a warning of things to come.

Isaac Olaofe, in his first league start, turned away from Ashley Young and ran clear of the defence only for substitute goalkeeper Christian Walton to save with his feet, and then Gillesphey miscued a glaring chance over the bar from James Bree's wicked curving corner.

The dancing feet of Clarke continued to look like Ipswich's best means of opening up the visitors, but Kaminski turned the former Sunderland man's shot over the bar and then Akpom headed his fine cross narrowly wide.

Charlton came alive again after 52 minutes as Carey picked up Leif Davis' headed clearance and drove straight back at the defence, peeling left to beat Dara O'Shea and then driving a low shot beyond Walton.

Suddenly it was all Charlton as Walton produced a fine save to deny Charlie Kelman, and following the resulting corner, Carey's cross was flicked by Olaofe's heel at the near post and ballooned off the diving Walton to fall neatly onto the head of Gillespie for 2-0.

Kasey McAteer thought he had pulled one back with a far-post header, but an offside flag ruled the goal out.

Charlton rubbed home their superiority when Conor Coventry retrieved an over-hit corner and played a sharp pass towards the byline. Tyreece Campbell collected and delivered the ball onto the head of Leaburn, who made it three.

George Hirst's poor touch denied Ipswich their final chance of retrieving something from the game, and Charlton could have added a fourth when Leaburn and Campbell both went close.

Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London:

"It was a magnificent result - some squad, some team."

"In the first 25 minutes we had to get to grips with it because we were really passive and allowed them to work patterns and get their good players into areas, and we had to defend the box really, really well.

"Then we became more aggressive, got on the front foot a little bit more, and we had four really good chances in the first half.

"At half-time I got into the players and said 'Look, if we want to be passive, these are a good side who will play round you and through you'. In the second half we were really aggressive and went after the game.

"The goals were excellent goals and the game-changers that went on were excellent. It was some performance."

 

International break may help injured to recover

Under pressure manager Nathan Jones said at this afternoon's press conference about two key injured players: 

“We’ve had to manage Matty [Godden]. He played through the pain barrier last year, so we had to rectify that over the summer (he underwent surgery. It was so important that we got him to the end of last season - he was one of the best strikers in the league and he was our top goal scorer.

“He was important to us and Miles (Leaburn) was injured. We felt we needed to get him through (the games) and as a result of that he’s had a shortened pre-season. He is now back on the grass and we just have to build him up.

“What we don’t want to do is bring him back too quickly, he then pulls a hamstring and is out for another month.

“Luke Berry is exactly the same. He played through stuff last year."

“Those two are the only two now that we have as absentees. Hopefully they will be back soon. The international break gives us a two-week window, without missing games, to put a bit of work into them. They will be in a better place coming out of that.”

I'm no nepo baby says Miles

The Guardian has published an in depth feature interview with Miles and Tracey Leaburn.  Tracey, whom we remember for standing up to the clowns who want to take over the club, is a star in her own right.  She cooks jerk chicken dinners for the younger players: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jan/09/charlton-miles-leaburn-carl-tracey-interview

Leaburn has been named League One Player of the Month: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-striker-miles-leaburn-wins-league-one-player-of-the-month-award/