Charlton Athletic midfielder Sonny Carey: 'Heavy defeat to Southampton can be used as motivational fuel in return fixture'

Former Addicks loanee James Bree walking disciplinary tightrope - Saints boss Eckert praises south London club's clean sheet record

Sonny Carey reckons Charlton Athletic’s players can use their 5-1 loss to Southampton earlier this season as “motivation” when they head to St Mary’s Stadium tomorrow.

The Addicks were thumped 5-1 in the reverse fixture on November 22. It was the second of five successive losses for the 2025 League One play-off winners, who had been inside the play-off zone at the start of that month.

Southampton will be strong favourites this weekend after collecting 13 points from a possible 15. They have created the most big chances (91) in the division and are third for shots on target per match (5.1).

Sonny Carey/Picture: Kyle Andrews

“I think we can use it as motivation,” Carey told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition when asked about coming up against opposition that inflicted heavy damage last time around. “After what happened in the home game, the gaffer said we need to bury it, forget about it, but at the back of your mind use it as fuel to go and put in a performance.

“We know that day was a very bad day and that we need to put that right at the weekend.”