POST-MATCH THREAD: Stoke City v Charlton Athletic: Saturday 5th September 2026: KO 12:30
Nathan Jones elected to make a few changes from earlier in the week for today’s early visit to Stoke City, with Timothy Ouma and Oliver Skipp coming into the middle to make their full debuts, alongside Joe Rankin-Costello. Ivan Mesik made a start at right back. The Addicks dominated the opening ten minutes. Mesik had a pop, Lloyd Jones a header, and Tyreece Campbell had the Stoke backline under pressure every time he got on the ball. It was free-flowing football for the visitors and all signs pointed to a good afternoon in Staffordshire for the Londoners.
Yet, despite the early pressure, it was Stoke that would find the breakthrough. On thirteen minutes the referee awarded a very soft penalty against the visitors when Timothy Ouma and Wilmott tusselled in the box, with the Stoke player melting to the ground under less than forceful contact. The penalty was easily dispatched and the aggrieved Addicks got play back underway looking to make things right.
Unfortunately, things would get worse, not better. On twenty-one minutes, Timothy Ouma’s rushed pass out was miscontrolled by Karlan Grant, straight into the path of the diminutive Galbraith on the edge of the box. His shot got the better of Arthur Okonkwo, putting Stoke up two nil.
Only a handful of minutes later, Stoke struck again when a cross into the centre of the six yard box found a free head. Bindon had lost his man and Stoke were now rampant.
Tyreece Campbell was replaced by Danny MacNamara in an effort to regroup and strengthen in a back five. Tyreece had looked dangerous in the early stages when Charlton were in control. With him now removed, where would the danger come from.
In a ten minute period the wheels had well and truly come off. The soft penalty and a string of odd decisions against us in quick succession, combined with some rushed passes and a complete lack of composure from some of the new boys, to throw this one away in the first half. Confidence drained.
The referee had lost the plot since the penalty. Grievous bodily assault was committed on Lloyd Jones without anything more than a free kick. Minutes later, Miles Leaburn was given a yellow card for making minimal contact challenging for a clearance.
On forty minutes, Stoke scored a fourth. The Addicks had a spell of good activity in and around the Stoke box but nothing that provided a breakthrough. Everything Stoke did in front of goal seemed to find the back of the net.
Conor Coventry replaced Timothy Ouma at halftime. Only a few minutes in, Miles Leaburn was hacked down on the far side of the pitch, along the touchline near the away supporters. The referee took that opportunity to award a second yellow to Danny MacNamara, seemingly for something he said, or for calling for a yellow card to be shown on the Stoke player. Either way, it was dissent and, given everything else we’d seen, it was an absolute farce. The referee should be in for some harsh criticism from the relevant authorities. In truth, someone needs to check that man’s Bet365 account.
The Charlton supporters in the away end could see the pattern of injustices unfolding before them. They kept in good voice throughout, despite the situation—or, more likely, because of it! Stoke were largely quiet.
Ouma and Bindon have shown glimpses but they’ve been throw into the deep end and need more time to acclimatise to their new teammates. Individual errors from each were costly today in a period where everything went against us. Ivan Mesik has slotted in seamlessly again and has hardly put a foot wrong since coming in. Skipp made a decent debut, helping to keep things ticking over, in as far as anything ticked at all today, but he wasn’t a commanding presence in the middle. When Conor Coventry came in he showed his worth to the team, in terms of work rate and positioning. He and Skipp looked a decent pairing alternative to himself and Nathaniel Chalobah, which bodes well for the future.
Today was a kick in the teeth. Nathan Jones is a man that’s motivated by injustice and this should help create the necessary “us against the world” attitude to help us rebound and build on the great start to the season. He’ll certainly have a lot to work with! And he won’t be happy that this has happened at Stoke, of all places.
Stoke 4 Charlton 0
Over to you.
