MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs. Derby County - Saturday 15th August 2026 - 3pm Kick-Off
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
Comments
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Great preview, great to be back. Looks like quite a good time to be playing Derby given their injuries to key players and lack of transfer activity so far. I expect they will be much stronger when we next play them
I was worried about this as an opening fixture when they came out but the above gives me a lot more confidence. I think we start the home season for yet another year in a row with a 1-0 win3 -
COYR1
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Both teams to score in an end to end game if we set up the way we have done in pre seasonNo idea on what the result will be but I predict 3 goals or more during the game0
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Thanks FA, here is to a good season10
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I won't be there and we invariably win when I'm not so, 3-1 Charlton.1
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- Charlton Athletic have lost their last two home league games against Derby, only losing more consecutively between December 1946 and May 1951 (5).
- Derby County have lost just one of their previous five league meetings with Charlton Athletic (W3 D1); a 2-1 loss in February 2024.
- Charlton lost five of their final eight league games last season (W1 D2), while only Sheffield Wednesday (12.7%) spent a lower proportion of their games in a winning position than the Addicks (16.5%) in the Championship last term.
- Derby lost six of their final eight away games last season (W2), though did their most recent match at QPR in April (3-2).
- Carlton Morris’ 12 league goals for Derby last season was his second-most in a single campaign in the top four tiers, behind his 20 for Luton Town in 2022-23; five of his goals in 2025-26 came from corners, more than anybody else.
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Travelling during this one. Hoping to see a decent performance on the highlights. Think we might just sneak a win0
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Cocked up the holiday dates so get back a day late for this one, dickhead!!!!!, despite not being totally convinced by our overall transfer business, still as excited as ever for the new season and go into it with the hope of proving all the doubters outside of our club wrong in the old Charlton way.would prefer to see Mesik given a go over bell from the start and see if he can keep his place.1
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Finally the league starts. Usual intrepidation and nerves but I do have a good feeling that we will come out of the blocks flying. At home. Decent crowd. Derby not looking that strong yet. 3 points and HMS pisstheleague sets sail ! Enjoy the ride until the wheels traditionally fall off around November0
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Brookes
McNamara - Jones - Koumetio - Bell
Mwamba Ouma
Knibbs
Grant - Godden - Campbell17 -
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Expecting a tight game then knibbs to get a last minute winner.7
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Weirdly confident. I know some aren't sure about the transfer business but I honestly think we so much more balanced as a squad.
Think the team will turn up and put a performance in. Lloyd Jones will be fine and think Billy will give him the confidence needed.
Charlton 2 - Derby 0 ( Grant, Godden )8 -
Absolutely buzzing for this one.
Who gets the 96th minute winner in front of the covered end this time? My money's on Alli off the bench0 -
I think koumetio does look good, but also think we shouldn’t get carried away just yet, the league he’s been playing in is piss poor and he will have to adapt to the championship, all the signs are good but any mistakes shouldn’t be jumped on too harshly at first.5
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Live on Sky sport+1
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Seeing your preview FA is concrete evidence the season starts soon!
Great work as always BTW!2 -
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Correct. 3pm's cannot be shown on Sky Sports+0
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Looking forward to it. We’d planned to be in England this week, so I’m able to get to the games, assuming East Midlands Railways gets me back to London tomorrow, oddly enough, from Derby.A few pints in the River, and I should be good to go.3
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It’s not that, it’s because the PL aren’t playing. For the blackout to stand there have to be a certain % of games in the top two divisions I thinkBriston_Addick said:4 -
Can't wait....into the valley0
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Here we go again 52 point mark is the target … and I expect us to get there .. we start with Derby not the easiest game but winnable .. the problem over number 1 slot is not ideal 48
hours before start of the season …. Personally think the result will hinge who between the sticks …
Mannion. ( Hope Kaminski Plays )
McNamara - Jones - Koumetio - Bell
Chalobah Coventry
Carey
Knibbs. — Godden - Grant
1-1 draw …
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I think (and hope) that Micah will be on the subs bench5
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Everyone who wants an opening day fixture televised will get oneFortune 82nd Minute said:9 -
Will be watching from a bar in Cyprus for this one 2-0 COYR0
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Flying home Saturday, all being well I’ll be home just in time to watch on TV bit not enough time to get down there
think this could be a score draw 1-1 or 2-20 -
