MATCH PREVIEW: Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic - Wednesday 26th August 2026 - 7:45pm Kick-Off
League Cup - Second Round
Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic
Wednesday 26th August 2026 - 7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: Adam Herczeg
Introduction
After an impressive start to our season, the all important League campaign takes a shuddering halt this midweek, with the small annoyance of a League Cup fixture coming up, which in normal circumstances would rarely even enter the thoughts of Charlton fans. But there is indeed a Second Round, even a Third Round actually. We've got to this stage of the competition having beaten Cheltenham Town 3-1 on the opening day of the 2026/27 season, our sole adventure out of the Capital in the entirety of August.
The Opposition
Name: Tottenham Hotspur - Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
Ground: The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Having just beaten West Ham United at the London Stadium, having made the rare advancement in the League Cup, you'd hope that the Addicks would be rewarded with some kind of glamour tie in the Second Round of the League Cup - Instead we've been handed another team that seem accustomed to battling Premier League relegation of late.
Yet that is the reality for Tottenham Hotspur, and whilst they are one of the bigger clubs that we could have drawn at this stage of the competition, they're only a big club on paper of late, recent results on the other hand, suggest a very different proposition. After all their last two campaigns have seen them finish 17th on both occasions, and whilst other Tournaments saw them enter the Champions League last year... results like the 4-0 defeat away at Brentford on Saturday means that the prospect of playing in the Championship... Sooner rather than later, could be a distinct possibility... The League table after all doesnt care about paper.
In terms of the opposition facing us, and Tottenham will have an array of individual talent to call upon, but are they a team? - Its the likes of Mikey Moore, the latest prospect from the Spurs Academy, and fresh from a year with Glasgow Rangers that worries me, youngsters who could see this as an opportunity dislodge those struggling to perform - It could also be a reunion for Conor Gallagher, facing his very first loan side for the first time... the now 26-year old has gone on to have an impressive career, since turning up at Sparrows Lane as an unknown 17-year old.
Just like Saturday and the Addicks head to North London with a gigantic task on their hands.. It'll be our first visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and will be our first encounter against Spurs since a 3-0 defeat at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup back in 2011 - Score first though, and an already fragile home side could break.
Charlton Team News
Similar questions will be asked of Nathan Jones, will he stick with the same team that has recorded three wins from three, or will he make changes and see the clash with Preston North End on Saturday, a more important fixture... A sensible man would say yes... Yes there will be changes to the eleven, and you'd expect some form of rotation, there could be a chance for Greg Docherty to either show he's got what it takes, or he could be given a chance to showcase his abilities to potentially interested parties ahead of a rapidly closing Transfer Window.
Elsewhere and this could be a good opportunity for Alan Mwamba and Micah Mbick to gain further minutes against experienced opposition, and so aid us in the long run of what will inadvertently be a long and arduous Championship campaign ahead of us.
Okonkwu
McNamara - Jones - Koumetio - Mesik
Docherty - Mwamba
Knibbs
Alli - Mbick - Campbell
Substitutes: Brooks - Sichenje - Bell - Costello - Carey - Coventry - Grant - Leaburn - Ouma
Comments
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Nice little drive by against the Spuds! 👍ForeverAddickted said:... you'd hope that the Addicks would be rewarded with some kind of glamour tie in the Second Round of the League Cup - Instead we've been handed another team that seem accustomed to battling Premier League relegation of late.
Yet that is the reality for Tottenham Hotspur, and whilst they are one of the bigger clubs that we could have drawn at this stage of the competition, they're only a big club on paper of late, recent results on the other hand, suggest a very different proposition. After all their last two campaigns have seen them finish 17th on both occasions, and whilst other Tournaments saw them enter the Champions League last year... results like the 4-0 defeat away at Brentford on Saturday means that the prospect of playing in the Championship... Sooner rather than later, could be a distinct possibility... The League table after all doesnt care about paper.
...
Rev Jones should start with a strong team and then once we've got the tie wrapped up he can rest players ahead of the clash with PNE on Saturday.
Spuds 0 Charlton 2 (Jones, Campbell)4 -
In all seriousness, we should be going into this game with plenty of confidence and I wouldn't be resting players - let them use this game as an opportunity to test themselves against Premier League players (OK, lower-end Premier League players
).
Make the most of this experience and make sure we aren't the only side the Spuds batter this season (cos they ain't doing it to anyone else!).
