There's only one Lloyd Jones

Richard Cawley reports that Lloyd Jones leads the Championship for the most defensive clearances this season (374) and aerial defence work (222).   He made 22 defensive interventions against the Blues yesterday.

Worrying news from Cawley that Addicks striker starlet Micah Mbick was stretchered off at Colchester's game at Newport yesterday and taken to hospital.

Upset U's supremo Danny Cowley told the Football League Paper: 'It looks a really bad one unfortunately.   It's a horrendous tackle and I'm sick and tired of officials.   He didn't even give a foul.  It was so clear - the fourth official was there and he saw it all, that it was excessive force.'

On a happier note, congratulations to former Charlton director Lord Michael Grade of Yarmouth (isle of Wight) on his 83rd birthday today.   Seeing him heading rather modestly towards the directors' entrance at Anfield at one game, I almost shouted a greeting.

He has been described as an 'admirably steadfast' Addick and in 2024 appeared on a podcast interview entitled 'Football Ruined My Life'.

Jonathan Grade is a Charlton supporter active on X.

Yet again one is enough

It was a difficult day for pessimists as Charlton moved nine points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory over Birmingham City at The Valley this afternoon.   Louis Mendez points out that on 44 points Charlton are on the average to stay in the Championship over the last 12 years.

Charlie Kelman's winner was enough to give Charlton their victory and an important three points in their bid to move further clear of the relegation zone in the Championship.  The forward's fifth goal of the campaign came moments after coming off the bench, and settled a game of few clear-cut chances.

Prior to the winner, Tyrese Campbell had the best opening for the Addicks, denied only by a spectacular last-ditch block from Christoph Klarer to prevent the hosts taking the lead.  It is the first time Blues boss Chris Davies has lost three consecutive league games since taking charge at St Andrew's.

Only one of the previous 14 games between these two had produced more than two goals, so it came as no surprise that this was another tight encounter of few opportunities.  There was little to speak of in the opening exchanges before the hosts had numerous sights of goal in quick succession midway through the first half.

Strong work from Greg Docherty in midfield teed up Lyndon Dykes, but the striker's effort from 30 yards was off target.  Moments later, Harry Clarke found Kai Wagner in the way of his goalbound effort, and from the resulting corner Blues keeper Ryan Allsopp did enough to divert the ball away from Connor Coventry.

It was the same story after the break, and Blues' backline was called into action again when Campbell found himself clean through on goal, and it took a perfectly-timed challenge from Klarer to keep the score goalless.

The breakthrough came with just under 20 minutes remaining from Kelman's first touch after coming off the bench.   The striker brought down a long throw-in that had been flicked on, and fired home beyond Allsopp.

Birmingham – who had made five changes from the 3-1 defeat at home by Boro - threatened late on via a counter attack that saw Ibrahim Osman fire just wide, but ultimately slipped to a third straight league defeat.  Miles Leaburn almost added some gloss to the scoreline for Charlton in injury time but could not direct his effort on target.

Supremo Nathan Jones took the opportunity to make a few subtle digs at his many critics: "Every win is massive in this league and this stage of the season. I felt it was thoroughly deserved.

"Others had won or picked up points, so we knew we had to do that as well. It's all about us getting to a points total we're comfortable with and building from there.

"I don't think we're close [to safety]. You won't feel that way until it is mathematical. That wasn't our goal after the first 15 games. We didn't expect to be in this position.

"We picked up injuries at the wrong time but now we're coming through that. The performance levels have been good lately, we haven't lost many. Could we have won a few more? Yeah. Have we let ourselves down with one or two performances? Yeah. But we are fighting and competing at this level, it's only our first year back."

Apologies for late coverage but I was helping my youngest to clear out the house that the family has lived in for nearly 50 years.

I left early to catch what I could of the match, leaving her alone.  In a 150 year house we have had some issues with ghosts over the years and unfortunately her activities in the attic led to her being chased out of the house!

Both teams need three points tomorrow

After back to back defeats by Millwall and Boro, Birmingham City need all three points at Charlton tomorrow. Otherwise they can say goodbye to their fading play off hopes.

Equally, the Addicks need three points to stave off relegation fears.  A draw is a more than possible result but would not help either team.

Nathan Jones was appropriately cautious in his remarks to Richard Cawley about tomorrow's game, emphasising that you can't read off results from recent ones.

Last season we beat the Blues 1-0 in SE7 and I would take that.   It's difficult to see Charlton scoring many goals, but odd things can happen in football (like the prospect of us playing Spurs next season).

