Charlton Athletic

Blackburn Rovers will look to end a disappointing week on a high when they make the trip to Charlton Athletic on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Having led a 10-man Ipswich Town 1-0 after 79 minutes, heavy rainfall saw the game abandoned and the English Football League settle on a replay.

It's left Blackburn feeling hard done by after dominating following the dismissal but they will need to get over their ordeal quickly when they visit a side who, while not prolific scorers themselves, make finding the net a troublesome task.

• Charlton have won just one of their last six home league games against Blackburn (D2 L3), with this their first since a 2-0 defeat in February 2020.

• Blackburn have won six of their last nine league games against Charlton (D1 L2), though those two defeats in that run have come in the last three meetings.

• Charlton have lost just one of their last 18 home league games (W13 D4), going down 1-0 against Leicester last month.

• Having won just one of a run of 10 away league games between December and March last season (D1 L8), Blackburn have now won four of their last six on the road (D1 L1).

• Only Sheffield United (1) have scored fewer goals than Charlton (4) in the Championship this season. However, only Stoke and Middlesbrough (4) have conceded fewer than the Addicks (5).

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

Image source, Rex Features

Charlton Athletic midfielder Henry Rylah has signed a two-year contract extension at The Valley.

The 19-year-old academy prospect has made 10 appearances for the Addicks since his debut in November 2022.

Rylah has played twice for Nathan Jones' side this season and started in the 3-1 Carabao Cup first round win over Stevenage.

He has signed a deal until 2027 with the option of an extra year.

"It means a lot to extend my time here. It shows that the club has put real faith in me and I can really see myself developing my career further now," Rylah told the club's website., external

"I'm just glad to see what the future holds."

Paul Sullivan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Charlton Athletic registered their first away win in the Championship at a rain-lashed Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The 1-0 win could have huge implications for our season, as it could be a launching pad for complete belief we belong at this level.

Isaac 'Tanto' Olaofe - the Summer signing from Stockport County - scored his first goal for The Addicks in the 90th minute with Southampton loanee James Bree providing an assist on his full Charlton debut.

Ever since the appointment of returning manager, Chris Wilder, the noises coming out of the Sheffield United camp indicated they were expecting a relatively easy three points to kickstart their season after a miserable start under the ousted Ruben Selles.

The bottom line though, following 'talk the talk', is to 'walk the walk' and this Blades side were still blunt from their opening five league defeats.

Conversely, Charlton produced the goods when it mattered on the day.

In front of a partisan, expectant crowd of 30,165 (1,954 Charlton fans), it was so important we started well. This first phase of the game was crucial as we nullified the euphoria of the perceived returning messiah. They quickly realised they had a battle on their hands.

As it turned out, Charlton were magnificent in defence as we saw Reece Burke and Bree seamlessly bed in. We were dangerous on the counter-attack, as we were happy to allow Sheffield United the lion's share of possession. We were dominant in shots both on and off target.

It was a truly wonderful win.

I believe this result sets the tone for what we are capable of achieving in this division.

There was a lot of hype leading into this game. Even in normal circumstances, Bramall Lane is an intimidating place to visit. As a group, we dealt with it all and put in a performance and a result. Neutral observers will sit up and take notice.

Paul Sullivan provides commentary on Charlton Athletic games for the visually impaired.

Image source, Rex Features

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has praised his side's 1-0 win at Sheffield United given the 'context' of the occasion at Bramall Lane.

Isaac Olaofe's late winner meant there was no fairy tale return for Blades boss Chris Wilder who is back in the Blades dugout for a third time.

"It was just an excellent win. I thought we deserved it. If you look at the context and the difficulty of the game; this is Sheffield United, away, full house, returning manager who's been synonymous with success here so to put in that level of performance I thought was outstanding," Jones told BBC London.

"First half, I thought we were the better team, we had the better chances, one or two on the counter.

"We had two really good opportunities from second phase, the keeper made great saves.

"We had similar opportunities to what Ipswich had the week before yet they ran out 5-0 and we had only one so that's a learning curve for us but the level of performance was fantastic."

Chris Wilder begins his third spell as Blades boss with the visit of Charlton to Bramall Lane on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Pointless basement boys Sheffield United are seeking to avoid making the worst start to a Championship season ever, while Wilder is hoping to avoid starting a spell in the dugout with a defeat for the third time at the club.

Nathan Jones' Addicks haven't won since the opening day and have taken just a point from their two away games thus far.