Comments
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If the club don’t put in a formal complaint after that then they are weak as piss. Never seen a refereeing performance even close to that bad before.84
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Awful match, awful official. Turn the page and go again Wednesday. Madley officiated that like he caught Jones shagging his wife.44
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Most worrying part about the game is how fragile we are mentally and how easily we were taken apart by not a good team at all.Think the initial line-up was poor from Jones and very inexperienced. Took the risk and paid the price when one decision didn't go our way. From then on it was game over and we gave up.4
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I said before the game that I was concerned that the missing players would catch up to us, but I didn't expect it to go that badly. We started well until the dodgy penalty decision went against us then just fell apart. Ouma looks raw and has a lot to learn if he's gonna make it in England, but he was far from the only issue out there today. Ref was an absolute joke throughout the game and hopefully we don't have to deal with him again this season.Bad day at the office but 10 points from 5 games is a decent haul. On to the next one.14
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Worst officiating crew I’ve seen in a long while what the fuck is that linesman doing stealing a fucking living?18
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Hope someone shit on the refs car21
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Bad day at the office not helped by Jones’s tinkering and an awful refereeing performance.
We move on.8 -
We started strong looked confident and then from the 15th minute onwards the ref ran the show. Mac's red was an atrocious decision.7
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On the bright side, Mesik was quality again!28
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First question, why was Nkeng not on the bench over powerpuff Apter?
Referee was terrible but let's not excuse how we completely collapsed after the first goal. Fans were brilliant and just glad we didn't concede again. Jones just cannot deal with playing his old sides. The less said about Bindon, Ouma, JRC and Skipp, the better.
Mac's red card puts us in a tricky spot for Wednesday. Are Ramsay and/or Edwards ever going to come back?5 -
Outstanding support. Wrong lineup. Disgusting officiating. One to write off.21
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Bottles being thrown at Lloyd Jones after the FT whistle. #cafc
— Richard Cawley (@RichSCawley) September 5, 20263 -
They have had a poor start but have some decent players and spent a lot of money. We got a wake up call that every game is a battle for us and we need to be on it. I worry again about a real lack of depth in our squad. But we’ve had a brilliant start to the season and need to get past this quickly and get back to doing what we do.3
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Best not to wallow in blame seeking. Get sorted for Wednesday.
If you go by winning every home game and drawing every away game, well we’re one point ahead of that.
Must go again, and again thereafter.6 -
I’d imagine it will be JRC filling in at RB… cover for that may be an issue though.DDOUBLEE said:First question, why was Nkeng not on the bench over powerpuff Apter?
Referee was terrible but let's not excuse how we completely collapsed after the first goal. Fans were brilliant and just glad we didn't concede again. Jones just cannot deal with playing his old sides. The less said about Bindon, Ouma, JRC and Skipp, the better.
Mac's red card puts us in a tricky spot for Wednesday. Are Ramsay and/or Edwards ever going to come back?0 -
Poor all round.
defence looked leggy, and we still desperately need a out and out LB.
danny mac missing Wednesday will be a miss, and unfortunately Mesik will be shoehorned in there again. Bindon still hasn’t looked the player many thought we were getting
midfield was interesting. Piss poor but interesting nonetheless- two coming in for their league debut, and JRC starting at the 10 was bizzare- Ouma just looked lost, and has had an awful week with his performance and his best mate being out for the season.
Grant just not a winger in my book- doesn’t look to drive down the line, and is constantly coming central. TC didn’t have the chance to get going.
total lack of leadership in the squad, and we miss a Coady type character to calm heads and lead by example!!Bench looked weak.
we’ll be well and truly up against it Wednesday, a reaction needed4 -
Horror show first half. One of those games you just have to take in the chin and move on to the next.Always easy to blame a ref, but today was one of the worst refereeing displays I have even seen.Didn’t feel confident with Ouma and Skipp from the start. Would have been better to play one of them with Cov.Anyway, onwards and upwards.10
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No point throwing Nkeng into that anyway. Though Apter only got minutes because the game was dead, Jones doesn't trust him when there's something at stake.DDOUBLEE said:First question, why was Nkeng not on the bench over powerpuff Apter?
