MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs. Portsmouth - Saturday 12th September 2026 - 3pm Kick-Off
Charlton Athletic vs. Portsmouth
Saturday 12th September 2026 - 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Introduction
A hard fought out goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday night ensured that we didn't suffer back to back defeats, and whilst the Addicks struggled to control the game for the majority of the ninety minutes, it'll be another point that'll potentially be looked back on with fondness come the business end of the League campaign. Were straight back into proceedings this coming Saturday afternoon for the second of two games at the Valley.
The Opposition
Name: Portsmouth (17th) - Manager: Jose Mousinho
Ground: Fratton Park
Previous League Result: Portsmouth 2-0 Cardiff
Next up in South East London will be a Portsmouth side who'll be visiting off the back of a rare double against the Addicks in 2025/26
It was in fact the first time that Pompey had won both League games against the Addicks since 1985/86... It would end up being a vital six points in the end for the visitors this Saturday, and enabled Portsmouth to survive another season back in the Championship, ultimately going on to finish 18th, a two place drop compared to their first campaign back at this level in 2024/25.
Naturally Jose Mousinho, who turned down the chance to move on to pastures new in the summer, will be looking for an improved finish for Pompey this coming season, but its been a difficult start for the side travelling up to SE7 this weekend, they've just two victories, both of which have come against newly promoted sides, a 3-1 win at Sincil Bank, and a 2-0 win against Cardiff last weekend... Their defeats have come against Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City and Derby County.
Yet Portsmouth do come into this clash having enjoyed a rest in midweek, which may suit them more than Charlton this Saturday - In terms of incomings, and Abu Kamara will be the standout name given the "rumoured" tug of war between Charlton and Pompey for his signature in the summer, this is the wingers second spell on the South Coast, having previously spent time on loan at Fratton Park, back in 2023/24.
Charlton Team News
An International Break... My kingdom for an International Break is the cry as a poor cat gets volleyed over the Covered End... Yet the break can't come soon enough for a Charlton side who appear to once again be struggling with injuries; Miles Leaburn to latest player to be withdrawn on Wednesday night with a problem, and whilst you'd hope it was precautionary, it also wouldn't be surprising if he's absent this coming weekend.
It means that Nathan Jones must reshuffle the pack with either Karlan Grant or the inexperienced; Micah Mbick starting up front this Saturday, you'd also expect to see Charlie Kelman appear on the bench as a replacement for Miles who had started the campaign in such strong fashion - Elsewhere and Danny McNamara will be available once more (following his suspension), and should come back into the starting eleven, given the amount of rest he's had since the West Brom game.
Okonkwo
McNamara - Jones - Bindon - Bell
Coventry - Skipp
Alli - Costello - Campbell
Grant
Substitutes: Brooks - Mesik - Carey - Ouma - Mwamba - Apter - Kelman - Mbick - Nkeng
Comments
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I can see Mesik coming in for Bell. Assuming Leaburn is out, it wouldn't surprise me either if Nkeng got a start on the left and we went 4-4-2...
And we'll lose 3-1.7 -
So listening to the Press Conference; Leaburn has trained and the staff will make a decision on him8
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Excellent preview as usual FA
I think the game against QPR was a tough watch but we showed our fighting spirit by keeping a clean sheet following the Stoke performance.
Portsmouth are not as good as QPR and I expect us to play on the front foot tomorrow and see no reason why we cannot get the win.
2 1 Charlton to Send us all home happy.14 -
I don't see any reason we can't win this one. 3-1. UTFA.2
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Nathan happy at FT, the linesman’s cat is safe3
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Thinking of that mini table down the bottom of the league towards the end of the season, and we need to be beating the teams who will also be in that with us. Especially at home15
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Leaburn trained fully. Kelman trained fully.
He says we are in a much better position.
Expecting them both in the squad.13 -
Are you saying that this... Is a must win?Croydon said:Thinking of that mini table down the bottom of the league towards the end of the season, and we need to be beating the teams who will also be in that with us. Especially at home
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Nice preview FA...
Comfortable 4-0, Portsmouth put to the sword to complete the trio L-D-W, and we are back on swing again 👌2 -
It's a tough game injuries-wise. I think a lot will depend on the fitness of Miles and Kelman.