CAS Trust are expecting tight margins: https://www.castrust.org/2026/03/blue-reunion-at-the-valley/

• Charlton are looking for consecutive home league wins against Birmingham for the first time since beating them in 2004-05 and 2005-06 in the Premier League.

• Only one of the past 14 league meetings between Charlton and Birmingham has seen more than two goals scored, a 2-1 Addicks win in April 2016.

• Charlton have lost 11 of their past 21 league games (W4 D6) – since the start of this run on 8 November, only Sheffield Wednesday (18) and West Brom (12) have lost more Championship games.

• Birmingham City have lost their past two Championship matches but have not lost three league games in a row under manager Chris Davies before. The Blues last had a longer losing run in March 2024 (four defeats).

• Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has only won two of his nine league games against Birmingham City as a manager (D3 L4), 1-0 wins with Luton in February 2021 and the Addicks in October 2024.

Jonny Williams talks about Roland Rat

Like many Addicks, I always liked Jonny Williams as a player and a person.  I always felt he tried to give his very best.

Richard Cawley has a fascinating in depth interview with him on his Substack page.  Apparently Williams took a pay cut to stay at Charlton when we went up to the Championship.  Williams is full of praise for Lee Bowyer who recruited him. 

No surprise that the 32-year old is now taking a course in football psychology.  He also talks about how often he got tackled and the lack of protection he got from referees.

He also discusses Roland Duchatelet’s deeply damaging decision to hand over control of the club to East Street Investments, whose sham ‘takeover’ never received EFL approval and saw funds completely dry up.

“You would be lying if you said it didn’t worry the players,” said Williams. “It affected everyone. We were in a bad situation on the pitch, in terms of results, but off the pitch it was an absolute circus at the time, to be honest.

“There was all sorts going on. No-one really knew where they stood. At times we had our own meetings as players and staff. We tried to park all that other stuff and take care of matches. In football it is about focusing on controlling the controllables and you let go of everything else. But it has an effect on people’s mentalities, worries and anxieties. It is everyone’s job at the end of the day - you have got X, Y or Z to pay."

Charlton can't hit the target

Charlton were 18th in the Championship, still seven points above Leicester in the first relegation position after today's 0-1 defeat at The Valley by Wrexham.    Ollie Rathbone's fine first-half strike earned them victory over Charlton Athletic at the Valley.

The superb 30th-minute effort – Rathbone's sixth in the Championship since returning from injury in December – ensured Phil Parkinson's side retained a four-point cushion over the sides chasing a top-six spot.

But the Addicks could have every right to feel hard done by after carving out the game's best chances, only to fail to find the net and make it four games without a win.   Wrexham needed a brilliant 90th-minute save from goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to deny Sonny Carey as their unbeaten away run extended to a sixth game.

Even before Rathbone's opener - a superb flick and skidding volley - three times Charlton had found themselves in space inside the Wrexham box, and three times they returned without joy.  Luke Berry had taken a second too long to pull the trigger to allow Issa Kabore to block superbly. Then former Addick George Dobson threw himself at the ball to stop Carey.

There was no visiting player for Harry Clarke to blame when he got his angles wrong and skewed wide when he really should have scored as Charlton's counter continued to cause problems.

But an encouraged Valley was collectively shaking its head just moments later as Rathbone did with half a chance what the hosts had failed to do with far better opportunities.  It came as Callum Doyle's cross was headed away to the edge of the area where Rathbone proceeded to flick the ball away from the defender and on to his left foot before his volley skimmed into the far corner.

Lewis O'Brien should have doubled Wrexham's lead four minutes after the restart when he met Kieffer Moore's cross, but Kayne Ramsay did well to thwart the danger.

Yet while Wrexham had improved after the break, Charlton again could blame a lack of clinical edge as a string of openings were not finished off, a wayward header from Tyreece Campbell the most glaring.And when Carey did hit one on target, they found Okonkwo at full stretch and at his best to protect Wrexham's result.   

Disappointed supremo Nathan Jones told Richard Cawley: “It was a dominant performance - we were excellent in how we moved the ball.We limited them to just counter-attacks…..bearing in mind they have got some very, very good players. But good sides find a way to win games. I watched them in midweek - Portsmouth had all the possession and they (Wrexham) were clinical and scored in the moments they needed to."

