The Addicks have three matches remaining in their Championship campaign and have a six-point cushion over the relegation zone.

There are a number of big calls that Jones will need to make once he knows for sure if they have consolidated their place in England’s second tier.

Nathan Jones/Picture: Kyle Andrews

The Addicks were very active after winning promotion from League One as they paid fees for the likes of Thomas Kaminski, Joe Rankin-Costello, Rob Apter and Isaac Olaofe. They also brought in Amari’i Bell and Sonny Carey on free transfers.

I might have missed someone, but I made it 18 incoming deals - either permanent, loan or short-term - for Charlton over the course of this campaign.

And Jones dropped more than a clue about a couple of areas that will be addressed when it comes to squad building.

South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition had asked the Welshman if he felt there would be the same level of incomings in this summer’s transfer window as we saw in the trading period after seeing off Leyton Orient at Wembley.

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Josh Edwards in action on the opening day against Watford/Picture: Kyle Andrews

EDWARDS REHAB UPDATE

I thought it was best to kick off this round-up with some positive news (especially after that forgettable trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday), and so what better place to start than with an update on Josh Edwards.

The Scottish left-sided defender was excellent in the League One play-off winning campaign - ensuring that Thierry Small could only really get minutes in the run-in down the right.

Edwards started the opening six Championship matches but suffered ankle ligament damage after a poor challenge by Blackburn’s Ryan Alebiosu in late September.

The 25-year-old has made 53 appearances since signing from Dunfermline in June 2024.

“He is back running now,” Nathan Jones told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition.

“It’s been a long process for him. He didn’t have a setback, he just didn’t get the mobility back into the ankle afterwards - it was a bad ankle injury. When he was ready to run he didn’t quite have the mobility which would have caused problems further down the line.

“So he had to have a manipulation which set him back a few months. Once we knew he’s was not going to come back until April, or whenever, it was a case of right, let’s get him back for July. That is why we have taken our time and been sensible with it, because we want him to have a good career long term and not just rush him back for two games now. That would be detrimental to him.”

Charlton took Luke Chambers on loan from Liverpool in the winter transfer window to boost their options. The 21-year-old, who made his debut in the 4-0 hammering at Millwall, has started 15 of the 16 matches he has been available for, only sitting out the home match against Wrexham.

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KANU HONOUR

Charlton striker Dan Kanu has won League Two’s Young Player of the Season award - reward for netting 15 goals during his season-long loan at Walsall.

The 21-year-old Lambeth-born player made the temporary switch to the Saddlers in August. He has previously had a loan stint at Southend United in 2023.

He said: “I’ve just got to thank God. It’s been a whirlwind of a season.

“I’m just grateful to Walsall for continuously taking care of me and helping me develop as a young player.

“Development is the most important thing, especially when you go on loan, and I’ve tried my best to give back to them in goals.”

South London Sport caught up with Kanu earlier in the season.

DOCHERTY: PLAYERS ARE STUNG BY WINLESS CHARLTON RUN

Greg Docherty says that Charlton Athletic’s winless spell is “sore” for the players just as much as it is for the fans.

The Addicks are six games without a victory after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

Charlton’s last three-point haul came at Middlesbrough on March 11. That inability to see out matches - they led against the Owls through a neat finish by Matty Godden - has left them still at threat of getting sucked into the relegation zone.

“We’ve not won since Middlesbrough so it is sore - it hurts us and I’m sure they (supporters) can see it,” Docherty told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition after the full-time whistle at Hillsborough.

“I was at an event on Tuesday night at the stadium and spoke to a few of the fans - we are all together. We are frustrated and we have arguments in the dressing room after a game and in training every day. We just want to start winning more games.

“We’ve won plenty of games but not won enough recently. We don’t want the season just to peter out. We want to finish on a positive note. They came and backed us in numbers today and probably deserved a win because of that. We are giving everything but we’re just not getting 90-minute performances to merit the three points that we did earlier in the season.”

Charlton face an Ipswich Town side on Wednesday night that moved back into the top two with a 2-2 draw against Boro at the weekend.

Then Hull City, one of Docherty’s former clubs, head to SE7 on Saturday looking to strengthen their grip on a play-off place.

But Docherty does not see it as a problem that they have two promotion-chasing sides to come to The Valley.

“Just because they are fighting for something doesn’t mean it’s a given they will get the three points,” said the Scot. “This league punches you in the nose when you least expect it.

“It (Ipswich) is a good game to go into because it will be a high-intensity game and one where we want to go and right some wrongs of late.”

SHELVEY RETIRES

Jonjo Shelvey has ended his playing career to take on the manager’s job at Arabian Falcons FC, who compete in the third tier in the United Arab Emirates.

The 34-year-old progressed through Charlton’s academy. He made his debut aged 16 and featured 48 times at first-team level before being sold to Liverpool for £1.7million in April 2010. The Addicks were fifth in League One at the time.

Shelvey said: “My ambition is to climb to the very top of management and this is the perfect project to prove myself and what I’m capable of.”

He did an interview with BBC Sport in October explaining his decision to play for Arabian Falcons.

“I’m happy and content. I’m just at the stage now where I want to enjoy football. It’s about waking up, enjoying what I do and spending time with my family.

