MATCH PREVIEW: Stoke City vs. Charlton Athletic - Saturday 5th September 2026 - 12:30pm Kick-Off
Stoke City vs. Charlton Athletic
Saturday 5th September 2026 - 12:30pm Kick-Off
Referee: Bobby Madley
Introduction
Charlton's quick fire road trip continues this coming Saturday with a trip to Staffordshire and Stoke City awaiting our arrival - Its an early kick-off in front of the SKY Cameras that comes hot on the heels of a midweek clash at the Hawthorns, the Addicks salvaging a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday evening and so preserving our early unbeaten start to this campaign.
The Opposition
Name: Stoke City (22nd) - Manager: Mark Robins
Ground: Bet365 Stadium
Previous League Result: Stoke 1-0 Norwich
The Addicks may have sprinted out of the starting blocks, but our hosts this coming Saturday have struggled to hear the starters pistol, and then have struggled out of the blocks like a drunkard leaving the Millers without anything to show for it.
There were even early question marks, could Stoke opt to replace Mark Robins this year in the season... Three defeats in the League, with nine goals conceded against Swansea, Southampton and Wolves in their first three games certainly raised question marks, especially as Stoke, prior to Tuesday evening, had only scored a solitary goal in each of those three games... A win though at home against Norwich has seen them finally get on the board, the familiar Ethan Galbraith signed in the summer for £10m getting on the scoresheet.
Is this the kick start to the campaign that Potters fans were after, or was it a fleeting bit of magic in what could be a difficult campaign; Stoke after all have been a mainstay at this level since relegation from the Premier League in 2018, yet given the last couple of seasons have resulted in them finishing either 17th or 18th... Well luck of that kind has to run out eventually.
Charlton Team News
The Addicks will be making the trip to the Bet365 Stadium conscious of the 3-1 drubbing we received when we visited last year, thankfully Sorba Thomas has now moved on to Hull so our defence wont have to worry about any wayward crosses - You have to go back to 1998, and our first ever visit to the Bet365 to find our last victory in Staffordshire... Thankfully there have only been four games there since.
In terms of the line up though and we could see some rotation, especially with the short turnaround since our last game at West Bromwich Albion, with Ivan Mesik a possible starter in defence, especially after his involvement in the equalising goal on Wednesday evening. The likes of Timothy Ouma and Joe Rankin-Costello will also be looking to appear in the starting line up after impressing from the bench, whilst we could see a debut for Oliver Skipp who MIGHT be available after serving a three game suspension following his loan move from Leicester City on deadline day.
Okonkwo
McNamara - Jones - Bindon - Mesik
Coventry - Skipp
Grant - Carey - Campbell
Leaburn
Substitutes: Brooks - Bell - Costello - Ouma - Apter - Alli - Mwamba - Mbick - Nkeng
Comments
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- Stoke have only lost one of their last 14 home league games against Charlton (W11 D2), winning seven of their last eight, including three in a row since a 1-2 defeat in February 1998.
- Charlton have won four of their last seven league games against Stoke (L3), as many as their previous 20 beforehand (D5 L11).
- Stoke have picked up just three points across their opening four league games this season (W1 L3) and have conceded nine goals – both their worst returns at this stage of a campaign since 2019-20 (1 point, 10GA).
- Charlton Athletic have 10 points from their four Championship games so far this season, their most at this stage of a second-tier campaign since 1992-93 (12).
- Tyreece Campbell has scored three goals in four league games for Charlton this season, already as many as he netted in 45 appearances last season.
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I think it's worth giving Grant another go in the 10 if Alli is able to play 60 minutes. Stoke play a back 3 and Galbraith likes to get forward. If Grant can occupy the other 6 then we can manufacture 3v3/4v4 counters going or Galbraith will be restricted and less dangerous. I think with Skipp next to Coventry it's worth a go5
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I’d go with that team. Think this would be quite a winnable game usually but the circumstances make things a lot more difficult. Stoke played at home on Tuesday and are at home again. We’ve played away on Wednesday and are away again. So less recovery time and more travelling, then add in that it’s an early kick off so we’ve got even less time to prepare.Gives them a huge advantage so I’d be very happy with a point given the circumstances5
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Stoke have been poor but wow that was a really difficult opening 4 games for them. I wouldn't have fancied playing Swansea, Southampton, Wolves and Norwich.
Hopefully we can keep some momentum going and get a smash and grab away.
1-0 Charlton, Leaburn to open his account. Deserves a goal.7 -
Think that will probably be the team, chance JRC could start. He’s done well in the minutes he’s had so far this season.0
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Team I would have chosen too. Would take a point but no reason why we can’t nick it.3
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9-0 Charlton8
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Was about to post why no Rankin-Costello on the bench but seen the OP has dropped the Rankin.1
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Double barrelled surnames are a vanity that should not be tolerated.LargeAddick said:Was about to post why no Rankin-Costello on the bench but seen the OP has dropped the Rankin.10 -
I’m struggling with this metaphor. If you’ve made it out of the Miller’s without anything to show for it, then surely you can count yourself lucky!ForeverAddickted said:… and then have struggled out of the blocks like a drunkard leaving the Millers without anything to show for it.
