POST-MATCH THREAD: Charlton Athletic v Birmingham: Saturday 7th March 2026: KO 15:00

The second of back-to-back home games saw Birmingham City visit the Valley this afternoon, themselves having visited the uglier side of south east London last week. Nathan Jones made one change from the previous match with Greg Docherty coming into the starting eleven. The visitors, in a poor run of form, made more significant moves, with five changes to their starting lineup.

This match took a few minutes to settle down, with both sides somewhat weary of getting the ball down and playing out through the lines. The Addicks were attacking the Covered End in the first half, not their preferred way of starting. Early on, Lyndon Dykes charged into his defender and former teammate, Wagner, leaving him in a heap on the ground; the man from the highlands of down under escaping without penalty. Birmingham were the first to try and put the ball down and play but it was Charlton pressure that swung the early momentum their way.

After about 14minutes Sonny Carey’s cross from deep was threatening but ultimately came to nothing because of how few we had in the box. Soon after, a late and very heavy challenge on Lloyd Jones resulted in a yellow car for Priske. Moments later, it was Kayne Ramsay that put a firm on on Priske as a warning, and perhaps a signal that things were going to get tasty.

Charlton had built quite a bit of momentum and enjoyed the majority of possession, an unfamiliar position for the home side. Conversely, Birmingham were tentative and, whilst capable of moments in possession, they weren’t convincing and mostly limited to dead ball opportunities to threaten. On 21 mins Tyreece Campbell’s ran with intent at his marker before driving a low ball through the area that Harry Clarke fired into goal, but was blocked away for a corner. The resulting set piece opened up a chance for Conor Coventry at the far post but it was turned wide.

On 32 minutes some interplay on the right saw Sonny Carey swing in another dangerous ball that, this time, had some potential support in the box. The whipped effort narrowly missed Lyndon Dykes’ outstretched leg and then it evaded Tyreece Campbell at the back post, before a defender sent it bobbling into the path of Greg Docherty, whose looping header fell kindly for the well-placed Birmingham keeper to make the comfortably save. Still, Birmingham had dropped into an almost permanent low block, perhaps a result of being sheepish having shipped some six goals in their prior two matches.

Both sides went into the half without scoring. Elsewhere, results were going against us so it needed a similar half of home side momentum, and a bit of the rub of the green, to see us get something out of this and keep ourselves moving ahead of the relegation-threatened pack. The Addicks had the first half chance with the first minute of kick off when a bit of play on the edge of the box between Campbell and Clarke almost put the former in on goal. After that, it got quite scrappy with fouls and misplaced balls limiting the quality of play.

The best opportunity came on 53 minutes. A long clearance from Will Mannion was touched into the space behind by Dykes to release Campbell in on goal. His shot was snuffed out by the defender for a corner. Lyndon Dykes had his own chance moments later when the ball was ballooned up to fall in front of goal. He slid in on the keeper but it was ruled a foul.

Birmingham were the first to make changes, taking Priske and Gray off for and Osman. These changes, combined with Charlton legs suggesting tiredness, saw the game began to stretch, with Birmingham seeing a period of sustained pressure Just under 70 mins Nathan Jones made his own changes, bringing Docherty and Chambers off for Rankin-Costello and Kelman. Charlie Kelman made an almost immediate impact. He was fouled when blocked off the pitch. The resulting dead ball was swung in and then cleared for a throw in. Eventually, the ball was bobbling around in front of goal and it was Kelman that moved most effectively, firing through traffic to put the home side in front. It was a goal that didn’t look like it was coming in the preceding fifteen or so minutes, but it came nonetheless!

Harry Clarke had a decent opportunity when he skated though a couple of defenders on the edge of the box and was taken down by a sliding, last-ditch tackle that the referee waved off and play continued.

On 80 mins Lyndon Dykes was replaced by Miles Leaburn and Birmingham brought on Laird for Solis. Some ten minutes later, Campbell and Coventry were replaced by Coady and Ghillesphey. Five minutes of added time was awarded by the match officials. Only moments later, Clarke and Leaburn combined in the Birmingham box, resulting in a Leaburn effort that flashed across the goal face but didn’t trouble the keeper.

Birmingham tried to turn the screw in the final minutes, throwing everything at an equaliser. But Joe Rankin-Costello had other ideas when his outball found Miles Leaburn in space. Though he was defended by two, he shielded the ball and was able to win a corner as the additional time ran out. The Addicks put the ball back into play with a short corner. Birmingham wrestled possession back but a Kayne Ramsay interception won a throw in and the final whistle came before play resumed.

This was a hard fought clean sheet and a much deserved win. Three points at just the right time against a newly-promoted rival that will be quite unsatisfied with their current position and run of form. They’re not challenging for the playoffs and you’d have to think the ambitious (pompous?) owners won’t be happy with the manager and the current state of affairs.

Charlton 1 Birmingham 0
Over to you