“If I’m honest, I don’t want my children growing up in England any more. We’re very lucky that we lived in a nice part of the UK but where I’m from, originally, you can’t have nice things in my opinion.

“I’d never wear a watch in London any more. You can’t have your phone out in London, in my view.”

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PARKY HAS FREEDOM

Phil Parkinson has been awarded the freedom of Wrexham County Borough.

The former Charlton boss has led Wrexham to three successive promotions. It could still become four as they are seventh in the Championship with three matches left to play.

The club’s owners Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds also had the same honour bestowed on them in 2022.

“It’s a great indication of the impact a football club can have on the community and that’s been recognised with the honour I’ve received,” said Parkinson “Obviously I’m well aware that I’ve had so much support in the five years I’ve been here.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with fantastic owners in Rob and Ryan and a great structure of people from the coaching staff and some fantastic players over the years, with many significant contributions.”

ELLIOT GATESHEAD AWARD

Former Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot won National League Manager of the Month for March - quite rightly so after a stunning reversal of their fortunes.

The Heed looked destined for relegation, at one point they were 11 points adrift at the foot of the table.

But Elliot led Gateshead to five victories last month and that has made them mathematically safe.

Elliot, who came through the Addicks’ academy to make more than 100 first-team appearances, took over at the non-league outfit in January.

LEE WINS GOAL OF THE MONTH

Elliot Lee’s volleyed finish for Doncaster Rovers against Plymouth Argyle has won League One Goal of the Month for March.

The 31-year-old, who had a season-long loan with Charlton in the 2021-22 campaign, has netted twice for Donny since signing from Wrexham at the start of February.

Lee said: “It’s a nice award to win - I haven’t won a goal of the month award before. It’s great to get the recognition and I’m delighted.

“Sometimes you have to whack it as hard as you can and see where it goes. Fortunately, it went into the back of the net. It’s definitely up there with the best I’ve scored, with the technique involved. Coming back from the knee injury I had at Wrexham, it meant a lot to me personally.”

Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman said: “Elliot’s goal was an absolute peach and the reaction of his team-mates tells you all you need to know.

“The clearance dropped to him initially with his back to goal and he instinctively adjusted his feet and flashed a first-time volley past the keeper, who was rooted to the spot.”

Picture: Kyle Andrews

JACKSON’S DONS IN TROUBLE

Johnnie Jackson’s AFC Wimbledon side have been dragged into the League One relegation battle after a truly abject run of results.

The Dons have lost eight of their last nine matches, collecting one draw, and are only two points above the bottom four with two fixtures to play.

Wimbledon play at Wigan on Saturday before finishing at home against Huddersfield Town.

Jackson said: “At the end of the day, we need a result and it wasn't today. There's no getting away from it, fortunately, it's still in our hands. We could have walked in today and found out the result elsewhere and it puts a different picture on it, but we have got our destiny in our own hands.

“There can't be any moping about, whinging and whining and stuff like that this week and there won't be.”

Jackson joined AFC Wimbledon in May 2022, almost instantly after being dismissed by Charlton.

MARTIN GONE

Lee Martin, who had a loan spell with Charlton in the 2010-11 season, has left his role as Ramsgate manager.

The 39-year-old, was initially appointed interim boss in November before getting the job on a permanent basis.

Ramsgate are mid-table in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

The club posted a statement on their X account: "When Lee Martin came into the club, we were in a difficult position and facing the real possibility of relegation. His remit was simple - to keep us in the league. Lee achieved that.

”Results improved quickly and, at one stage, we even found ourselves looking towards the play-off places, which is a credit to the work done during that period.

”However, a challenging recruitment period leading into March meant that, over the final six weeks of the season, the playing budget was significantly underspent. That period has been reflected in our recent run of results, with six defeats from our last seven games, including this week’s cup final. This decision reflects the direction we want to take as a club, not any one result.

“We would like to place on record our thanks to Lee for the job he has done. He came in at a difficult time, helped realign our objectives, and ensured the club moves forward from a stable position.”

Nathan Jones admitted his Charlton Athletic side look “a bit edgy” after they failed to put Championship drop fears to bed at Sheffield Wednesday yesterday.

The Addicks headed into the contest at Hillsborough knowing they could open up an eight-point gap over the bottom three after Oxford United, who occupy the last relegation spot, lost 1-0 against Derby County in a lunchtime kick off.

But while Charlton extended their unbeaten away run to seven matches, they were unable to record a league double over relegated Wednesday for the first time since the 1953-54 season.

The Owls have not won in 38 matches and have the worst defensive record in the division, conceding 82 times in 43 league fixtures.

Matty Godden, who had clipped the bar at the end of the first half, put the south-east Londoners ahead in the 49th minute, finishing neatly after Lloyd Jones had headed down Conor Coady’s long ball. The experienced frontman chested down and took a couple of touches before finding the bottom right corner of the net.

Wednesday levelled in the 76th minute after an error by Will Mannion. The goalkeeper let a cross slip from his grasp and Gabriel Otegbayo punished the mistake. It is now six games without a clean sheet for the Addicks.

The lack of quality in the performance meant there were clearly audible boos from Charlton’s away support at the full-time whistle.

