MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs Derby County - Tuesday 20th January 2026 - 7:45pm Kick-Off
Charlton Athletic vs Derby County
Tuesday 20th January 2026 - 7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: James Linington
Introduction
When as a team, you've won just a single game since the start of November, it must start to play more and more on your mind. The fact that we had an opportunity to take three points from Ewood Park, and surrendered a two goal advantage that day... Well who knows what it does to a Footballers mindset... We've had two weeks since that game though, and whilst victory, at long last, on Saturday was a bit of a robbery, it perhaps made up for the defeat earlier in the season against Leicester... After all it doesnt matter how we get there, but ultimately Championship survival is the sole target this season... We go into tomorrow night, undefeated in 2026... and continue looking upwards, rather than fearfully behind us.
The Opposition
Name: Derby County (12th) - Manager: John Eustace
Ground: Pride Park
Previous League Result: Preston 0-1 Derby
There will be continued evidence, from the start of the season, to the very end, that confirms just how tight... just how competitive the Championship is... and our latest visitors to the Valley; Derby County are no exception to that - Their start to the season, was uninspiring for their fans to say the least, they won just a single game in their first ten games, drawing five of those, which found the Rams floundering in 21st place... Defeat in that tenth game, a 1-0 loss at Oxford United, resulted in Derby winning their next five games on the trot, catapulting them to within 2-pts of the Play-Offs
That's as good as its been for Derby, and they've only won four games since, with none of those coming back to back, a minor positive for the Addicks given that they were victorious on Saturday at Deepdale; Patrick Agyemang with the sole goal that afternoon, and his seventh of the season. He'll one to watch this Tuesday night, but that won't come as a surprise, given the threat that the 6ft4in American Striker caused us at Pride Park earlier in the season, and is Derby's main threat what with top scorer; Carlton Morris out injured.
With the January Transfer Window now open, Derby have been able to make additions to their squad, compared to when we faced them in September; Dion Sanderson who did face us in the reverse fixture, turned his loan deal, into a permanent option (Linking up with John Eustace for a third time now). Whilst Danish Midfielder: Oscar Fraulo has joined from Borussia Monchengladbach, and will be looking to start his second game for his new club, after facing Leeds in their FA Cup 3rd Round defeat.
Charlton Team News
Okay, so there may have been very few positives to come from the performance on Saturday, and it'll be something that'll hang over us, and could bite us on the arse if we put in a display like that again... Regardless of the three points that we managed to achieve... One of those positives was the return of Matty Godden who was able to play the final few minutes against Sheffield United on Saturday, and whilst his full recovery will take time, its good to see there is light at the end of the tunnel for both player and fans alike.
Elsewhere and James Bree played his final game in a Charlton shirt, at least for now, whilst both Harry Clarke and Lyndon Dykes made their debuts on Saturday. Losing the former though will be the biggest question mark in the starting eleven, at least until we're able to make further reinforcements this January Transfer Window, so for the time being, you'd possibly expect to see Tyreece Campbell returning to the starting line-up in his increasingly familiar Left Wing-Back slot.
Kaminski
Burke - Jones - Gillesphey
Clarke - Coventry - Costello - Ramsay
Carey
Leaburn - Kelman
Substitutes: Mannion - Gough - Apter - Campbell - Berry - Anderson - Docherty - Godden - Dykes
Comments
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You've been quick on the keys FA.
TC at LWB for me, Burke starts with Ramsay on the bench or at RWB to let Clarke on the bench (don't think that will happen though). Think there will be a temptation to start Dykes but I'd continue the Leaburn/Kelman partnership going. Godden coming on to meet Dykes knock downs could prove deadly3 -
Your lineup, FA, has zero creativity. Without TC we have no out ball, only a big lump up to Leaburn. At least Dykes looked as if he can consistently find a red shirt with his headers, unlike Miles too often.
So a rerun of Sat, 0-0 then a second half winner from Dykes to Kelman/ Carey.
Although, Clarke and Ramsay may not be able to manage another 90 minutes so soon, in which case we will lose6 -
Southbank said:Your lineup, FA, has zero creativity. Without TC we have no out ball, only a big lump up to Leaburn. At least Dykes looked as if he can consistently find a red shirt with his headers, unlike Miles too often.