Referee was terrible but let's not excuse how we completely collapsed after the first goal. Fans were brilliant and just glad we didn't concede again. Jones just cannot deal with playing his old sides. The less said about Bindon, Ouma, JRC and Skipp, the better.
Mac's red card puts us in a tricky spot for Wednesday. Are Ramsay and/or Edwards ever going to come back?8 -
Stoke classy as alwaysfenaddick said:Bottles being thrown at Lloyd Jones after the FT whistle. #cafc
— Richard Cawley (@RichSCawley) September 5, 202619 -
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Mrs Madley has just had a lovely Wedgewood tea service delivered. And he’s got a grand in his 365 account. Allegedly.16
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It'll be the same back 4 that started todayAmpshireAddick said:
I’d imagine it will be JRC filling in at RB… cover for that may be an issue though.DDOUBLEE said:First question, why was Nkeng not on the bench over powerpuff Apter?
Referee was terrible but let's not excuse how we completely collapsed after the first goal. Fans were brilliant and just glad we didn't concede again. Jones just cannot deal with playing his old sides. The less said about Bindon, Ouma, JRC and Skipp, the better.
Mac's red card puts us in a tricky spot for Wednesday. Are Ramsay and/or Edwards ever going to come back?
Mesík Jones Bindon Bell6 -
One of those perfect storm type of games.
Hope we have the environment and togetherness as a group there to draw a line quickly.6 -
By whom???fenaddick said:Bottles being thrown at Lloyd Jones after the FT whistle. #cafc
— Richard Cawley (@RichSCawley) September 5, 20260 -
Mesik will play on the right I would imagine.AmpshireAddick said:
I’d imagine it will be JRC filling in at RB… cover for that may be an issue though.DDOUBLEE said:First question, why was Nkeng not on the bench over powerpuff Apter?
Referee was terrible but let's not excuse how we completely collapsed after the first goal. Fans were brilliant and just glad we didn't concede again. Jones just cannot deal with playing his old sides. The less said about Bindon, Ouma, JRC and Skipp, the better.
Mac's red card puts us in a tricky spot for Wednesday. Are Ramsay and/or Edwards ever going to come back?3 -
Home fansWeegie Addick said:
By whom???fenaddick said:Bottles being thrown at Lloyd Jones after the FT whistle. #cafc
— Richard Cawley (@RichSCawley) September 5, 20260 -
FOOTBALLS MOST WANTED FOR MISDEMEANERS AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ON A FOOTBALL PITCH, NO REWARD, JUST KUDOS...GIT!!!10 -
Bobby Madley.Weegie Addick said:
By whom???fenaddick said:Bottles being thrown at Lloyd Jones after the FT whistle. #cafc
— Richard Cawley (@RichSCawley) September 5, 202626 -
10 points in 5 games is a great start to the season.
But we now have a full back 6 unavailable for the next game
Mannion
Mcnamara Ramsay Sichenje Koumetio Edwards
And a few players bang out of form/not good enough in
Apter, Knibbs, Ouma and Carey
So it's not looking good for the next few games until the international break.
Hopefully we can grind out a couple of decent games and nick a win somewhere and come out the other side
We were crap for a lot of that first half, but the penalty was soft as hell and then to cap it off, the sending off, so quick after a missed corner and a ridiculous challenge from their player, was a real kick in the nads from a properly shit referee.5 -
Our midfield problem highlighted today. Chalobah unreliable, Ouma raw and no effective number 10. We have had Carey, Knibbs, Grant, Costello in that position, 4 in 6 games, and nobody looks right. Grant probably the best of a poor bunch.
Some of us pointed this out preseason when all the talk was about a rightwinger. Well we did not get that either.
We are stuck now until January at least. Hopefuly one of the above 4 will come good
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