MATCH PREVIEW: Portsmouth vs Charlton Athletic - Monday 29th December 2025 - 7:45pm Kick-Off
Portsmouth vs Charlton Athletic
Monday 29th December 2025 - 7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: Paul Tierney
Introduction
It feels a bit of an unfortunate way for Charlton to approach the end of 2025 given how much better its been to support the club over the last 12-months, at least compared to previous years gone by. There have been plenty of highlights, the win at Wycombe Wanderers, and then promotion at Wembley (again!) are two of the standout moments, our home record too, the fact we've lost just three games at the Valley this calendar year. Whilst things might not be going so well on the pitch at the moment, its worth remembering there have been plenty of good times... and... well... its not been a bad year supporting the Addicks!!
The Opposition
Name: Portsmouth (22nd) - Manager: Jose Mousinho
Ground: Fratton Park
Previous League Result: Portsmouth 1-1 QPR
The defeat at Carrow Road on Boxing Day should have been the turning point, the half way mark so to speak... 23-teams all faced once, meaning that we'll go into Monday's clash on the South Coast with it all to do again - For reasons we all know, we instead face Portsmouth this midweek looking to see the game on a bit more of a positive note this time around.
It means that Pompey remain a bit of an enigma against us, for 12-minutes at the Valley recently, they perhaps controlled the early proceedings... But its nothing new, and you'd have hoped that we'd have grown into said game as it progressed... After all the first goal at the moment in any Championship game appears to be so crucial, and was vital for Norwich on Friday afternoon for example, as the relegation battle will surely continue until the very end of the season. It means a result at one of our favoured away grounds will be a pleasant way to end 2025... However just like we say about our torrid record against Millwall... Nothing can last forever can it?
In terms of form though, and Portsmouth do come into this fixture a better team at home than they are away, they've four wins at Fratton Park compared to just the one on the road, so when you combine that with our own away record, you'd have to realistically think that a draw would be a good result. Pompey though do come into this fixture with a bit of confidence, they've avoided defeat in their last three games, with a solitary 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, and two draws coming against Derby and QPR.
Charlton will be heading to a venue, looking to continue a run that has seen us avoid defeat in the last eight games, spanning the last 20-years
If we can record all three points, it'll go just that little bit further toward the ultimate aim... Survival
Charlton Team News
You stick your left leg in... Your left leg out... You pull your hamstring... and that's you... Out?
I mean it certainly feels that sort of direction with our players having some private game of the hokey cokey at present... Just when we start to think we'll get some players returning, another one adds to the injury list... The Addicks were welcomed by the return of Reece Burke and Amari'i Bell for the trip to Norfolk on Boxing Day, with the latter making an instant return to the starting eleven. Kayne Ramsay was absent though, and whether that was a simple precaution remains to be seen, yet his availability would have been sure to give the under fire James Bree a welcome rest.
Ramsay's absence meant that there was a first start for Academy Graduate: Keenan Gough, and was one of the few names to survive Carrow Road without any negatives. Its possible that we'll see back to back starts the youngster, with potential changes coming from elsewhere in the starting eleven.
Kaminski
Gough - Jones - Gillesphey
Apter - Coventry - Docherty - Bell
Carey
Kelman - Campbell
Substitutes: Mannion - Bree - Burke - Costello - Berry - Anderson - Knibbs - Olaofe - Leaburn
Comments
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Enough messing around, lets get back to the team that knew how to press and did it strongly at the start of the season... Can at least try to start Apter at Right Wing-Back now, with Bell back, and then when Bell needs subbing, we also bring Bree on12
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A must not lose this one. Portsmouth are not near the levels of Norwich, so expecting a better display and a result. 1-1 I think.
team needs to have Bell / Burke / Kelman all starting, as this is a big one and worth the risk. Rather rest them against Coventry.Looking forward to it, as I enjoy our games at Pompey (you would with our record)!3 -
Apter is an inverted left-footed winger. Its why he didnt work as RWB but was vaguely competent at LWB against poor opposition.1
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Charlton Athletic have 4 points from their last 8 League gamesOnly Sheffield Wednesday have a worse record over the last 8 games with 2 pointsTomorrow’s opponents Portsmouth have 8 points from their last 8Charlton are unbeaten in their last 8 visits to Fratton Park (7 wins and 1 draw)6
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If Ramsay plays we get something out the game. If he doesn’t - defeat.
