POST-MATCH THREAD: West Ham Utd v Charlton Athletic: Saturday 22nd August 2026: KO 15:00

The Addicks travelled over the river to the London “Taxpayers’” Stadium to face the happy hammers this afternoon for the first of two London derbies over the next few days. This one was off to a quick start.

On six minutes Miles Leaburn battled to win a throw in the final third. The long throw came into the box, finding Lloyd “Pele” Jones who chested it up and fashioned an overhead kick that flew into the back of the net to put the south east London visitors ahead. Two goals in two games for the new captain!

About eighteen minutes had passed when Tyreece Cmapbell’s pressing forced Walker-Peters into a mistake. He fed the ball to Miles Leaburn who took the ball direct, driving at his defender. The West Ham keeper was off his line but Leanurn determined he didn’t have the space to shoot. He worked the defender in and snapped a shot off the crossbar and out. Minutes later, Sonny Carey had a low, driven effort saved by the keeper.

West Ham had the bulk of possession, most of it in the Charlton half. But Charlton were more than resilient, keeping West Ham’s best chance to a Taty header right before the half time whistle. Arthur Okonkwo, on his Charlton debut, was well positioned to make an easy save. In fact, though he wasn’t troubled much, he was a stable force in the goal, anchoring the resolute Charlton defence. As a whole, Charlton defended as a unit, holding shape, if a bit deep at times, and limiting West Ham to mostly long-range shots.

The home side kicked off the second half but it was the visitors who were on the attack first, launching an effective counter in the first minute. Challobah’s turned the ball cleverly over to McNamara, who had acres of space and Grant to his right. Grant received the ball on the edge of the box, turned his man and fired a cross-cum-shot that was deflected away for a corner.

West Ham then began to pile on the pressure. Over a spell of five or six minutes they probed and prodded. Then, the Addicks turned defence into attack. Miles Leaburn’s press forced just enough pressure on the dawdling centre back to release the ball to Tyreece Campbell, who took the ball in his stride and pushed into the box. He opened up his body and unleashed a right foot effort that easily bested the keeper and nestled into the back of the net at the far post.

Alan Mwamba replaced Sonny Carey on sixty-five minutes when Carey was accused of not getting off the pitch quick enough. Mwamba was forced to wait sixty seconds by way of penalty and Charlton were temporarily down to ten men. On sixty-nine minutes, Miles Leaburn, who had performed masterfully, was suffering from cramp and exhaustion, and was replaced by the young, prodigious talent, Micah Mbick.

On about seventy-four minutes, West Ham scored and threatened to turn the momentum firmly in their favour. Okonkwo, who had hardly put a foot wrong, parried a save to his left that was seized upon on the follow up. Only minutes later, Okonkwo made a brilliant reaction save, tipping a close range effort over the bar. Nathaniel Challobah was replaced by Joe Rankin-Costello and Karlan Grant was replaced by Collins Sichenje. (Note: Taty booked for clear dive, the cheating bastard!)

With a minute left in regular time Rankin-Costello had an opportunity on the counter that he should have done better with. His tame effort when through on goal with only the keeper to beat was easily saved.

Four minutes of added time gave West Ham the opportunity to find the elusive equaliser. It was Conor Coventry, a minute into the added time, that provided the chance when he handled the ball in the box. A shot that he was not more than a yard away from was blasted into his face and hit his arm as he shielded his head. The referee couldn’t wait to blow his whistle and hand the home side a get-out-of-jail card. Taty the cheat stepped up to take the penalty, with Okonkwo stepping up to become Charlton’s potential hero on his debut. As it turned out, he didn’t need to do much, as Taty screwed his shot wide on off the post.

Charlton managed to see out the victory. They were outstanding and gave everything, as a unit. 3001 Addicks were there to see a local derby win and a humbling of the Hammers. Tyreece Campbell was immense again, as was Miles Leaburn, who gave everything. Lloyd Jones, Billy Koumentio, Danny McNamara, and Amari’i Bell defended brilliantly. It was another all round performance and a just result.

West Ham 1 Charlton 2

Over to you.