So a rerun of Sat, 0-0 then a second half winner from Dykes to Kelman/ Carey.
Although, Clarke and Ramsay may not be able to manage another 90 minutes so soon, in which case we will loseTo be honest, I'd be surprised if Jones didn't go with Campbell at Left Wing-Back, it was on my original draft, but changed it when I remembered Burke was back, and that Ramsay could play on the left, and so provide cover for GillespheyI'm looking at the team that I've "guessed" now, and am thinking its injury suicide by playing Burke AND Ramsay, given they've both returned from injury and would be wiser to rotate them, rather than playing them both.0 -
wont be pretty, kind of on rinse and repeat again but until we get a fit lwb/lb who can last 90 min best we can hope for is a 0-0 or undeserved 1-0.1
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Football under the lights at The Valley. Nailed on 2-0 win. Jones and Kelman with the goals7
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I can't imagine Ramsay plays after coming back from injury and also after being so shite on Saturday.
We'll go back to TC on the left, Burke at the back and Coventry in the middle, and it'll probably cost us a goal on that side
Kaminski
Burke Jones Gillesphey
Clarke Costello Coventry Campbell
Carey
Leaburn Kelman2 -
I'm sure we're all looking forward to welcoming Cory Blackett-Taylor back to the Valley now he is playing for a big club.
What's that you say? He's scarcely played 30 games for them in total since moving 2 years ago and has hardly played at all this season?
Guess the grass isn't always greener elsewhere.10 -
Oh god not Linington again3
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Nice preview FA
Here we go again...comfortable 4-0, and up the football league we go...😉3 -
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2-1
godden winner 891 -
That was my first thought too.Leuth said:Oh god not Linington again2 -
Need to play much better than we did for that first 35 minutes on Saturday. Would start Clarke at LWB and Ramsay at RWB if fit enough, if Burke is playing then I'd give Apter another chance at RWB if Ramsay cant play.
Echo starting Leaburn and Kelman (may have a point to prove after Dykes cameo)
We are a frustrating team. To play so well against Coventry only to shat ourselves against Sheffield United. We proved we can do it so need to find consistency, we wont win every remaining game but we need to make sure we are always in the game at least.
1-1 (Kelman)0 -
Is Fullah still injured? If he's available I'd at least have him on the bench.5
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He was never injured in the first placeSantaClaus said:Is Fullah still injured? If he's available I'd at least have him on the bench.2 -
I thought he looked good earlier in the season. Strange he's been frozen out.2
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Forget tomorrow guys Linnington one of the all time top 3 worst refs we ever had is in charge .. EFL getting there own back after Saturday ..
Take a point now …
Team
Kaminski
Clarke
Burke
Jones
Gillesphey
Ramsey
Coventry
Doc
Carey
Dykes
Kelman
2 -
Our midfield is weak so it will be more if the same ….2
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Compared to Trevor Kettle and Kelvin Morton, Linnington is nowhere near those two individualsRonnieMoore said:Forget tomorrow guys Linnington one of the all time top 3 worst refs we ever had is in charge .. EFL getting there own back after Saturday ..
Take a point now …
Team
Kaminski
Clarke
Burke
Jones
Gillesphey
Ramsey
Coventry
Doc
Carey
Dykes
Kelman
0 -
But the pound notes are!Fortune 82nd Minute said:I'm sure we're all looking forward to welcoming Cory Blackett-Taylor back to the Valley now he is playing for a big club.
What's that you say? He's scarcely played 30 games for them in total since moving 2 years ago and has hardly played at all this season?
Guess the grass isn't always greener elsewhere.
Coins don't work!1 -
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Agyemang is one of the very few strikers I think was a handful for Lloyd and he’s been in good form so that will be a battle. With how lopsided our defense is and a weak midfield not sure we get anything out of this one I’d take a draw.
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Derby are hit and miss . they don’t score or concede many but they have a good away record .