• This will be the first league meeting between Sheffield United and Charlton since March 2017, a 2-1 home win for the Blades in League One, under Chris Wilder.

• Charlton are winless in their past six away league games against Yorkshire sides (D2 L4), with their last such victory coming in April 2022 at Rotherham (1-0).

• With zero points and a goal difference of -11, Sheffield United have made the joint-worst start after five games in Championship history (since 2004-05), level with Wycombe Wanderers in 2020-21. Only three sides have lost each of their opening six matches of a campaign: Sheffield Wednesday (2007-08), Peterborough United (2012-13) and the aforementioned Chairboys (2020-21).

• Charlton Athletic have netted just three league goals so far this season, their fewest at this stage of a season since 1986-87 in the top-flight (3) and fewest in the second tier since 1970-71 (2).

• This will be Chris Wilder's third spell in charge of Sheffield United – his previous two tenures both started with a defeat, vs Bolton in August 2016 (0-1) and vs Liverpool in December 2023 (0-2).

Paul Sullivan
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

The wait goes on after 29 years of no wins against Millwall, the only south-east London team not to win the FA Cup and appear in the Premier League.

OK, enough of the friendly ribbing.

Back in June, when the Championship fixtures were announced, it was so typical to see this match-up [Charlton v Millwall] clash with my planned break to Bologna, Italy (thoroughly recommend by the way).

This meant delicate negotiations for Mrs S to drive back home from Luton Airport so I could concentrate on proceedings in SE7.

I was delighted to see Sonny Carey flash up on my phone in the 40th minute as Charlton took the lead against our hoodoo neighbours.

Periodical checks ensued for the rest of the game (well, every minute) until a heart-sinking feeling, when I saw a red card symbol against Kayne Ramsay's name in the 74th minute.

A battle commenced within my brain.

The negative side said we've blown it. No way will we hold on with 16 minutes remaining plus a probable one-hour additional time.

The positive side told me we could hold on with 10 men, because these days, good organised sides are adaptable in these scenarios. Certainly with Nathan Jones' tactical prowess, we had every chance. We could pack our already renowned defence with the likes of [James] Bree, [Reece] Burke, etc.

It was not to be. Truth be told, after their 88th minute equaliser, I was very happy to hold on to a precious Championship point.

To highlight the positives:

We went toe to toe with an established Championship side who finished eighth last season.

Tyreece Campbell is looking to be an extremely dangerous frontman, Charlie Kelman just may have turned a corner and is almost ready to turn genuine promise into goals.

And Carey, perhaps the most unsung of our 10 summer signings, has surprised us all with his exceptional play and what would have been Charlton sainthood had his goal remained the difference on Saturday.

So onwards and upwards - off to Sheffield United, who are still to register a point, on Saturday. If we can be the best version of ourselves - why not?

Oh, just a minute. New manager bounce after sacking Ruben Selles.

There goes that negative side of the brain again!

Paul Sullivan provides commentary on Charlton Athletic games for the visually impaired.

Image source, Rex Features

Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones after his side's 1-1 draw with Millwall:

"I'm proud of the performance because it took a red card for us to draw the game. We were comfortable and I didn't see us conceding today.

"Once we got the goal I just wanted to get the next one, which we couldn't do. It was going to take something – like a set-play or a moment of madness to concede and we got a moment of madness.

"When you are on a booking and you lunge in then you know you are risking something.

"You have to be cleverer than that. Top defenders stay on their feet and make people work for something – when they go to ground, it is a last resort or they know they can win it.

"It is a learning curve for him. He's a young boy and he has so much ability, he has been outstanding for us. That was categorically the turning point.

"We should have had six points from our last two home games but we took one. We're comfortable at the level."

Charlton will be looking to break a winless run of nearly 30 years against London rivals Millwall on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Addicks are winless in their last four in all competitions whereas their visitors have won three of their last five games but are arriving at The Valley off the back of a 2-0 defeat by Wrexham.

• Charlton are winless in their last 12 league meetings with Millwall (D5 L7) since doing the double over them in the second tier in 1995-96.

• Millwall are unbeaten in each of their last six league visits to Charlton (W3 D3), keeping a clean sheet on each of the last five occasions.

• Having lost each of their last two league games, Charlton could lose three in a row for the first time since October last season.

• Millwall have won both of their away league games so far this season; they last won their first three of a league campaign in 1995-96 in the second tier.

• Coming into this weekend's games, only bottom side Sheffield United (2%) have a lower shot conversion rate than both Charlton (3.8%) and Millwall (4.7%)

Image source, SNS

Hibernian have announced the loan signing of Zach Mitchell from Charlton Athletic for the duration of the 2025-26 season.

