Oxford dream or nightmare?

It would be very Charlton to do the unpredictable at Boro and then fail to claim any points at Oxford United on Saturday, although I am hopeful of at least a point which means two points off Oxford.

This is not, of course, the Oxford of dreaming spires but more that of Blackbird Leys.   I must say that I find a three sided ground a bit of a joke with people perched on the tops of vehicles to see the action.  However, they now have plans for a new stadium to the north of the city.

The dreaming spires are represented by non-league and former amateur team Oxford City.   They were once headed up by Norman Chester, the warden of Nuffield College who wrote a prescient but now forgotten official report on the state of football.  Actually finding their ground is a real challenge.

Of course, I remember when Oxford played at Headington, recalling their origins as Headington United. It might be said to be a ground with 'character' with a series of individual stands.   We bought some of the seats and the turnstiles at Leamington.

Enough history.  Oxford have made a bit of a recovery recently, beating Blackburn 1-0 at home during the week.   At home they have won just four matches, drawn six and lost seven.

Oxford are unbeaten in seven home fixtures with Charlton (won four, draw three).  The Addicks last won there in 1998.   This was also the last time we did the double over them.

I'm not sure whether this matters, but Oxford have only won one of the last twelve home games that have kicked off at 12.30.

I was interested to see that Charlton are now above QPR in the table.  Each season there is usually a team that gets dragged into it late on and I wonder if it could be the Super Hoops this year.   It would be just repayment for QPR super fan Lord Young of Acton using his Spectator column to attack Charlton fanzine editor Rick Everitt.

To the Londoners 1-0

Charlton's unexpected win at Middlesbrough tonight eased their relegation fears.   The winning goal came from Conor Coady, viewed by many pessimists as a useless signing.

Kim Hellberg's home side dominated possession throughout the game but not for the first time of late lacked a clinical touch in attack and were frustrated by the well organised visitors.

Wing-backs Matt Targett and Callum Brittain were wasteful in good positions early on, while Aidan Morris thumped the crossbar during a strong first-half spell.

The Addicks had their moments on the break, though, and Charlie Kelman should have done better when his shot was saved by Sol Brynn at his near post.

The pattern of play continued in the second half until Coady, on his 400th career league start, got ahead of his marker to touch in a mammoth throw from Harry Clarke.

The goal, his first for the club, all but silenced the home fans.

Boro kept up the pressure, ending the night with 34 shots on goal, but Will Mannion in the Charlton goal was largely untroubled until he saved well from Hayden Hackney late on.

Charlton, who had won just one of their previous 12 on the road, now look comfortable in 17th place with a nine-point cushion to the relegation zone. 

Negativists struggled for a narrative with avatar Desmond from Deal saying in despair: 'Just when Jones looks like getting his P45, he pulls a rabbit out of the hat.'

One leading moaner said before the game, 'Jones has lost the plot.'   

But as the coach explained to Richard Cawley: '“It was a gamble because I’m sure social media would have been going ‘oh, they’ve taken this game lightly’, ‘they don’t think they can win it’ or ‘they are preparing for Oxford’. I imagine that is the case - I don’t read social media. So you’ll have to tell me if that is true or not,” said the Welshman.

“But we have to utilise the squad. It demonstrates the trust we’ve put into them.We’ve had to use the squad because we’ve got seven first-team players out at the moment. Josh Edwards, Collins (Sichenje) and (Reece) Burke. Three defenders - you can’t take too many risks in that area. (Luke) Berry, Harvey Knibbs, (Matty) Godden, Thomas Kaminski.  All huge players.'

Boro game poses difficult choices

Curbs used to call them 'bonus ball' games when you were away to a much stronger side.   If you did win them, it was a great plus.    Many of us can remember the 4-2 'Black Sabbath' win at Highbury or winning 3-0 at Everton.

However, Curbs also emphasised that what mattered was beating the teams around you.   So the really crucial match this week is not tonight's game at Middlesbrough, but the six pointer at Oxford United on Saturday.   The early kick off to suit Sky gives the Addicks even less recovery time.

Boro will be motivated to win tonight after the victory by Millwall yesterday put them just one point behind in the automatic promotion race.

After some signs of faltering, Boro won 3-1 at Birmingham and then brushed the Super  Hoops aside 4-0 at Loftus Road.   Although we didn't manage it, QPR often collapse under real pressure.

We do need to avoid a pasting tonight.  Goal difference may yet matter and it wouldn't be good for confidence.    Boro have sometimes seemed nervous at home, leading to five draws.

Clearly the strategy should be to defend and counter attack, but that still leaves some difficult decisions about players.  Lloyd Jones, a key player, is one card away from a ban, but we don't have many other options.

Remarks made by Nathan Jones to Richard Cawley suggest that he now sees a real competition for the keeper slot.   In one sense that is welcome, but it still means a difficult choice with armchair managers ready to pounce.

Boro have lost just one of their last thirteen games against Charlton.   They are unbeaten in their last five games at home, conceding just one goal.

There are quite a few northern Addicks who go to these midweek games 'oop north and I hope we put on a display for them tonight.   My guess would be 3-0 to the Boro. but a draw is possible.

Reporting on the line up, Richard Cawley says it looks as if key players are being rotated/rested.

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."