In midfield, we're definitely missing something without Chalobah. It's no coincidence that in the first couple of home games we had more control of the ball, whereas Wednesday night we really didn't. Some of that is the style of play of the opposition, but a lot of it is missing a player who always seems to have that extra second or two on the ball.
I think the gameplan will be keep it tight at the back and look to knick it on the counter. With that being said, I do wonder if we revert to a back 5 with McNamara and Mesik as wingbacks and the other three fit defenders in the middle, and then do a front two of Grat and TC again similar to how we started the second half against QPR.
We'll see. Either way, I hope we're up for it and that this is the second to last game of our injury crisis before we start getting players back. Pompey really did us last year. I hope this is our revenge.2 -
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Battling home win, 2-1 Addicks.0
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Big game. We can do it and I think we need a win now we’re winless in 3. Need to be better in possession than Wednesday night, and Pompey will be a bit more direct so need to concentrate2
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Surely Knibbs deserves a chance? Carey isn't doing it and for some reason JRC can't influence a game from the off. The 10 role is our biggest issue the moment and I can't see why Knibbs shouldn't have a crack. He can't be no worse so let him earn his place.7
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Looking forward to this one. Hopefully it’s worth the gridlock I just endured on the M25 and the ridiculous ticket price1
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I’m scarred from last years fixture where we had the longer rest and still got completely outplayed.2
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Bit keen, you should be first in the queue...😉fenaddick said:Looking forward to this one. Hopefully it’s worth the gridlock I just endured on the M25 and the ridiculous ticket price10 -
- Charlton lost both Championship games against Portsmouth last season, but haven’t lost three league games in a row versus Pompey since December 1983.
- Portsmouth have only lost two of their last eight league visits to Charlton (W4 D2), winning this exact fixture last season 3-1.
- Charlton have failed to score in both of their last two league games, last going three without scoring in March 2023 (run of 4).
- Portsmouth have scored in 11 successive away league games for the first time since April 2019 (also 11), while they last managed 12 in a row in February 2016.
- Charlton’s expected goals tally of 3.8 is the lowest of any side in the Championship this season so far, while only three sides have had fewer shots than their 61.
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... for the bagseastterrace6168 said:
Bit keen, you should be first in the queue...😉fenaddick said:Looking forward to this one. Hopefully it’s worth the gridlock I just endured on the M25 and the ridiculous ticket price
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0-3 defeat. Bindon own goal5
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If we can muster afew more goalscoring chances from a small increase in possession (in their penalty area) we will win. Expecting to win with tiny % possession (in our own half)-well its like trying to climb Everest backwards0
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As long as we don’t have the same ref as last year we should be alright. 2-1 to the mighty Addicks.2
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Strangely the valley is a very lucky ground for Pompey like wise our record at Fratton Park ..so the gods are against a little
1-1
Okonkwo
McNamara - Jones - Bell - Mesik
Coventry - Skipp
Alli - Grant - Campbell
Leaburn
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I'd like mwamba in for costello, he might not have been very influential at west brom from the off but he actually shows for the ball and can take it on the half turn and get us up the pitch, with costello coming on where he's more effective, midway through the second half. I think a lot depends on fitness levels between the 2 teams, they out played us here last year and have got stronger since.6
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LOL. You have been sustaining a one-man campaign to give Knibbs a chance. The only argument in favour of that is, as you say, that he can hardly be any worse than Carey, Rankin-Costello or Apter, all of who have played more recently than him. Hell, yeah, let him play, if only to shut you up.king addick said:Surely Knibbs deserves a chance? Carey isn't doing it and for some reason JRC can't influence a game from the off. The 10 role is our biggest issue the moment and I can't see why Knibbs shouldn't have a crack. He can't be no worse so let him earn his place.
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Really will depend on what team can step up as to whether we get any points. If we are still on the bare bones it could be a tough watch again. Three points would be magnificent but I think the rest they have had will help. Tight game, 2-1 to Portsmouth.3
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2 -0 and surley a bigger turnout0
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Home win provided we can put out a reasonably experienced AND FIT side1
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Never knew him personally but this game a reminder of Headphones Norm. RIP addicks legend
We can defo get a result tomorrow, get back in the swing of things…Charlton 2-0 Grant with a brace14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFIQ-1SUZnw