Mitchell, 20, has previously had loan spells with Colchester United and St Johnstone.

"We're delighted to bring Zach into the building," Gray said.

"Zach is a player that caught my eye during his brief spell at St Johnstone last season. He is a young defender with some great attributes and will add extra versatility, strength and depth to our back line.

"He is a young defender who is comfortable on the ball and has a good physical presence. We're all looking forward to working with him."

Are Queens Park Rangers, Charlton or Millwall likely to strengthen before the transfer window shuts?

Find out in our visualised two-hour special show as we follow all of your club's deadline day business. Watch here at 18:00 BST.

Paul Sullivan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

As the schools return, Charlton have much homework, study and revision to get through before their next big Championship exam - our historical tormentors from down the road, Millwall.

In our first three Championship matches, we've focused on our strengths in coping with this new environment but on Saturday we were found wanting in a number of areas against ironically the weakest of the opposition we've come up against so far - QPR.

Firstly, we failed to match their intensity coming off the back of their 7-1 humiliation at Coventry City last time out.

We didn't do enough to stop the low cross from Harvey Vale, leading to their first goal. Rob Apter was unaware of Paul Smyth ghosting in and ahead of him to put the Rs 1-0 up.

When we did equalise, then was the time to push home our ascendancy but the quality was missing in terms of decision-making and delivery.

The impetus was lost as Tyreece Campbell was dispossessed by Amadou Mbengue, the very man who should have been sent off shortly before for a second yellow card offence on ex-Rangers man Charlie Kelman.

From there, Japanese substitute and new permanent signing Koki Saito was allowed to stroll through our non-existent midfield and in turn leave Lloyd Jones off-balance as he unleashed a left footed shot to give QPR the upper hand again.

With six minutes of normal time remaining, there seemed to be a feeling among players and fans alike we were not going to repeat the heroics of the last time we were in W12 at the back end of 2019, when Naby Sarr scored a last-gasp equaliser.

A third goal just added salt to the wound.

It's crucial the likes of Harvey Knibbs and Kelman get their fitness levels up to speed in this international break, while:

• Keeper Thomas Kaminski must show more authority.

• Defence needs a reset. This is A-level, not GCSE.

• Midfield were ghosts at Loftus Road - more bite and ball-carrying urgently required.

• Attack must convert potential flair into clinical finishes.

Four points from four matches isn't catastrophic but this clash revealed the gap between surviving and thriving in this league.

Charlton must use this break wisely, or risk being examined again far less kindly.

Paul Sullivan provides commentary on Charlton Athletic games for the visually impaired.

Charlton Athletic head coach Nathan Jones said his side didn't "demonstrate enough quality" in their defeat at Queens Park Rangers.

"We didn't start well and that cost us the first goal, a counter-attacking goal," he told BBC Radio London.

"Then we get to grips with the game with probably controlling the game. Second half we get back in it.

"There's a massive call from the officials that I've just spoken to them about which we think they've got horrifically wrong, and then we just didn't take the moments well.

"We didn't take our chances and they go through the middle of the park and they score the second goal. And that's changed the game really, it knocked the belief out of us."

Two London rivals will seek to get back on track in different ways when Charlton head west across the capital to visit QPR on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The R's suffered a 7-1 drubbing at Coventry last Saturday and have picked up a single point from their opening three Championship games under Julien Stephan, while Nathan Jones' Addicks suffered their first defeat of the campaign, being edged out 1-0 by Leicester at the Valley on the same day.

• QPR are unbeaten across their past six home league games against Charlton Athletic (W4 D2) since a 4-2 defeat in October 1997 in the second tier.

• This will be the first league meeting between Charlton Athletic and QPR since a 1-0 win for the Addicks in June 2020. Overall, Charlton have won three of their past five head-to-head league clashes with their London counterparts (D1 L1).

• Last weekend, QPR were defeated 7-1 by Coventry, the 12th time that they've conceded 5+ goals in a Championship match since the EFL rebrand in 2004 – only Barnsley (17) and Huddersfield (13) have suffered that fate on more occasions in this time in the division.

• Charlton have scored the joint-fewest goals in the Championship this season (1), with this the first time the Addicks have scored one or fewer goals through their opening three league games of a campaign since 1970-71 (also one).

• Charlton have lost just one of their past eight league London derbies (W5 D2), though did lose their last in the second tier 2-1 against Brentford in July 2020.