Charlton Athletic

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.

Paul Sullivan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

My heart sank when the Charlton Athletic team line-up dropped for Tuesday's Carabao Cup second-round game against Cambridge United.

Nathan Jones made 11 changes from the narrow 1–0 Championship defeat by Leicester City at the weekend.

The most alarming aspect was the defence - two under-21s, including Oliver Hobden making his professional debut. The only recent regular was Macaulay Gillesphey.

Across midfield and attack we had four new signings - Joe Rankin-Costello, Harvey Knibbs, Tanto Olaofe, and Charlie Kelman - so that looked reasonably strong on paper. But the real eye-opener? Eight outfield academy players on the bench, two of whom had already played earlier in the day in the U21s' 1–1 draw with Barnsley at The Valley.

My original prediction was 3–1 to Charlton. But when I saw that defence, I changed it to 4–3 in our favour. I was right about the three.

It turned into a night to forget in the university city.

We were poor - resorting to hopeful long balls, short on energy, and seemingly lacking interest in what's fast becoming a devalued competition (try telling that to Grimsby Town supporters, though).

All three goals were soft. The first came from a slick Cambridge move delivered like a knife cutting through ambient butter.

The one real spark was Ibrahim Fullah, who gave us a glimmer of hope by pulling it back to 2–1 just before the break. That goal made him our embryonic top scorer = two goals to his name and counting.

That felt like the time to call in the cavalry - a few seasoned players from the bench to try and turn it around.

But that was clearly not in Jones' plans. He wanted his main charges tucked up in bed, ready for the rigours of facing QPR in the Championship.

Fair play. I'd bite your hand off for 50 points in the league and two early cup exits right now. But the fact is, I was very irritated with the final 3–1 defeat.

Charlton Athletic head coach Nathan Jones said the club "have to" strengthen the squad in defence after seeing his side lose 3-1 at League Two Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup.

Jones made 11 changes to the team that lost to Leicester City at the weekend, which he said was necessary to ensure the Addicks could continue to compete in the Championship.

They have until 7pm on Monday, when the transfer window closes, to bring in defensive reinforcements.

Summer signings Charlie Kelman, Tanto Olaofe, Joe Rankin-Costello and Harvey Knibbs were all named in the starting XI, with Jones admitting after the game none of those who began the game had staked a claim to retain their place against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

When asked if the club would look to add to their backline, he told BBC Radio London: "We have to.

"We have to strengthen in that area of the pitch because if we don't strengthen then it only takes one or two [injuries] and we're exposed, and then with the greatest respect the Championship is different."

Ollie Hobden made his debut at right wing-back, with Keenan Gough also coming off the bench for his first appearance for the Addicks.

Ibrahim Fullah's long-range stunner was a rare high point on a night that saw Karoy Anderson shown a red card deep into stoppage time.

"We have to make sure we are considerably better than tonight and our levels are as good as they were on the weekend because we were outstanding on the weekend," said Jones.

"We've lost two back-to-back games and we don't often do that, and that's what I'm disappointed with.

"But I had to make those changes tonight because of the levels we'd had and what we have to do on Saturday and that's why we got what we deserved, because we were second best all over [the pitch]."

They may have only scored one league goal so far this season, but Championship new boys Charlton Athletic have been impressing with their performances.

The Addicks beat Watford on opening weekend, drew 0-0 at last season's play-off semi-finalists Bristol City and fell to a narrow, and many would say unfair, 1-0 defeat against Leicester City on Saturday.

BBC London's Louis Mendez believes fans should be encouraged by the football they're seeing.

"They actually look a more potent attacking force this time around in terms of the amount of chances they're creating and that's with the step up as well. It just so happens that they haven't taken them yet," Mendez said.

"They will need to sharpen up slightly in front of goal but the way they're creating chances and the way they're keeping teams at bay so far has been really positive."

Even though three matches is a small sample size, Mendez doesn't foresee a relegation scrap for Nathan Jones' side and believes playing in England's second-tier is a suitable level.

"I think Charlton fans will be really pleased by the start to the season because if there was ever any question about whether the Addicks could compete at this level, they've answered that emphatically," he added.

Charlton travel to League Two Cambridge United tonight (19:45 BST) in the second round of the EFL Cup in a tie which is difficult to predict.

"For some reason, Charlton at Cambridge is always a difficult game. Even though there's two divisions between the two sides, they've been familiar foes over the last few years in League One," Mendez said.

"It was only a few months ago that Charlton went there and won 1-0 and that was a horrible game of football but Charlton scraped past."

A convincing EFL Cup result is imperative to provide the players with the confidence to go on and affirm Charlton's status as a worthwhile Championship club, a mission which is the top priority.

For Mendez, cup competitions provide the opportunity to build momentum within the season and propel league form, but the cup itself isn't the focus.

"The cup is really not a major priority but you don't want to lose games like this against a side in League Two because you don't want anything to dent the good start to the season."

Tonight's cup game also presents opportunities for the players to develop individually, as new signings and youth players look to assert themselves within the squad.

After Nathan Jones made 11 changes to his side in the EFL Cup first round win over Stevenage, Mendez said more of the same is to be expected against Cambridge.

"I suspect there will be changes, there's players who need minutes. The likes of Harvey Knibbs. Charlie Kelman [may] start. He hasn't hit the ground running yet.

"Maybe you'll get a little sprinkling of the youth again as well."

Listen to the full discussion and more Charlton Athletic on BBC Sounds.

Paul Sullivan
Fan Writer

Image source, Getty Images

Charlton Athletic produced their best performance of the Championship season so far, yet ended up empty-handed after a narrow 1-0 defeat by Leicester City in Saturday's early kick-off.

In a match where the Addicks dominated for large spells, the difference ultimately came down to one key ingredient: clinical finishing. And Leicester provided it with a moment of real quality.

Abdul Fatawu escaped the attentions of Charlton's left wing-back, Josh Edwards, swiftly going inside him, before curling a sublime strike beyond goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.

Despite the scoreline, the statistics told a different story. Charlton registered 20 shots to Leicester's six, with seven on target compared to just two from the visitors. The standout performer? Foxes goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk – a fact that paints a clear picture of the balance of play.

Charlton posed a constant threat, both from open play and set-pieces.

Lloyd Jones was immense at the back and a persistent nuisance going forward, while Miles Leaburn, brought in for new signing Charlie Kelman, justified his selection with a commanding display up front.

Pre-match, the team sheets gave reason for optimism. Leicester left out unsettled names like Bilal El Khannouss, James Justin, former Addick Stephy Mavididi, and benched Harry Winks. But the 2016 Premier League champions still had quality to call upon – including teenage talent Jeremy Monga, who became the youngest scorer in the Championship last weekend at Preston.

To Charlton's credit, heads didn't drop after conceding. The Valley faithful kept the energy high, urging the team forward until the final whistle.

It's a result that stings, but a performance that encourages. If Charlton can maintain this level, they'll not only stay in the division – they'll compete.