MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs. Derby County - Saturday 15th August 2026 - 3pm Kick-Off

O-Randy-Hunt · August 15

Hard to call. 1-1 Godden with the goal.

RonnieMoore · August 15

SuperCliveMendonca said:

Haven’t lost opening game for the last 7 seasons, hoping we don’t buck the trend

1-0 Godden pen

COYA!!!

Hopefully in the 97 min so they can’t kick off

FremlinsFellow · August 15

BigRedEvil said:

Must win game

Or a free hit

Redvalleyeast · August 15

Literally every 'expert' and podcast Ive listened to lately have Charlton to be relegated. COYR, lets stick it up 'em,starting today,2-1,Godden and Grant👊

Laddick01 · August 15

This time last year I doubt many Hull fans were excited for their first game and the rest of the season.

Anything could happen.

DOUCHER · August 15

Redvalleyeast said:

Literally every 'expert' and podcast Ive listened to lately have Charlton to be relegated. COYR, lets stick it up 'em,starting today,2-1,Godden and Grant👊

Lisbie had us down to finish 8th, Curbs 10th and Brownie and Charlotte 14/15th - right now i've got us down to finish anywhere from 8th downwards - last few signings and re signings could make a big difference - as could whether we have signed some hidden gems this summer or got what we've probably paid for. The good thing right now is i don't really know how good or bad we are but i have hope that we could be good.

LargeAddick · August 15

Need to get off to a good start, winnable game, 2-1 home win. Alli with the winner off the bench.

Bedsaddick · August 15

First home game of the season I’ve missed for as long as I can remember. I shall be watching it on my laptop while having an endoscopy or something procedure just as unpleasant!

I think it’s a great time to play Derby.

Their most influential player is injured , the fans are pessimistic and the takeover fall through has disrupted them .

I’m going 2-0 . Godden and Carey

lancashire lad · August 15

Good luck Beds

Bournemouth Addick · August 15

ForeverAddickted said:

Charlton Athletic vs. Derby County
Saturday 15th August 2026 - 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Ben Speedie
Introduction
So the wait is finally over... after a long summer of five whole days, the Football season is about to commence... at least properly... Of course the Addicks kicked off their 2026/27 campaign last weekend, a 3-1 victory at Cheltenham Town in the League Cup. Yet this Saturday its time to properly turn our attention to the serious matter of the League, another gruely Championship season of 46-games, travelling the breadth of the country awaits... You can't get better than this!!
The Opposition
Name: Derby County - Manager: John Eustance
Ground: Pride Park
Last Season: 8th
Travelling down to the Valley for the season opener this coming Saturday will be Derby County The Rams will no doubt be looking to go one better this campaign, having narrowly missed out on the Play-Offs by four points last season
As a result its anyone's guess who could be fight at the top of the table, and who could be fighting at the wrong end... This after all is the Championship, its motto might as well be: "Expect the Unexpected" - Yet already Derby come into this weekend looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat against newly promoted Lincoln City, having lost 2-1 at Pride Park in the League Cup last weekend... The fact they've only won two of seven Pre-Season Friendlies (coming at Alfreton and Mansfield) could set the basis of an argument that Derby aren't best prepared for this season, a fact probably helped of late with Turki Alalshikh withdrawing his takeover deal.
In terms of transfers and there have been four new signings; Bobby Clark has turned his loan from last season, into a permanent deal, moving from Red Bull Salzburg for £6m, other incomings include Sammie Szmodics re-joining on loan for a second time from Ipswich, whilst Derby have strengthened their left flank with Charlie Taylor and Filip Bilbija joining from Southampton and SC Paderborn 07 respectfully.
Derby come into this clash looking to win the season opener for the first time since 2022, their last three campaigns have each resulted in opening day defeat, coming at the hands of Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City.
Charlton Team News
Charlton opened their 2026/27 season in style with a 3-1 win at Cheltenham Town, and so scoring three goals in a game for just the fourth time in the last 12-months. As a result you could expect to see a very unchanged Charlton team from the side that won in the League Cup last weekend. With cryptic comments about the future of Thomas Kaminski it remains to be seen if he returns to the squad, after his customary League Cup absense, or whether a move to Sparta Rotterdam could be on the cards.
Elsewhere and Timothy Ouma joined the club this week, the Kenyan though won't be ready for this particular fixture and along with Kayne Ramsay and Josh Edwards are the three who are most likely to be absent from the substitutes bench from this opening day fixture... Had I mentioned that yet?
Mannion
McNamara - Jones - Koumetio - Bell
Coventry - Chalobah
Carey
Campbell - Godden - Grant
Substitutes: Brooks - Mesik - Costello - Sichenje - Mwamba - Docherty - Alli - Knibbs - Leaburn

I was mildly optimistic until I read that bit. Decades of experience tells us if there's a team you want to play to break a losing streak, stay up, or get a non-scoring striker off the mark, etc. it's us. 😬

On that basis I'm going 1-1, if we're lucky.

letthegoodtimesroll · August 15

Redvalleyeast said:

Literally every 'expert' and podcast Ive listened to lately have Charlton to be relegated. COYR, lets stick it up 'em,starting today,2-1,Godden and Grant👊

If they really were ‘experts’ they wouldn’t be making predictions this early. Last night would have reminded them of that.

wmcf123 · August 15

letthegoodtimesroll said:

Redvalleyeast said:

Literally every 'expert' and podcast Ive listened to lately have Charlton to be relegated. COYR, lets stick it up 'em,starting today,2-1,Godden and Grant👊

If they really were ‘experts’ they wouldn’t be making predictions this early. Last night would have reminded them of that.

Last night couldn’t have been too much of a shock. Wolves were terrible last season and shipped a lot of goals . Blackburn always better away from home

Taxi_Lad · August 15

I just hope Virgin Media has sorted the red button issue

Arkers · August 15

I’ve got a good feeling about this season top eight.

sam3110 · August 15

Carey, Knibbs, Apter, TC, Sichenje, Bell, Jones, Docherty, Mannion, Koumetio and Rankin-Costello in the "in the building" video

I'd expect Grant, Godden, McNamara, Coventry, Chalobah and another keeper to be in the squad too, I wonder who the other players will be that make up the squad

Talal · August 15

Apter might be one of the standbys

killerandflash · August 15

Redvalleyeast said:

Literally every 'expert' and podcast Ive listened to lately have Charlton to be relegated. COYR, lets stick it up 'em,starting today,2-1,Godden and Grant👊

Both the BBC (Jobi McAnuff) and the Not The Top 20 Podcast think we'll stay up. The BBC one has us in 18th, which feels fair.

cantersaddick · August 15

Starting to feels ome nerves which is unusual for me and league games with nothing riding on them specifically. I'm worries about the new formation and worried about new players settling.

Hoping it all comes together and even if we lose there are positive signs.

Kid on the train in a spurs shirt so he got the death stare which made me feel a lot better!

Unknown · August 15

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MuttleyCAFC · August 15

From what I can gather it is hit or miss whether you will be able to watch the game using the Red Button via Virgin. This could go on for a while. I have bought the game to be safe.