Exactly the same as I thought about the last game.
Surely he’s back now… though I’m saying that more based on hope than any knowledge3 -
NJ saying we only have two experienced fully fit defenders available at present .. said before it’s very frustrating that injuries are the reason we have fell away , with a full fit team like we had at the start we would have got results at Wrexham, Coventry , Norwich and home to Middlesbrough … but nothing he needs to do is scrap playing Carey in a deeper role , our mid looks to open and there no press .. Doc has to come back in with Carey back in his attacking role
best we can hope for drawer .. but another game we would win with out full fit team out1 -
can't wait to watch Kelman make his debut at LWB10
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Nothing has happened to suggest this would be tried.EugenesAxe said:can't wait to watch Kelman make his debut at LWB1 -
I'll be visiting HMS Victory on Tuesday. On Monday I'll settle for the less famous ship HMS Dull Draw.6
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Need a massive improvement on the Norwich performance. I thought Norwich were average at Best and there for the taking. We were so far off it. Need a far more concertive effort. Hope Ramsay is back. Not feeling confident about this one. Head is saying another defeat.0
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Looks like we're wearing the dreaded black kit again going by this graphic. Not sure why we wouldn't be in red for this one.
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is it going to be like Man Utd in their Grey kit?1
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Now I don't mind this kit , but we've lost every time we've worn it and even the 2 times I wore the replica to games at the Valley, we lost those too . I reckon it's jinxed . Why can't we play this one in red ?Talal said:Looks like we're wearing the dreaded black kit again going by this graphic. Not sure why we wouldn't be in red for this one.3 -
That top looks like a bin bag and that’s where it belongs
utter shit
draw at best
more likely to be a defeat and the trap door gets nearer
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Hence my remark about Man Utd grey kitHorsfield9 said:
Now I don't mind this kit , but we've lost every time we've worn it and even the 2 times I wore the replica to games at the Valley, we lost those too . I reckon it's jinxed . Why can't we play this one in red ?Talal said:Looks like we're wearing the dreaded black kit again going by this graphic. Not sure why we wouldn't be in red for this one.1 -
It's gonna sound dramatic, but that's already fucked me off.Talal said:Looks like we're wearing the dreaded black kit again going by this graphic. Not sure why we wouldn't be in red for this one.
Thought we were only wearing away kits cause of sponsor issues, now we have avoided red more than once without a clash. I absolutely despise that kit. Just wear red shirt and black shorts tomorrow ffs.
Anyway, must not lose game, I also don't really want to see a draw either. We have to win as we are going to go on a poor run again looking at the fixtures and our injuries, we need the breathing space.
I will say 1 nil to us, but Pompey have scored in their last 3, I can't see us keeping a clean sheet.
Absolutely dreading tomorrow.2 -
Agree with others, if Ramsay is in the starting eleven then we will get a result. If he’s not then we will probably lose
Hopefully they are really shit and then maybe we can get a 0-0. A draw would be a great result to keep the distance to them in the table, and then we can beat them at home when we’ve got a proper team in our game in hand0 -
First time this season I think this is a must not lose. Unfortunately I think NJ will think that as well and play not to concede which means we are in for a terrible game but if we can get the point then fair enough. Interesting that the Oxford stand in manager said after their game that trying to defend wasn’t working so they went on the attack and actually won. Please start with Tanto & Kelman0
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Please not Docherty . Time for Burke to earn his money .ForeverAddickted said:Portsmouth vs Charlton Athletic
Monday 29th December 2025 - 7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: Paul TierneyIntroduction
It feels a bit of an unfortunate way for Charlton to approach the end of 2025 given how much better its been to support the club over the last 12-months, at least compared to previous years gone by. There have been plenty of highlights, the win at Wycombe Wanderers, and then promotion at Wembley (again!) are two of the standout moments, our home record too, the fact we've lost just three games at the Valley this calendar year. Whilst things might not be going so well on the pitch at the moment, its worth remembering there have been plenty of good times... and... well... its not been a bad year supporting the Addicks!!The Opposition
Name: Portsmouth (22nd) - Manager: Jose Mousinho
Ground: Fratton Park
Previous League Result: Portsmouth 1-1 QPRThe defeat at Carrow Road on Boxing Day should have been the turning point, the half way mark so to speak... 23-teams all faced once, meaning that we'll go into Monday's clash on the South Coast with it all to do again - For reasons we all know, we instead face Portsmouth this midweek looking to see the game on a bit more of a positive note this time around.