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NabySarr said:I’d go with that team. Think this would be quite a winnable game usually but the circumstances make things a lot more difficult. Stoke played at home on Tuesday and are at home again. We’ve played away on Wednesday and are away again. So less recovery time and more travelling, then add in that it’s an early kick off so we’ve got even less time to prepare.Gives them a huge advantage so I’d be very happy with a point given the circumstances
I believe the team stayed up in the Midlands after listening to Costello's interview as he said travelling wasn't going to be a problem.
50 miles or less possibly to travel for Charlton players since Wednesday night.
I would put Carey back in the 10 position for the Stoke game but I wouldn't rule out using Grant their again but that is dependent on Alli being sharp to play in the wide position opposite TC.
Sonny need to gets his Mojo back as we need our top scorer to hit the target like he did in the 1st 6 months of last season.
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COYR0
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From NJ's comments, i expect Bell and Mesik to swap. It'll be interesting if anyone else is rested, as we have another 2 game week coming up.
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Pretty much what I was going to say. Agree with FA's team. I think this is the game to bring Carey back in. I think he'll need to do a job defensively and in the press, which we know he can do. But I also think this will be a game where there's a bit more space for him to pick up the ball and drive into. I don't think Stoke are so good in possession like WBA were that we'll need to sit deep for 90 minutes, but I also expect Stoke to have more of the ball and for us to, once again, look to hit them on the counter or with set pieces.NabySarr said:I’d go with that team. Think this would be quite a winnable game usually but the circumstances make things a lot more difficult. Stoke played at home on Tuesday and are at home again. We’ve played away on Wednesday and are away again. So less recovery time and more travelling, then add in that it’s an early kick off so we’ve got even less time to prepare.Gives them a huge advantage so I’d be very happy with a point given the circumstances
TC and Leaburn being fit and up for this will be huge. Miles is due a goal after his excellent start to the season. TC is bang in form. COYR.1 -
If we dont sit back for 60 minutes then we win0
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killerandflash said:From NJ's comments, i expect Bell and Mesik to swap. It'll be interesting if anyone else is rested, as we have another 2 game week coming up.
Cant see any comments from NJ - has he done a pre match interview?0 -
No he hasn’t, they just put out a quote from his post match on social mediaDamoNorthStand said:killerandflash said:From NJ's comments, i expect Bell and Mesik to swap. It'll be interesting if anyone else is rested, as we have another 2 game week coming up.
Cant see any comments from NJ - has he done a pre match interview?2 -
I wouldn’t play Grant in the ten against anyone that might have a lot of the ball.fenaddick said:I think it's worth giving Grant another go in the 10 if Alli is able to play 60 minutes. Stoke play a back 3 and Galbraith likes to get forward. If Grant can occupy the other 6 then we can manufacture 3v3/4v4 counters going or Galbraith will be restricted and less dangerous. I think with Skipp next to Coventry it's worth a go1 -
Obviously keep it tight and compact, but we were a bit sloppy in possession at times on Wednesday. We need to move the ball a bit better when we get it. I’d take a point now, no question.1
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The only thing that might stop us winning this game is how much rest and prep we been able to get into 3 days .. Soba Thomas a massive loss for Stoke ….. like to think 1-2 to us but take an another draw ….. Meisk at left back .. Like to see Knibbs come in with Grant moving wide .. with Mwanda finding starting a game much more difficult like to see him being replaced in the centre of midfield….
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Not often !se9addick said:
We had possession on Wednesday?cabbles said:Obviously keep it tight and compact, but we were a bit sloppy in possession at times on Wednesday. We need to move the ball a bit better when we get it. I’d take a point now, no question.
28.8% which is fine away from home if we can hit teams on the counter similar to our equaliser more than once !
At home I really don't want to see Charlton having such a low possession as we have better quality players or players who have improved.
Our passing as NJ said was poor in the 1st half against West Brom.
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Definitely can see Skipp coming in for Mwamba.
A game for cooler heads, I think.
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Seriously see us travelling back home with all three points, and a score of 0-2 in the bag, I know Stoke won their last game here 1-0 against Norwich, but feel they will slip back into their early form and suffer defeat No 4...COYFSRRR.2
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SteveACS said:Definitely can see Skipp coming in for Mwamba.
A game for balder heads, I think.
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The man got a red in his last match!SteveACS said:Definitely can see Skipp coming in for Mwamba.
A game for cooler heads, I think.17 -
So we'd better not play him ever again....🙄GreenWithEnvy said:
The man got a red in his last match!SteveACS said:Definitely can see Skipp coming in for Mwamba.
A game for cooler heads, I think.2 -
League tables lie at this time of year, and Stoke will definitely improve although hopefully not this weekend, another away point despite some difficult moments, 1-1.2
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Last season some luck or Kaminski howlers gave Stoke the false impression they were top 2 material. But the Potteries has never been a great place for us to pick up points. Would take a point right now but that might be tricky, 3-1 to Stoke.0
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We’ve Picked up a few knocks in the squad after Wednesday which isn’t ideal given the quick turn around and the key injuries we have especially at the back.But NJ and this group thrive off things like that. Would love us to get a win at Stoke to see NJ giving it to their fans but a draw would be another good point on the road. COYR!3