The Addicks have taken three points from a possible 18, putting them joint bottom of the form guide along with Wednesday, Leicester and Middlesbrough.

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Matty Godden’s second goal of the season put the Addicks into a 49th minute lead at Hillsborough.

But the south-east Londoners were unconvincing against their already-relegated hosts, who levelled when Will Mannion spilled a cross and Gabriel Otegbayo forced home.

The Charlton pl…

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Conor Coady has four more matches as a Charlton Athletic player - starting with tomorrow’s crunch Championship fixture at Sheffield Wednesday.

The 33-year-old is set to be back in the Addicks squad for the high-stakes game in South Yorkshire after recovering from the concussion which saw him stretchered off in the 1-1 draw at Watford on Easter Monday.

Coady signed on loan from Wrexham at the end of January and his debut was the 2-0 victory at Leicester City.

His only defeat in his nine appearances came in the 3-1 loss to Portsmouth. He was an unused sub in the reverses to Norwich and Bristol City.

We touched on it in the South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition pod previewing the match at Hillsborough, but my feeling is that Coady’s wealth of experience - including being part of the England squad for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup - will earn him a starting spot as Charlton look to gain the three points that should eradicate any drop fears.

The Merseyside-born player, who has been used in holding midfield as well as in the Charlton backline, still has 12 months to run on his contract with Wrexham.

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Nathan Jones held his press conference previewing Saturday’s Championship fixture at Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon and there were plenty of discussion points.

It has all the ingredients to be a significant weekend in terms of shaping the relegation picture.

By the time that Charlton Athletic kick off at Hillsborough they will know the results of four of the clubs below them in the standings. Blackburn host Coventry at 8pm on Friday night. Then Derby-Oxford and Portsmouth-Leicester are 12.30pm kick offs the following day.

The current Championship standings (Source: FotMob)

There was very positive news on the selection front with Conor Coady cleared to make his return. The former England international had been following concussion protocols since being stretchered off at Watford.

And Collins Sichenje, the popular Kenyan who was snapped up from Vojvodina in the winter transfer window, is back from a hamstring injury. With Reece Burke another right-sided centre-back option - the ex-Luton man was on the bench against Preston - it seems likely that only one of those two players will be make the match-day squad in South Yorkshire.

Jones also confirmed that goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski was back in training after a shoulder issue. There seems no reason for Will Mannion to lose number one status but the Belgium-born stopper is a far more experienced back-up than Tiernan Brooks.

Charlton have sold in the region of 1,800 tickets for the match against Wednesday.

The Owls, in administration for the entire campaign, became the first time in English Football League history to be relegated in February. They are on a 37-match winless streak in all competitions.

Below are the South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition questions and complete answers from Jones.

You’ve talked about the team needing to be more clinical with chances and that you work relentlessly on attacking play in training. What more can you do to change the end product?

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There is plenty of focus on Saturday’s nerve-inducing trip to Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls are on a record 37-game winless streak - a new Football League recor…

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Keith Hayward is a proud grandad after Josh Hebert signed for the Addicks last week. The 18-year-old winger, who had been with Dorking Wanderers, earned his deal after impressing on trial.

But South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition can reveal that Hebert has worn the club’s kit long before the south-east London side decided to run the rule over an exciting non-league talent.

Josh Hebert produces an acrobatic celebration after scoring for Charlton - this terrific picture was captured by Tom West

When Hebert completed his move to the Championship side, it was a case of history repeating itself.

His grandad has strong connections to the club too. Hayward was an apprentice with the Addicks and holds the record of being their youngest-ever goalkeeping debutant at the age of 17 years and 23 days, featuring in the old Second Division in December 1968.

Crawley-based Hayward also represented Charlton’s Ex-Players’ Association and is a member of Bromley Addicks. Before we caught up at the start of this week he sent me a picture of Hebert in a Charlton kit - aged two. Hayward took Josh and younger brother Connor to their first match at The Valley in December 2017.

Josh Hebert kicking the ball in Charlton colours and before a 2017 game with his grandad, mum Louise and sibling Connor

“My daughter Louise went out to live in America and she met her husband in California. Josh was born there. I thought I’d send out a football kit - of course the only one I was going to send over was the Charlton one,” Hayward told South London Sport.

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Joe Rankin-Costello scored his second goal since joining from Blackburn Rovers in Saturday’s 2-1 reverse against Preston/Picture: Paul Edwards

DEFICIENT OFFENSIVELY BUT DROP RATING IS STILL LOW

Charlton Athletic lost 2-1 to Preston North End on Saturday. Our post-match pod can be found here with pretty much the full transcript of what Nathan Jones had to say about the loss in SE7 also just a click away.

The Addicks’ inability to convert chances in the Championship has been a problem this season. They have scored once in 28 matches and blanked in nine of them. That is 37 matches in the 2025-26 campaign in which they have netted one goal or none.

There have been two 3-0 victories - at Ipswich Town and against Blackburn Rovers in SE7.

Three times they have scored twice. The 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday, a 2-2 draw at Blackburn at the start of January - a match they led 2-0 by the 34-minute mark - and a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, both goals coming after Caleb Okoli was sent off in the 15th minute for pulling back Miles Leaburn.