If we're lucky we might be able to snatch an odd-goal victory in normal time but I wouldn't fancy our chances if it goes to pens. More likely we'll lose 2-1 with our goal being a late consolation.3 -
What metrics are you using to define big? Im interested to know.0
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The Jones boys crash the party. Another 2-12
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NJ has already said that he can't keep the same team Saturday, Wednesday and Saturday, so expect changes tomorrow and then back to best against Preston where TC will score a hat-trick to show them what they missed 🤣3
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Disagree, quite a few of the squad need minutes, and the league is more important than a cup we won't win.Briston_Addick said:In all seriousness, we should be going into this game with plenty of confidence and I wouldn't be resting players - let them use this game as an opportunity to test themselves against Premier League players (OK, lower-end Premier League players).
Make the most of this experience and make sure we aren't the only side the Spuds batter this season (cos they ain't doing it to anyone else!).
If we're lucky we might be able to snatch an odd-goal victory in normal time but I wouldn't fancy our chances if it goes to pens. More likely we'll lose 2-1 with our goal being a late consolation.
Should be making changes and giving the likes of Sichenje, Mesik, Alli, Knibbs etc decent minutes.
Almost a shame we got drawn against a PL side and not a L1 side or something, albeit a good evening out for fans!6 -
Like West Ham, this could be an ideal time to meet the spuds, we've got a reasonable record at their place, I remember Sir Chris scoring the winner in 2002, so I am going for a repeat of the Hammers game and a 1-2 scoreline...3rd round here we come...2
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We should be wearing red and white... who makes these awful decisions?11
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Ouma or JrC and Grant for Docherty and Mbick.ForeverAddickted said:League Cup - Second Round
Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic
Wednesday 26th August 2026 - 7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: Adam HerczegIntroduction
After an impressive start to our season, the all important League campaign takes a shuddering halt this midweek, with the small annoyance of a League Cup fixture coming up, which in normal circumstances would rarely even enter the thoughts of Charlton fans. But there is indeed a Second Round, even a Third Round actually. We've got to this stage of the competition having beaten Cheltenham Town 3-1 on the opening day of the 2026/27 season, our sole adventure out of the Capital in the entirety of August.The Opposition
Name: Tottenham Hotspur - Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
Ground: The Tottenham Hotspur StadiumHaving just beaten West Ham United at the London Stadium, having made the rare advancement in the League Cup, you'd hope that the Addicks would be rewarded with some kind of glamour tie in the Second Round of the League Cup - Instead we've been handed another team that seem accustomed to battling Premier League relegation of late.
Yet that is the reality for Tottenham Hotspur, and whilst they are one of the bigger clubs that we could have drawn at this stage of the competition, they're only a big club on paper of late, recent results on the other hand, suggest a very different proposition. After all their last two campaigns have seen them finish 17th on both occasions, and whilst other Tournaments saw them enter the Champions League last year... results like the 4-0 defeat away at Brentford on Saturday means that the prospect of playing in the Championship... Sooner rather than later, could be a distinct possibility... The League table after all doesnt care about paper.
In terms of the opposition facing us, and Tottenham will have an array of individual talent to call upon, but are they a team? - Its the likes of Mikey Moore, the latest prospect from the Spurs Academy, and fresh from a year with Glasgow Rangers that worries me, youngsters who could see this as an opportunity dislodge those struggling to perform - It could also be a reunion for Conor Gallagher, facing his very first loan side for the first time... the now 26-year old has gone on to have an impressive career, since turning up at Sparrows Lane as an unknown 17-year old.
Just like Saturday and the Addicks head to North London with a gigantic task on their hands.. It'll be our first visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and will be our first encounter against Spurs since a 3-0 defeat at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup back in 2011 - Score first though, and an already fragile home side could break.
Charlton Team News
Similar questions will be asked of Nathan Jones, will he stick with the same team that has recorded three wins from three, or will he make changes and see the clash with Preston North End on Saturday, a more important fixture... A sensible man would say yes... Yes there will be changes to the eleven, and you'd expect some form of rotation, there could be a chance for Greg Docherty to either show he's got what it takes, or he could be given a chance to showcase his abilities to potentially interested parties ahead of a rapidly closing Transfer Window.Elsewhere and this could be a good opportunity for Alan Mwamba and Micah Mbick to gain further minutes against experienced opposition, and so aid us in the long run of what will inadvertently be a long and arduous Championship campaign ahead of us.
Okonkwu
McNamara - Jones - Koumetio - Mesik
Docherty - Mwamba
Knibbs
Alli - Mbick - CampbellSubstitutes: Brooks - Sichenje - Bell - Costello - Carey - Coventry - Grant - Leaburn - Ouma
1 -
£300m spent this window ! Lower Prem ?Briston_Addick said:In all seriousness, we should be going into this game with plenty of confidence and I wouldn't be resting players - let them use this game as an opportunity to test themselves against Premier League players (OK, lower-end Premier League players).
