POST-MATCH THREAD: Charlton Athletic v Sheffield United: Saturday 17th January 2026: KO 15:00

When we faced Sheffield United earlier in the season they were much weakened, having had to shed their manager and re-appoint Chris Wilder. Now, they’ve turned things around and are in a good run of form. Conversely, Charlton have had a tough time recently. New recruits have bolstered Nathan Jones’ squad, with Harry Clarke making the starting eleven and Lyndon Dykes appearing on the bench. Fan favourite Matty Godden returns from his stint in post-surgery rehab to take up a position on the bench with a view to a possible game-changing cameo. With Clarke coming in on the right, James Bree, possibly in his last appearance with his contract coming to an end, moving over to the left wing back position. Harvey Knibbs and Karoy Anderson come into the midfield for Coventry and Carey. Tyreece Campbell began the match on the bench.

The action came thick and fast but it was mostly one way traffic in favour of the visitors:

On 6 minutes Bamford goes down in the box under pressure from Anderson: no pen.
On 7 minutes, Thomas Kaminski pulls off a point blank save to force a corner.
On 14 minutes Kaminski was called into action again, this time facing up to a one-on-one in the box that he saved with his foot.

It was back to the wall defending with Sheffield United very much in the ascendancy. In fact, so much so that Kaminski had to go down with a medical emergency!

On 30 minutes the northerners came closest to taking the lead when a deflected effort through traffic in the box struck the post and the rebound fell kindly to Brooks but he was unable to hit the target.

But it was some five minutes later when the game changed. The ball was pinged back and forth in the air when Knibbs went in to challenge for a lose ball. The challenge on him was hard and high on the lower leg. Studs first. Knibbs’ reaction was immediate as he dropped down and grabbed his shin, screaming! The ref’s intervention was swift, and the player, Djibril Soumaré, was given a straight red card. Knibbs’ was carried off on a stretcher and was replaced by Sonny Carey.

At around 46 minutes, it was the unbelievable that happened. Sheffield United captain Japhet Tanganga flew recklessly into an aerial challenge leading with his elbow—like Randy Savage off the top rope—he went straight through the back of Sonny Carey and was rewarded with a straight red! Down to nine, the visitors had done their level best to give us a fighting chance.
Charlton were very poor in possession throughout the first half. Sheffield United were dominant but it was mistakes of their own making, which the referee got absolutely right on both occasions, that cost them that dominance. Miles Leaburn put in a battling effort and was our prime outlet. He fought well and managed to use his deceptive footwork to make space and conjure opportunities to put the visitors under pressure. And it was Thomas Kaminski that kept us in it with a mammoth performance.

Tyreece Campbell was brought on to start the second half, replacing James Bree. New man Lyndon Dykes was brought on for Charlie Kelman to lead the line, somewhat surprising, alongside fellow big man Miles Leaburn. Campbell’s impact was immediate. His cross into the box was cleared off of the line within mere seconds of kickoff. But it was Lyndon Dykes contribution, a glancing header some moments later, that made the impact that put Charlton into the lead. Dykes combined with Sonny Carey to put the Addicks up 1-0 only minutes into the second half.

Charlton did to Sheffield United in the second what they had done to us in the first half. But that was largely because they conceded two players. Nonetheless, Charlton were able to press on and probe enough to keep the visitors chasing shadows. By the end they were knackered and largely impotent, though their support never gave in. It was in the final minute of added time that the home crowd were given a lift through the introduction of talisman Matty Godden. He came on and looked sprightly, though before he had a chance to do anything but run about, the referee called time.

This is three points in the bag. It’s not everyday that your opposition will have two players sent off but we capitalised on their errors and did just enough. Dykes looked a handful in his role, more mobile than I thought he’d be and Clarke did well on the right. No doubt, we have to be better in possession to continue progressing at this level.
Hopefully, Harvey Knibbs is ok though it didn’t look good.
Charlton 1 Sheffield United 0
Over to you.