Emotions are always high after a defeat and also the sense of foreboding. But how much trouble are Charlton in as they get ready to head to already-relegated Wednesday this weekend?

The gap to the bottom three has been trimmed to five points but Opta Analyst puts the chances of an Addicks relegation at just 3.16 per cent. Contrast that with Leicester City (86.44), Oxford United (52.52) and Portsmouth (28.92). Those latter two won at the weekend. West Brom (18.38) and Blackburn (10.58) are also below Charlton in the table.

The Addicks have averaged a point per game when you look at the form guide for the last six, eight or 10-game periods. If they are able to repeat that over the final four fixtures it means they will finish on 53 points.

But equally Charlton are on a five-match winless spell - a barren run only surpassed this season between early November and December 20 (six matches in which they drew once and were beaten five times.)

Sheffield Wednesday have gone 37 games without a win, the longest run in Football League history (starting in 1888).

Just circling back to Opta Analyst, it predicts Charlton to reach 54 points and finish 18th in the table.

TANTO FEATURES BUT NO TROPHY WIN

Isaac Olaofe featured for Stockport County as they lost 3-1 to Luton Town in the EFL Trophy final at Wembley on Sunday.

The on-loan Charlton forward did not start the match but came on in the 66th minute. At that stage the Hatters were trailing 2-1 after initially taking an early lead through Adama Sidibeh.

It is the second time that Olaofe, 26, has finished a runner-up in the competition. He was part of the Sutton United team beaten 4-2 by Rotherham United in April 2022.

Walsall tweeted Dan Kanu’s award nomination (above)

JONES KNEW KANU WOULD BE A LOAN HIT

Nathan Jones says he always expected Daniel Kanu to make a huge success of his loan move to Walsall after the Charlton striker was shortlisted for the League Two Young Player of the Season award.

The 21-year-old Sierra Leone international has scored 18 goals for the Saddlers. He is joint third in the divisional league goal charts with 15.

Kanu is up against Matty Young (Salford City), Sam Gale (Gillingham) and Tom Iorpenda (Notts County) for the EFL accolade.

Jones told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition: “Both Dan and Micah (Mbick) will come back into the building with their reputation enhanced. They have been exposed to first-team football and that’s what we wanted. So they are closer to us, just from doing those loans.

“We are really, really proud of Dan. It doesn’t surprise me with Dan because he is one of the most intelligent people you can meet, definitely one of the most intelligent footballers and I’m being respectful with that.

“He thinks about his game and what he wants to do. He wanted a life experience away from London, because he could’ve gone to London clubs. He has done fantastically well.

“He is one of the top goalscorers in the division and still emerging but, if I’m honest, I kind of knew he would do that because he has scored goals for us at League One level. But he wanted to go to a team where he was going to play 20, 30 or 40 games. It’s proved exactly what he wanted to do.”

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Ademola Lookman in action for Charlton against Derby in April 2016/Picture: Keith Gillard

LOOKMAN BACK AT THE VALLEY?

Ademola Lookman could be one of a number of former Charlton players in action at the 20206 Unity Cup, which is being held at The Valley.

Nigeria, Jamaica, Zimbabwe and India will be competing in the mini-tournament which will have two semi-finals before the winners face each other on May 30.

Lookman, who cut his teeth in the Addicks youth team before bursting on to the first-team scene in 2015, plays for Nigeria and they face Zimbabwe on May 26 (7.30pm). Joe Aribo has also played for the Super Eagles.

Jamaica play India the following evening, with the same kick-off time. Tyreece Campbell, Amari’i Bell, Karoy Anderson and Kaheim Dixon have all been part of the Reggae Boyz set-up.

Josh Hebert has earned a move up the football pyramid/Picture: Charlton Athletic FC

DORKING WINGER MAKES CHARLTON MOVE

Charlton Athletic completed the signing of winger Josh Hebert from Dorking Wanderers on Thursday.

The 18-year-old had impressed since arriving on trial in mid-February. Hebert has also been attracting the interest of Reading.

Hebert’s grandfather Keith Hayward became the youngest goalkeeper to play for the Addicks, aged 17, during the 1968-69 season.

The teenager featured five times for Chris Lock’s U21 side and scored four goals as well as contributing two assists.

“The reality is, playing first team football for Dorking Wanderers, a good step two club, is probably better than playing for the majority of Football League academy set-ups,” Dorking owner and boss Marc White told Surrey Live in March.

The National League South side revealed last month that Hebert’s spell with Charlton had sparked other interest from EFL clubs.

Dorking academy director Jordan Clark told the same website: “We will be sad to lose Josh, who has been part of the first-team set up at Meadowbank since the summer, but we would never stop a player making a move to the EFL.

“At this point, we just want to make sure whatever move Josh makes is the right one for him and so we will be helping him explore the options available to him in the coming days and weeks.”

Charlton academy advisor Steve Avory told the club’s website: “It’s not easy for any trialist coming in, but what Josh was able to do and prove is that he can impact every game. Alistair Clarke, our head of emerging talent, had been monitoring him for quite a while to get him in and he’s done a good job.”

Conor McGrandles in action against Lincoln City in November 2023/Picture: Keith Gillard

MCGRANDLES CELEBRATES PROMOTION

It never really worked out for Conor McGrandles at Charlton Athletic.