If you’d have said to me we’d get four points from Sheff Utd and Derby i’d have snatched your hand off but i think , if we play with positivity 🤣 , we can beat them .
1-0 Kelman2 -
Good looking side F A, though I am not a great advocate for Ramsey on the left
Derby are inconsistent but a t m are in decent form
The relative financial states of the 2 clubs is indicated by the fact that Derby can sign a young Dane from Borussia Monchengladbach, even though he didn't have many games for them and was on loan at Utrecht. And Derby were in a financial hole not so long ago when the Candy Crush man was the owner. They are now owned by an ENGLISH multi millionaire, a rarity in this day n age
The game .. as ever a tight one (as the Bishop said to the chorus girl). They squad on paper is marginally better than ours:
Blackett-Taylor if fit will need watching and skipper Travis who Clarke knows from his brief Ipswich career, is a decent midfielder.
Good that Carlton Morris, who's been a thorn in our side before, will miss the game.
I'll be content with a point, BUT if our strikers can at last turn up, I fancy us for all 3
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I imagine he is more interested in the health of his bank account than of his lawn.Fortune 82nd Minute said:I'm sure we're all looking forward to welcoming Cory Blackett-Taylor back to the Valley now he is playing for a big club.
What's that you say? He's scarcely played 30 games for them in total since moving 2 years ago and has hardly played at all this season?
Guess the grass isn't always greener elsewhere.
I was never a big fan, because when he played there often appeared a depopulated area in left midfield. We have the same problem now that Edwards is out.
Many here rated him higher. Just out of interest, being neither a suggestion nor possibility, would we want him back if available on a free or for a nominal sum?0 -
TC needs to start at wing back imo. Whenever we’ve picked 2 defensive wing backs we’ve looked terrible and barely been able to get out of our own half, Saturday was no different. It’s a risk defensively but still better than not being able to get up the pitch and instead be constantly under attack. At least TC offers us a way of progressing the ball that isn’t just lumping it to the front 2
Kaminski
Burke Jones Ramsay
Clarke Costello Coventry TC
Carey
Leaburn Kelman8 -
With portsmouth and norwich also winning saturday ,id say a must win game in front of lowest league attendance of the season0
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If i'm honest, i'd pick whatever team is going to leave us as fresh as possible for Saturday - that includes 'managing the minutes' of Clarke, Burke, Ramsay and TC. Christ, do we need to sign a LWB and quick.0
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Not optimistic for this one.
We were absolutely honking at their place and got away with a point. They'll be coming here to get a win, not draw.
Derby are a weird side, complete mix of results against all types of teams, just beat Preston away and very recently Boro, so it shows they have the quality. They're just not a consistent side.
I would take a draw here, I don't see this as one of the winnable/favourable fixtures.
1-1.0 -
- Charlton and Derby drew their first league meeting this season 1-1 in September, but haven’t drawn both league clashes in a campaign since 1982-83.
- Derby won their last league visit to Charlton 1-0 in League One in February 2024, last winning back-to-back such trips in January 1995.
- Derby have drawn each of their last four away league games at newly promoted opposition, including 1-1 stalemates at Wrexham and Birmingham City in 2025-26.
- Charlton’s Nathan Jones has only lost one of his eight previous managerial league games against Derby (W3 D4), a 0-2 defeat with Luton Town in April 2021.
- Derby County have only won three of their last 22 Championship away games at London sides (D11 L8), failing to win their last five (D3 L2) since a 1-0 win at QPR in January 2021.
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I can't believe you didn't call Saturday's line up FA, lol. It's getting boring now but until we get that left side sorted then we are weakened and in this division you are not getting away with it, unless the opposition have a rush of the proverbial to the brain, thank's, Soumare. As for the line up, I agree that Burke will start, but I think NJ will go with Berry in the hole rather than Carey, Campbell will go left wing back and Clark on the opposite side. I know FA stated that there were few positives from Saturday's game and the performance but surely the biggest positive will have been an unexpected three points, not many saw that coming and neither did NJ, hence the side he selected, five points from these three games and everyone would probably be reasonably happy, so it's a draw for me, no injuries and Wednesday morning we sign a left wing back.0