Make the most of this experience and make sure we aren't the only side the Spuds batter this season (cos they ain't doing it to anyone else!).
If we're lucky we might be able to snatch an odd-goal victory in normal time but I wouldn't fancy our chances if it goes to pens. More likely we'll lose 2-1 with our goal being a late consolation.1 -
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Agree on this, wouldn’t say awful but definitely weirdnewyorkaddick said:We should be wearing red and white... who makes these awful decisions?2 -
Rotate the team Saturday far more important14
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NO INJURIES!!!!
Not really fussed otherwise.7 -
Are we not wearing the red and white ?newyorkaddick said:We should be wearing red and white... who makes these awful decisions?0 -
Minutes for legs and protecting some key players. Result would be nice but totally unimportant.6
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Purple... heads should rollMiserableoldgit said:
Are we not wearing the red and white ?newyorkaddick said:We should be wearing red and white... who makes these awful decisions?0 -
Live on Sky Sports+1
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Looking forward to it.
Could certainly spring an upset but gotta feeling Spurs will try that little bit harder to get a result otherwise it gets toxic real quick.
Spurs 2 - Charlton 1 ( Mesik )3 -
Hope the Kenyan lads get good minutes. Can't wait to see the Spurs reaction when Collins makes himself known.5
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Zip-a-de-do-dah, ok if you've bought into the conglomerate...🤦♂️ross1 said:Live on Sky Sports+2 -
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I thought we’d get tonked on Saturday so not even going to try and predict a score here! I just feel the best I’ve felt about our club in such a long time and I hope the match is a brilliant occasion, a celebration of how far we’ve come, give a good account of ourselves and then get on with the slog of the league campaign on Saturday.2
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Savio/Savinho is eligible for his debut tomorrow night after being registered in time.
Solanke available to start.
Van der Ven & Porro will be on the bench.
Maddison out for a few weeks with a fractured shoulder.
Mikey Moore due to go out on loan to Germany for the season after this game.
One to watch out for getting minutes is Luca Williams-Barnett who is a 17yo attacking midfielder who has looked promising in the U21s and Premier League B. Strong, two footed, reminds me a bit of Gazza tbh. We've got very high hopes for him.11 -
Wonder if it's because we already have purple shirts made up with the Carabao badges (though some were auctioned off).newyorkaddick said:We should be wearing red and white... who makes these awful decisions?2 -
I think this might be a game for 5-4-1 so we’ve got a defensive shape but still got the wingers and some pace on the counter
Okonkwo
McNamara Sichenje Jones Koumetio Mesik
Alli Docherty Ouma Grant
Mbick
Use Burke and Bell to give Jones and Koumetio a rest if we go a couple of goals down. Let TC have the last 30 at them to save Grant for Saturday4 -
AndyG said:Rotate the team Saturday far more important
My approach in a nutshell.soapy_jones said:NO INJURIES!!!!
Not really fussed otherwise.
Good chance to get minutes in the legs. I expect Miles will start as I don't know that Mbick has 60 minutes in him yet, but we'll see.
I do not want to see Chalobah or Bell anywhere near this game. They both have lengthy injury records, and I can't imagine they're ready to play Sat-Wed-Sat. Give them the night off. Send them out on the piss. Let them be ball boys. I don't care, no risk of injuries in this match.
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This is put your house on spurs time , if you didn’t already lose it backing the whammers on Saturday1
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Is there any commentary on radio for this game?0
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An absolute glamour tie -
For the first time in years we feel we have the wherewithal to we go into this type of fixture with a genuine chance- Lots of us felt that we could do West Ham and there is a similar air to this fixture.
Our long term target hasn't changed - survival in the Championship.
What is clear is that the owners have decided to significantly boost our first team and therefore our squad.
This club as a whole is a different beast this season.
We have more strength in depth - we have the same well drilled discipline - but we now have attacking threat.
We are missing a genuinely creative number 10 but bar that we are able to to be genuinely dangerous on the counter with a back 4 in place.
Overall I think mid table is now a genuine opportunity for us.
If we catch these guys cold - if we can once again turn the crowd toxic - this could be a perfect chance to once again bloody the nose of a "bigger" club.
Tottenham 1-2 Charlton (Grant 21, TC 90+7)
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Just hope we dont just sit back waiting for them to score ,like we did at home to chelsea last season . With nearly 6,000 of our fans there GIVE IT A GO4
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Yes, it’s on Talksport.up_the_valley said:Is there any commentary on radio for this game?2