The midfielder was not helped by injuries, including a fractured hand in a 5-1 win over Plymouth in August 2022, just his fourth appearance after arriving for a fee from the Imps in the summer.

McGrandles made four league starts for the Addicks and rejoined Lincoln on a permanent basis in June 2024.

But now the 30-year-old is celebrating promotion to the Championship and has been a first-team mainstay for the Imps as they sealed a top-two finish over the Easter weekend.

“It’s something that I’ve never felt before in my life,” McGrandles told The Athletic. “When the game finishes and you just get to stand here and look at what it means to thousands and thousands of people, it’s absolutely amazing how you can make people feel like that. Just over the moon.”

PAYNE WANTS COLCHESTER STAY

Former Charlton attacking midfielder Jack Payne wants to sign a new deal with Colchester United.

The 31-year-old joined the League Two club after being released by the Addicks in 2024.

Payne’s two-year deal is up at the end of June.

He told BBC Essex: “I’ve loved my time here. The fans have been amazing to me, really took to me well, supported me massively last season and this season.

“I love the relationship I have with them, so long may it continue. I’m not going to shy away and be one of them who say, ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Hopefully, I am here [next season].”

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Sonny Carey is not camera shy after scoring at Portman Road/Picture: Kyle Andrews

IPSWICH TELEVISED

Sky Sports have picked up Charlton’s home game against Ipswich Town on Wednesday, April 22 for live coverage.

The kick-off time will remain the same (7.45pm).

The Tractor Boys moved into second place in the Championship table after a 2-0 derby win over Norwich City on Saturday. They are two points clear of third-placed Millwall and have two matches in hand, putting Kieran McKenna’s side in a very strong position to seal an instant Premier League return.

Middlesbrough have dropped to fourth with their impressive form ended by the Addicks on March 11, Conor Coady’s goal earning a memorable 1-0 victory at The Riverside. Since then Boro have drawn three times and lost twice.

Charlton were 3-0 victors in the reverse fixture against Ipswich on October 21. The goals by Sonny Carey, Macaulay Gillesphey and Miles Leaburn came in a 12-minute spell in the second half. It is the only league match Town have lost at home this season, winning 13 and drawing seven.

SMALL HIGHLIGHTS ABUSE

Thierry Small was the subject of racist abuse after his own goal in Preston North End’s 1-1 draw at QPR last Monday.

The former Charlton Athletic wing-back, who was an unused sub at the weekend, shared the comments which were on his Instagram.

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom said: “It’s the ugly side of football. The police are involved and it’s someone with their own personal account who’s not connected to us, lives out of this country and is known to the police to have done it before - targeted other players at other clubs as well.

“So yeah, it looks like he’s a professional idiot rather than just a one-off idiot. We’ll never see this guy. They’re not going to get hold of him, they’re not going to know him. They hide behind that anonymity of an online profile and things. Thierry knows we’ve got his back. Our fans will show Thierry the love for him at the next game and the upcoming games.”

Joe Rankin-Costello celebrates his goal/Picture: Paul Edwards

Nathan Jones admitted that Charlton Athletic’s 2-1 loss against Preston North End has increased the pressure on next weekend’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday.

The Addicks’ attacking shortcomings were again exposed by this latest setback in SE7, a third straight reverse on home turf.

Victories for Portsmouth and Oxford United mean that the 2025 League One play-off winners are only five points above the bottom three in the Championship.

Charlton have not scored more than once in 37 of their league fixtures, with some of those being blanks.

They took the lead this afternoon in the 18th minute, Joe Rankin-Costello finished first time after Sonny Carey’s long throw was headed into his path by Preston striker Daniel Jebbison.

Rankin-Costello, one of two changes to the starting line-up, had already headed a Tyreece Campbell cross against the left upright as Charlton started confidently.

Preston keeper Daniel Iversen also saved from Campbell with Lyndon Dykes unable to force home the loose ball.

The visitors, without an away win since January 3, equalised in the 25th minute. Aston Villa loanee Lewis Dobbin produced a looping header from Brad Potts’ cross.

It was the catalyst for Charlton to lose their early momentum and composure. They were badly lacklustre at the start of the second half.

Preston went ahead in the 65th minute as they countered after substitute Ibby Fullah had lost the ball on the edge of their penalty area. Dobbin broke forward and his pass was converted by Potts.

Jayden Fevrier started at right wing-back with Harry Clarke ruled out due to injury/Picture: Paul Edwards

There were chances for the Addicks as they went increasingly direct. Lloyd Jones was denied at point-blank range by Iversen, the North End keeper lucky that the attempt was straight at him.

Preston had chances to open up a two-goal cushion but Dobbin overhit a pass as he tried to set Milutin Osmajic up for a tap-in.

Charlton are 23rd for xG (expected goals) in the Championship and 21st for shots on target per match. Where they do rank higher is big chances missed (11th) and 14th for touches in the opposition box.

Next weekend’s opponents Sheffield Wednesday are already relegated but drew 0-0 at table-topping Coventry City today.

Here is pretty much every word from Nathan Jones’ post-match press conference.

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The Addicks’ cushion over the bottom three has been cut to five points after victories for Portsmouth and Oxford United.

