POST-MATCH THREAD: Charlton Athletic v Derby County: Saturday 15th August 2026: KO 15:00

A new season kicked off this afternoon in warm, summery conditions at The Valley with Derby County the visitors looking to test the new look Addicks and Nathan Jones’ 4-2-3-1 formation.

The home side started brightly. We looked a level up in terms of being comfortable and purposeful in possession. Just over eleven minutes had elapsed on the clock when the first shot on target tested either keeper. It was Karlan Grant from the edge of the box on the left but it was ultimately a tame effort straight at the Derby keeper. The Addicks managed to maintain the pressure, poking and probing, until about sixteen minutes when Derby swung the momentum their way.

On 22 minutes Derby found a way through. Lloyd Jones was dragged out of position and, after a one-two on the edge of the box, Szmodics managed to leave Koumetio behind to receive the ball in front of goal and slot easily past Will Mannion. A goal down, Charlton’s confidence then dropped.

After half an hour had elapsed Nathan Jones swapped his wingers, with Campbell moving over to the left and Grant to the right. This paid dividends again, as it did last week at Cheltenham, having an immediate impact. Campbell came alive on the ball and the momentum swung back in Charlton’s favour; he looked dangerous driving into the box on multiple occasions. It was on 37 minutes when one such drive resulted in Derby scrambling in the box only to clear the ball as far as Danny McNamara, whose half volley was sweetly struck but ultimately blocked. Charlton finished the half strong, with Campbell forcing a save and Derby retreating deep under pressure. Derby were able to see the half out with the one goal lead but I thought Charlton acquitted themselves well and were unlucky to be behind. Charlton looked a decent Championship side on first look but even the smallest mistakes are more-than-likely punished at this level and the Addicks bore the brunt of that lesson in the first forty-five.

Charlton started the second half as they finished the first. A few dangerous foray’s forward put Derby under pressure but it was Tyreece Campbell’s attempt to win the ball in the box that resulted in a penalty shout. It didn’t look cast iron on first viewing but on replay it’s not obvious that the defender got anything on the ball and it could have gone the home side’s way.

On 59 minutes Sonny Carey was replaced by Millenic Alli and Matty Godden made way for Miles Leaburn. Poetic justice struck right after the subs came on when Karlan Grant swung a ball in from the edge of the box to find Lloyd Jones leaping like a salmon to head it past the hapless Derby keeper. Drawing the home side level after his poor positioning for Derby’s goal was sweet redemption for the Addicks’ new captain.

On 73 minutes Joe Rankin-Costello came on for Karlan Grant. The Addicks continued the pressure, mostly through Campbell, but it was Derby that, on tested the goal next when a counter attack led to a snapshot that Mannion did well to push wide. After dispatching the resultant corner the Addicks broke forward on the counter themselves but tired legs, on both sides, lead to a drop in quality and nothing to break the deadlock for either side.

Well, until a period of Derby possession left them vulnerable on the counter when Conor Coventry found himself with the ball at his feet at the edge of his own box. He picked a forward pass to Joe Rankin-Costello who pushed it on to Miles Leaburn, who being one with fresh legs, collected it in his own half, splitting the Derby defence, and pushing ahead on the break. He marshaled the retreating defenders well until his blocked shot fell to Tyreece Campbell. When the chance looked to have been snuffed, Campbell unleashed a left-footed shot from a tight angle that gave the keeper no chance. Charlton were ahead on just over 80 minutes, with Tyreece Campbell’s valiant efforts rewarded with the potential winning goal. Sign the deal!!!

A raft of changes were made by Nathan Jones with an eye on replenishing tired legs and shifting to five at the back to see things out. Derby brought on former-Addick Corey Blackett-Taylor and the referee signaled eight minutes of added time, both of which combined to fray Charlton nerves further. On just under 95 minutes Will Mannion made a decent diving save. Charlton had retreated to defending deep and relinquishing possession as the minutes slipped away. And it worked! The home side saw out the victory against a dangerous, if uninspiring, Derby County.

I thought the performance was excellent, particularly given the task of integrating the new players and the new formation on the first day of the new season, when fitness isn’t as sharp as it will be. Better performances were what the Charlton faithful have been after and today signals a turn towards better football. Yet, as always, it’s the result that is sweetest!

The Championship journey continues this season in SE7 and it looks to be a potentially exciting one!

Charlton 2 Derby 1
Over to you.