It means that Pompey remain a bit of an enigma against us, for 12-minutes at the Valley recently, they perhaps controlled the early proceedings... But its nothing new, and you'd have hoped that we'd have grown into said game as it progressed... After all the first goal at the moment in any Championship game appears to be so crucial, and was vital for Norwich on Friday afternoon for example, as the relegation battle will surely continue until the very end of the season. It means a result at one of our favoured away grounds will be a pleasant way to end 2025... However just like we say about our torrid record against Millwall... Nothing can last forever can it?
In terms of form though, and Portsmouth do come into this fixture a better team at home than they are away, they've four wins at Fratton Park compared to just the one on the road, so when you combine that with our own away record, you'd have to realistically think that a draw would be a good result. Pompey though do come into this fixture with a bit of confidence, they've avoided defeat in their last three games, with a solitary 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, and two draws coming against Derby and QPR.
Charlton will be heading to a venue, looking to continue a run that has seen us avoid defeat in the last eight games, spanning the last 20-years
If we can record all three points, it'll go just that little bit further toward the ultimate aim... Survival
Charlton Team News
You stick your left leg in... Your left leg out... You pull your hamstring... and that's you... Out?I mean it certainly feels that sort of direction with our players having some private game of the hokey cokey at present... Just when we start to think we'll get some players returning, another one adds to the injury list... The Addicks were welcomed by the return of Reece Burke and Amari'i Bell for the trip to Norfolk on Boxing Day, with the latter making an instant return to the starting eleven. Kayne Ramsay was absent though, and whether that was a simple precaution remains to be seen, yet his availability would have been sure to give the under fire James Bree a welcome rest.
Ramsay's absence meant that there was a first start for Academy Graduate: Keenan Gough, and was one of the few names to survive Carrow Road without any negatives. Its possible that we'll see back to back starts the youngster, with potential changes coming from elsewhere in the starting eleven.
Kaminski
Gough - Jones - Gillesphey
Apter - Coventry - Docherty - Bell
Carey
Kelman - CampbellSubstitutes: Mannion - Bree - Burke - Costello - Berry - Anderson - Knibbs - Olaofe - Leaburn
1 -
Kaminski
Gough - Jones - Gillesphey
Campbell - Coventry - Docherty - Bell
Carey
Kelman - Leaburn
I think Kelman will get more opportunities with Leaburn doing more of the legwork.0 -
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Would be happy to see:
Kaminski
Gough jones bell
Ramsey. Apter
Cov Knibbs Anderson
Tanto. Kelman
as others have said, JUST DONT LOSE!2 -
Minute’s applause, as well as presenting the fundraising cheque to CAST!clive said:Hopefully 3 points back to se7 too3 -
If Docherty starts in lieu of Anderson, then they'll be able to slice through our "midfield" at will.
I'm sure Pompey will be aware of this.
Please no.3 -
Would like to see Gough start with Ramsay if the latter is available. Hopefully TC back in the side too. Whatever Jones does, there needs to be a significant improvement from Boxing Day - and some attacking intent.1
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cue another slightly different version of ourselves8
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How about the version that knows where the goal is and how to get the bloody ball into the big net thingy at their end, whilst keeping it out of our net thingy...🤷♂️EugenesAxe said:cue another slightly different version of ourselves5 -
Ive got no idea what team i would start!- Gough should start
- id like to see kelman with leaburn
- i like Andersen but maybe needs a rest, if not, he should start
- cannot drop carey surely
- id play apter over tc at lwb1 -
Don't think I've got the bollocks to sing we always win at fratton park just yet.4
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Wait until we're 3-0 up with 30 seconds to play.O-Randy-Hunt said:Don't think I've got the bollocks to sing we always win at fratton park just yet.4