We hear from manager Nathan Jones and Jayden Fevrier after this afternoon’s loss. Charlton have been beaten i…

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The 30-year-old striker joined the Addicks with the aim of greatly increasing his minutes for the second half of the Championship season and cementing his place in Scotland’s squad for this summer’s World Cup finals in the USA.

Dykes has started 13 of the 15 matches he has been available for since arriving in south-east London - coming on in the other two. He was also set to start at Oxford United last month but dropped out in the warm-up due to illness.

Lyndon Dykes celebrates his goal against Bristol City on Good Friday/Picture: Keith Gillard

Dykes has scored three league goals for Charlton - as many as he got in 46 league matches for Birmingham City. Thirty-five of those appearances for the Blues were as a substitute.

The former QPR targetman reckons the secret behind being more productive in an attacking sense, he also has three assists for the Addicks, is pretty self-explanatory.

“It’s more minutes on the pitch - at Birmingham I wasn’t getting much game time,” said the Australian-born striker. “I think I only started one or two games there. I know I can score in this league, I’ve done it in the past few years.

“Coming into this team, with this manager, I am enjoying my time again. But I’ve also had opportunities to play. My minutes are quite low compared to other players in this league, even with the amount of games that I’ve played. It’s hard to make an impact when you’re not getting many minutes or coming off the bench in the last five or 10 minutes.”

Dykes’ debut saw him come on at the start of the second half and provide the assist for Sonny Carey’s goal in the 1-0 win over Sheffield United at The Valley.

He has added more physicality and Championship know-how to Charlton’s frontline. So how does he rate his impact out of 10?

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The 18-year-old helped spark the Addicks into life after being subbed on in the 65th minute in Friday’s 2-1 loss to Bristol City at The Valley.

It looked a safe bet, based on that performance, that Fullah would be in the 20-man party for the fixture against the Hornets.

But instead the attacking midfield options on the bench were Jayden Fevrier, Harvey Knibbs and Joe Rankin-Costello.

Charlton youngster Ibby Fullah/Picture: Keith Gillard

Fullah has made 12 appearances this season and scored in both of their EFL Cup ties.

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Addicks boss Nathan Jones has some attacking decisions to make this summer/Picture: Paul Edwards

Charlton Athletic are not set to be short on striker numbers next season - especially if one, or both, of their out-of-contract frontmen sign new deals.

Matty Godden and Lyndon Dykes are due to be free agents at the end of June.

Godden, who topped the club’s scoring charts last season as they won promotion from League One, scored his first goal of an injury-disrupted campaign in the 1-1 draw at Watford on Monday.

The Addicks have Charlie Kelman, Miles Leaburn, Isaac Olaofe, Daniel Kanu and Micah Mbick under contract.

Kanu, 21, has been shortlisted for League Two’s Young Player of the Season award after 18 goals on loan at Walsall. Mbick earned England U20 recognition after a temporary move to Colchester United, his season ended prematurely after suffering knee ligament damage.

Gassan Ahadme, who has not featured on loan at Stevenage since December 2, still has two years left to run on the deal he signed after arriving from Ipswich Town in July 2024.

Tyreece Campbell is also able to play through the middle for the SE7 outfit.

So how many does Jones want in that forward department? It looks like he will have quite a quota at his disposal?

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The 19-year-old was on loan with Colchester United in the current campaign and his performances for the League Two side saw the Addicks academy product selected by England U20s in November.

Mbick scored nine goals in 26 appearances for the U’s and also collected an assist on his debut for the young Three Lions in a 1-1 draw against Japan.

Colchester United boss Danny Cowley has exclusively talked to South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition about the teenage talent, whose season was cruelly ended in March when he suffered extensive knee ligament damage in a 2-1 win at Newport County.

Cowley is totally confident that the powerful forward will completely recover from the injury, inflicted by Cameron Evans. The defender did not even receive a booking for the late and high challenge.

“He is going to play right at the top,” said Cowley, who has managed at Huddersfield Town, Portsmouth and Lincoln City.

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Nathan Jones applauds the travelling support/Picture: Kyle Andrews

Charlton Athletic extended their unbeaten away run to six matches as they drew 1-1 at Watford in an incident-packed Easter Monday fixture at Watford.

There was plenty for Addicks boss Nathan Jones to talk about in his post-match press conference.

Conor Coady was stretchered off in added time at the end of the second half after taking a ferocious Tom Ince shot clean in the face. The on-loan Wrexham player lay prone on the turf for nine minutes receiving treatment before being taken to hospital.

Charlton released an update this evening saying Coady had been discharged and given the all-clear after undergoing a series of scans. It was the England international’s 500th first-team career appearance.

Matty Godden scored his first goal of the Championship to put Charlton ahead in the 62nd minute, finishing smartly after Kayne Ramsay had flicked on Harry Clarke’s long throw. The forward had been on the pitch less than 60 seconds and his first two touches were to chest the ball down and then dispatch it past Egil Selvik.

Will Mannion was undoubtedly the busier of the two goalkeepers in an open game in which the woodwork was struck multiple times. Greg Docherty headed against the left post with Imran Louza and Nestory Irankunda also seeing efforts come back off the bar, although in the case of the former it looked to be a curled crossing attempt.

