POST-MATCH THREAD: Middlesbrough v Charlton Athletic: Saturday 31st October 2026: KO 15:00

Middlesbrough, top of the table and in very fine form, hosted the faultering Addicks this afternoon at the Riverside Stadium. Nathan Jones reverted to last season’s 3-5-2 to counteract Middlesbrough’s dominance on the ball, bringing Harvey Knibbs, Tyler Bindon, Oliver Skipp, Amari’i Bell, and Miles Leaburn in to start. Tyreece Campbell was rested, with Nathaniel Chalobah and Matty Godden joining him on the bench after returning from injury. The plan, clearly, was to defend and frustrate.

Just under twelve minutes had past when the home side opened their account. A counter attack put Middlesbrough on the attack and a slight deflection from a shot bear the edge of the box was enough to beat Okonkwo. Charlton had been exposed when Harvey Knibbs forced a cross into the box, when perhaps he should have held up for reinforcements. The cross was easy to deal with and it left Charlton wide open to the counter.

It was only two minutes before half time when Middlesbrough struck again. Charlton held a high line and Lankshere’s run through the centre was picked out with relative ease and the in-form striker easily lifted the ball over Okonkwo. Once again, Lloyd Jones had popped out, with little cover from Tyler Bindon, on one side, nor Billy Koumetio, on the other. Until then, Charlton had held their own and limited the home side to half chances, while managing a few half chances themselves (the Leaburn header that spun narrowly wide was the best). Nathan Jones would have been relatively happy with being only one nil down but two nil now looked a mountain to climb. And the manner of the goal won’t have been welcomed.

The second half started with Danny McNamara replacing Kayne Ramsay, the latter suffering a knock late in the first. Charlton worked to limit the damage for the first twenty minutes but legs were visibly tired fifteen minutes in. Joe Rankin-Costello and MIles Leaburn were withdrawn on sixty-six minutes, replaced by Karlan Grant and Tyreece Campbell, with the formation becoming a four-three-three. The changes resulted in some decent passages of passing and some half chances for the visitors but little of actual note. Middlesbrough had taken their foot off the gas.

On eighty minutes, Nathaniel Chalobah and Millenic Alli replaced Olive Skipp and Tyler Bindon. Seconds later Chalobah slipped to his knees on the edge of the box as the ball was played into him. The ball was scooped into possession, then taken forward by Lankshear and his uncontested shot flew past Okonkwo for his second of the afternoon. It was a most unfortunate return to action for the poor player returning from nagging injuries, a return that has been keenly anticipated.

We’re on a long run without a win and nothing seemingly going for us. This afternoon was far from a disaster though. Some had feared a cricket score! We were outspent and outplayed. No shots on target and no real trouble posed. We definitely need something out of the next two, with Bolton midweek and Sheffield United next week. That’s a lot of pressure.

Middlesbrough 3 Charlton 0