“They weren’t just half-chances we created today - they were clear cut. Bezza’s chance is unbelievable. I expect him to score that, because that is the player he is. Harry Clarke’s chance is gilt-edged. TC (Tyreece Campbell) and Miles (Leaburn) have chances. So does Collins (Sichenje). Sonny Carey….the keeper makes an unbelievable save at the end.“

"The stats said we only had 12 shots - I couldn’t believe that. I don’t think you’ll see a more dominant display."  But Jones emphasised the importance of taking your chances.

It's soccer ball time at The Valley

Much as I find the football coverage of the New York Times enjoyable and interesting, I do find their obsession with Wrexham irritating.  They get more coverage than any other EFL club and more than some top flight teams.

However, it has to be admitted that Wrexham have a big following among soccer ball fans in the US.  It's not just the injection of cash that they have had, it is the way they have leveraged this, albeit using their Hollywood connections, to create a global brand.

This has been achieved in a rather remote city in North Wales, although one that has had a rather colourful history (counterfeit notes come to mind, but also a famous victory over Arsenal).  I think that many local people would admit that Wrexham has faced economic and social challenges.

It does have a university, but according to some figures I saw recently, its graduates have the second lowest value added in terms of post graduation income.

The point is that the owners have used this challenging context as an asset rather than a liability   Instead of complaining, other clubs might see what they can learn from them.

Anyway on the football front, American soccer ball fans have been told that former Addicks manager Phil Parkinson has some injury problems that have led him to tweak his formation, giving a greater to former Addick George Dobson.    

Ben Sheaf and Matty James have been ideally suited to the 3-4-2-1 box midfield setup favoured by Parkinson since Christmas, bringing a level of control against other play off hopefuls during a holiday period that thrust Wrexham into the promotion race via four straight wins.

But now Wrexham are needing to cope without both Sheaf and James, since the latter broke his toe in the February 7 home defeat to Millwall. No return date has been set for James, 34, whose recovery has suffered a slight setback.   “It’s a real blow,” said Parkinson after confirming Sheaf is facing up to 10 weeks out with medial ligament damage, potentially taking him up to the final day of the season. 

His solution against Portsmouth was to partner Lewis O’Brien with George Dobson in the holding roles. The duo could be happy with their first-half efforts but could not stem the tide of Portsmouth attacks following a tactical reshuffle by the visitors at the break, as Gus Caballero was withdrawn and the lively Adrian Segecic brought on.

Only in the closing stages did Parkinson turn to Zak Vyner, the January signing from Bristol City, to see out a game in which Wrexham had been forced to defend 11 corners in the second 45 minutes and repel six shots on goal.

“You have to factor in Matty’s broken toe and then losing Ben on Saturday,” said Parkinson. “A lesser group would have maybe let that rock them but we didn’t   We didn’t quite get the control we wanted. But sometimes football is about finding a way to win. We did that really well tonight."

CAS Trust refer to criticism of the manager's defenisve tactics: https://www.castrust.org/2026/02/the-circus-comes-to-town/

Another away point

Charlton remain 17th in the Championship, seven points above the relegation positions, after drawing 1-1 with the Bagges at The Hawthorns this evening.   'Last ditch' Dykes scored the second half equaliser and was named player of the match.

West Bromwich Albion's winless run in the Championship stretched to 10 games as they were held to a draw by Charlton.

Albion had not scored in their last four Championship outings but led at the break after George Campbell climbed highest at the back post to head in Alex Mowatt's corner in first-half stoppage time.  The hosts spurned several chances to extend their advantage, with Josh Maja and Isaac Price both missing good openings.

Charlton then made them pay on 70 minutes as Lyndon Dykes raced on to Kayne Ramsay's pass and calmly finished between Max O'Leary's legs to earn the visitors a point.   The result leaves the Baggies just one point above the relegation zone and increases the pressure on head coach Eric Ramsay, who has been in charge for the last eight matches.   He succumbed to the curse of Charlton immediately after the game.

Campbell's header capped a dominant first half in which the hosts had more than 60% possession and six shots to Charlton's one.  Maja squandered the clearest opportunity to make it 2-0 when he was sent through one-on-one in the 52nd minute by a delightful Mowatt through ball but the striker slid wide. That was before Price somehow blazed over from inside the area after a good run and pass from Jayson Molumby in the 69th minute.

They paid the price a minute later when Dykes ran on to a ball over the top from Ramsay to equalise  Whilst the Baggies remain 21st in the table, Charlton's 11th draw of the season means they stay in 17th on 41 points from 34 games.

One fan summed it up as not a good performance but a great result, particularly given that Blackburn lost

at home to Bristol City and Portsmouth lost at Wrexham.

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