Watford had 31 efforts in the match. There are four times a team has faced 30-plus shots in a Championship match this season and three of those have been Charlton. The Addicks have not lost any of them, winning at Middlesbrough (34) and Ipswich Town (31).

There was also a notable absence from the bench for the Addicks - Thomas Kaminski.

A question about the Belgium goalkeeper, actually two as there was a follow-up one, was met with a very succinct answer by Jones, who named winter transfer window signing Tiernan Brooks as Mannion’s back-up in Hertfordshire.

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We look back on the action - and there was plenty - at Vicarage Road and also discuss the absence of…

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Sophie Whitehouse makes a save during Charlton’s FA Cup match/Picture: Keith Gillard

It’s the latest Charlton Athletic review of the week. This one includes details on the women’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Liverpool and Matty Godden’s reaction to Friday’s 2-1 loss to Bristol City at The Valley.

Denise O’Sullivan misses a big chance for Liverpool in the first half/Picture: Keith Gillard

CHARLTON WOMEN EXIT FA CUP AT QUARTER-FINAL STAGE

Charlton Athletic exited the Women’s FA Cup this afternoon - but it took 115 minutes for Liverpool to break their resistance.

The stats panel below (courtesy of FotMob) shows how much the visitors dominated the tie at The Valley.

Charlton were the lowest-ranked club left in the tournament as it entered the quarter-final stage.

And there were some excellent defensive performances from the likes of Elisha N’Dow, Gracie Pearse and Gloria Siber as they took their top-flight opposition into extra-time.

Denise O’Sullivan somehow contrived to hook over for Liverpool just before half-time from four yards out while an Alice Bergstrom cross was headed against her own crossbar by Charlton defender Lucia Lobato.

The Addicks were penned in even more in the second period but their WSL 1 opponents struggled to create chances.

Gaps predictably started to appear in extra-time with Alejandra Bernabe sending a shot narrowly wide and N’Dow headed off the goal-line to deny Liverpool centre-back Jenna Clark.

Charlton’s strategy appeared to be to take the game to a penalty shootout as they badly struggled to make any attacking inroads.

But Liverpool finally found a breakthrough from a goalmouth scramble which saw the post and crossbar struck before substitute Zara Shaw hooked the ball in.

Liverpool score their winning goal/Picture: Keith Gillard

Charlton boss Karen Hills told the club’s X account: “I’m so proud of the group. We pushed a good WSL team all the way to extra-time. It was a bit of a messy goal.

“Our players were outstanding, right from minute one. They dug deep.

“It (the international break) is an opportunity for us to reset. This has been a tough block for us. There are probably six or seven weeks left of this season and we have to enjoy those moments together.”

Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor told TNT Sports: “The players deserve it. We had to work hard for the game today. It really highlights playing against a team that are good defensively in the Championship in Charlton. They’ve got the best defensive record. We knew it was going to be a difficult game.

“We controlled large parts of the game without actually working their goalkeeper enough, which was a frustration. When we forced things, we probably gave two or three moments to Charlton in possession. It was just a case of being patient. If it had to go to penalties, then we’d have one of the world’s best in goal.”

Matty Godden’s shot is saved by Bristol City goalkeeper Radek Vitek/Picture: Keith Gillard

GODDEN: I SHOULD HAVE SCORED

Matty Godden was in no mood to make excuses for not converting his late chance in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Bristol City.

The Charlton Athletic striker met Lloyd Jones’ downward header in the 81st minute but goalkeeper Radek Vitek kept out the close-range attempt with his left leg.

The 34-year-old had only been on the pitch for two minutes, making his return after missing eight Championship matches with a hamstring injury.

“I’m disappointed - that’s my bread and butter,” said Godden. “I should be scoring, there’s no doubt about it. I know that and everyone knows that. I’ve got to put it behind me and go again on Monday (at Watford).

“Probably in the first 10 minutes of both halves we weren’t good enough and that ultimately cost us. The last 20 minutes we came on really strong, kicking towards the Covered End. We definitely should have come away with a point with the chances we had.”

Godden missed the first five months of the season with a knee injury before returning in early January. He made six appearances before another setback.

“It was one of those things (the hamstring injury) that no-one can put a finger on why it happened,” he said. “Everything had been done really well with my load and minutes I was getting.

“I’ve worked hard in the gym for the last four weeks to get myself back. I’m looking to have a big impact in the last month. I feel a lot sharper than when I returned before.”

Godden is out of contract at the end of this season. He top-scored for the Addicks last season as they won promotion from League One.

“Everyone knows I want to be here but no, there has been no discussion,” he said. “I haven’t really been expecting there to be, with me being out. Everyone knows my situation and where I’d like to be.

“I’m not too sure (when he would expect talks to start). It is the first time I’ve ever been coming out of contract at a football club.”

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James Bree is about to cross for Ross Stewart’s goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final tie at St Mary’s/Source: BBC

BREE’S SECOND BITE IN FA CUP

James Bree has reached the FA Cup semi-finals this season…..despite being part of a team knocked out in the third round.

The 28-year-old right wing-back was on loan with Charlton for the first half of the season and played the full 90 minutes in their 5-1 defeat to Chelsea at The Valley in early January.

