POST-MATCH THREAD: Stoke City v Charlton Athletic: Saturday 5th September 2026: KO 12:30

Nathan Jones elected to make a few changes from earlier in the week for today’s early visit to Stoke City, with Timothy Ouma and Oliver Skipp coming into the middle to make their full debuts, alongside Joe Rankin-Costello. Ivan Mesik made a start at right back. The Addicks dominated the opening ten minutes. Mesik had a pop, Lloyd Jones a header, and Tyreece Campbell had the Stoke backline under pressure every time he got on the ball. It was free-flowing football for the visitors and all signs pointed to a good afternoon in Staffordshire for the Londoners.

Yet, despite the early pressure, it was Stoke that would find the breakthrough. On thirteen minutes the referee awarded a very soft penalty against the visitors when Timothy Ouma and Wilmott tusselled in the box, with the Stoke player melting to the ground under less than forceful contact. The penalty was easily dispatched and the aggrieved Addicks got play back underway looking to make things right.

Unfortunately, things would get worse, not better. On twenty-one minutes, Timothy Ouma’s rushed pass out was miscontrolled by Karlan Grant, straight into the path of the diminutive Galbraith on the edge of the box. His shot got the better of Arthur Okonkwo, putting Stoke up two nil.

Only a handful of minutes later, Stoke struck again when a cross into the centre of the six yard box found a free head. Bindon had lost his man and Stoke were now rampant.

Tyreece Campbell was replaced by Danny MacNamara in an effort to regroup and strengthen in a back five. Tyreece had looked dangerous in the early stages when Charlton were in control. With him now removed, where would the danger come from.

In a ten minute period the wheels had well and truly come off. The soft penalty and a string of odd decisions against us in quick succession, combined with some rushed passes and a complete lack of composure from some of the new boys, to throw this one away in the first half. Confidence drained.

The referee had lost the plot since the penalty. Grievous bodily assault was committed on Lloyd Jones without anything more than a free kick. Minutes later, Miles Leaburn was given a yellow card for making minimal contact challenging for a clearance.

On forty minutes, Stoke scored a fourth. The Addicks had a spell of good activity in and around the Stoke box but nothing that provided a breakthrough. Everything Stoke did in front of goal seemed to find the back of the net.

Conor Coventry replaced Timothy Ouma at halftime. Only a few minutes in, Miles Leaburn was hacked down on the far side of the pitch, along the touchline near the away supporters. The referee took that opportunity to award a second yellow to Danny MacNamara, seemingly for something he said, or for calling for a yellow card to be shown on the Stoke player. Either way, it was dissent and, given everything else we’d seen, it was an absolute farce. The referee should be in for some harsh criticism from the relevant authorities. In truth, someone needs to check that man’s Bet365 account.

The Charlton supporters in the away end could see the pattern of injustices unfolding before them. They kept in good voice throughout, despite the situation—or, more likely, because of it! Stoke were largely quiet.

Ouma and Bindon have shown glimpses but they’ve been throw into the deep end and need more time to acclimatise to their new teammates. Individual errors from each were costly today in a period where everything went against us. Ivan Mesik has slotted in seamlessly again and has hardly put a foot wrong since coming in. Skipp made a decent debut, helping to keep things ticking over, in as far as anything ticked at all today, but he wasn’t a commanding presence in the middle. When Conor Coventry came in he showed his worth to the team, in terms of work rate and positioning. He and Skipp looked a decent pairing alternative to himself and Nathaniel Chalobah, which bodes well for the future.

Today was a kick in the teeth. Nathan Jones is a man that’s motivated by injustice and this should help create the necessary “us against the world” attitude to help us rebound and build on the great start to the season. He’ll certainly have a lot to work with! And he won’t be happy that this has happened at Stoke, of all places.

Stoke 4 Charlton 0
Over to you.