But the rule about only playing for one club in the competition was amended by the FA this season.

The Addicks’ deal for Bree ran up into the early stages of the winter transfer window and Southampton’s boss change - Tonda Eckert replacing Will Still - saw the South Coast outfit hand the defender a fresh start.

Bree has more than taken that opportunity back with the Saints and played in their FA Cup wins against Leicester City and Fulham.

He provided the assist for Ross Stewart’s opening goal in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal to send Southampton to Wembley. The Championship side, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Charlton at St Mary’s Stadium in February, knocked out Mikel Arteta’s big-spending north Londoners on the South Coast.

Bree has got five goals and six assists this season. He is out of contract at the end of June.

Source: The FA

AGENT FEES REVEALED

Charlton Athletic paid £904,698 in agent fees between February 4, 2025 and February 2, 2026 - with only Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn spending less out of clubs in the Championship.

Birmingham, promoted as League One champions last season, paid £1,996,502 while Wrexham, who were runners up, splashed £3,660,584.

Ipswich Town, beaten 3-0 by the Addicks at Portman Road earlier this season, topped the spending charts with a whopping £11,738,920.

Charlton paid £430,596 in the same period between 2024 and 2025.

BOSS JOBS FOR DEFOE AND HOLMES

Jermain Defoe and Ricky Holmes both took on managerial positions last week.

Former striker Defoe, who came through Charlton’s academy set-up before defecting to West Ham United, has been appointed the boss of Woking, who play in the National League.

The ex-England international retired in 2022. He had a spell as assistant to Steven Gerrard at Rangers when he was still registered as a player.

“All I could do is finish my badges and then just hopefully the opportunity will come,” said Defoe, at the press conference announcing his appointment. “I’ve had loads of conversations with clubs, so it was always getting close. And I knew it would come at some point. But in football, you just never know what’s around the corner.

“When I was a 16-year-old at West Ham in the youth team, you have to earn your stripes, you have to do your apprenticeship. Just because I’ve had a good career, I can’t expect to just jump in at the top or get that big job. It’s one I’m really looking forward to.”

Holmes has been placed in interim charge at Chelmsford City after they sacked Angelo Harrop on Friday.

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OLAOFE AND KANU ON TARGET

Isaac Olaofe scored Stockport County’s second goal in their 3-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers on Friday.

It was the striker’s first time netting for the Hatters since he rejoined them on loan at the end of the winter transfer window.

Olaofe had featured 10 times before that for County but did claim an assist in the 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon the weekend before.

Sierra Leone international Dan Kanu, who made a temporary move to League Two at the start of the season, scored his 15th goal of the campaign in Walsall’s 2-2 draw against Gillingham.

WORLD CUP DREAM ENDS FOR CAMPBELL, BELL AND ANDERSON

Charlton’s sole representative at this summer’s World Cup finals looks set to be Lyndon Dykes, with Scotland, after Jamaica’s hopes were crushed by DR Congo on Tuesday.

The Reggae Boyz had set up a play-off decider after beating New Caledonia in their first knockout tie in Mexico.

Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe scored the winning goal in extra-time for DR Congo as they sealed their place at the blockbuster tournament, which will be held in the USA.

Tyreece Campbell played 74 minutes with Amari’i Bell introduced in the 90th minute. Karoy Anderson, on loan at Blackpool, did not make the matchday squad.

Lyndon Dykes celebrates his equaliser/Picture: Paul Edwards

Nathan Jones was left unhappy with the performance of his Charlton Athletic side at both ends of the pitch in today’s 2-1 loss to Bristol City at The Valley.

The Addicks have lost four of the last five Championship matches on their own patch, scoring just three times.

They fell behind after 11 minutes when Scott Twine clinically finished Max Bird’s pass.

Charlton equalised on the half-hour mark as Lyndon Dykes claimed his third goal since arriving from Birmingham City in the winter transfer window. The Scottish international played a neat one-two with Charlie Kelman before finding the bottom left corner of the net.

Bristol City went back in front on 55 minutes when Noah Eile scored his first goal since signing from New York Red Bulls at the start of February. The big Swede forced the ball home after Will Mannion fumbled a Twine free-kick.

The final stages of the match produced chances at both ends as Charlton committed more attacking players forward. City goalkeeper Radek Vitek made saves from Matty Godden, Ibby Fullah and Joe Rankin-Costello with Dykes heading over an Amari’i Bell cross.

But Mannion also needed to keep out attempts from Twine and Sinclair Armstrong, the latter also denied by an excellent tackle in the penalty box by Kayne Ramsay.

Charlton remain 18th in the table and are eight points above the relegation zone.

Below is pretty much every word that the Addicks boss had to say in his post-match press conference.

Charlton boss Nathan Jones/Picture: Paul Edwards

A defeat in the end, what did you make of it?

Jones: “At the start of both halves we were poor and that is what has cost us.”

Why do you think that was?

Jones: “I don’t know, because we work every single week on starting fast and being front-footed. In the first 60 seconds we messed about and gave a corner away - that set the tone for the first 10-15 minutes.

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Godden also talks about his future with his Addicks terms due to expire at the end of June.

Myself and Lou also look ahead to Monday’s trip to Watford a…

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