Charlton Athletic review of the week: Dykes reflects on 'mental' debut, Addicks women hit TEN goals in FA Cup win, away tie for Pearce's side in FA Youth Cup and Gallagher makes Tottenham transfer
It’s the latest review of the week. Plenty of Charlton Athletic news in this one.
Picture: Paul Edwards
DYKES: I NEED CHARLTON IMPACT TO HELP ME REACH WORLD CUP
Lyndon Dykes took less than 60 seconds to collect the first assist of his Charlton Athletic career - with the striker describing his debut as “a bit mental”.
The Scotland international, signed from Birmingham City last week, nodded the ball down for Sonny Carey’s 46th-minute goal in Saturday’s 1-0 victory against Sheffield United.
Dykes was subbed on at the start of the second half when the Blades were down to nine players after red cards for Djibril Soumare and Japhet Tanganga.
“The game itself was a bit mental,” said the 30-year-old. “I just wanted to come on and make an impact. I’m happy to knock that down and it was a great finish.
“Obviously it was a difficult first half. There were some massive saves from the goalkeeper (Thomas Kaminski) that kept us in the game. We were a little bit off it all round - I think the boys would agree with that one. They had a couple of great chances to score and that would’ve made it a different game, even with the men sent off.
“They had two red cards, which is unusual.
“Getting the goal early in the second half definitely helped us.
“I chuck myself about and I’m quite decent in the air. I’ve only been in the building a couple of days but it was great play all round. It was a great run from Sonny to read that and score.”
The home support were unable to hide their frustration that Charlton could not completely kill off the Championship contest.
“It’s difficult because they have to sit in as much as they can and we have to break them down,” said Dykes. “It changes our game with the centre-backs and deeper boys having to drive the ball up the pitch to make sure they draw people out. We did that in phases.
“You could hear the crowd were sometimes frustrated that we weren’t always attacking but sometimes you have to drag them out of positions to attack. They were probably only dangerous on the counter and maybe set-plays. We nullified that. We were trying to get a second goal but it just didn’t quite happen.”
Dykes is hoping to be part of Scotland’s squad for this summer’s World Cup finals.
“Obviously that is in the back of my mind but I’m focused on playing for Charlton,” he said. “I can’t get to the World Cup if I’m not playing well at my club. I want to make sure we get wins as a team and we’re going to do that with the whole squad.
“I’m happy to be here. I haven’t really had a lot of minutes in the last couple of seasons but I feel fit and strong. With game time I think I can get even better.”
Post-match pod after Sheffield United
Talking points from the 1-0 win over Blades
Nathan Jones on James Bree being recalled and narrow victory against nine men
Amelie Thestrup makes it 5-0 to Charlton from the penalty spot/Picture: Keith Gillard
ADDICKS HIT DOUBLE FIGURES IN FA CUP ROUT
Charlton Athletic cruised into the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup after a 10-0 demolition of Swindon Town at The Valley on Sunday.
Amelie Thestrup claimed a hat-trick for the Addicks with Emma Bissell and Katie Lockwood netting twice. There were also goals for Jodie Hutton, Karin Muya and Gillian Kenney.
The draw for the next round takes place this evening.
The Swindon tie was Karen Hills’ 150th match in charge of Charlton and she was presented with a framed shirt to reflect the milestone.
Katie Lockwood scores Charlton’s seventh goal in their FA Cup tie/Picture: Keith Gillard
Hills said: “Any team would be pleased with that sort of scoreline but credit to the Swindon girls. They knew they were going to play an opposition in a higher league - they battled all the way to the end.
“We were fantastic from minute one. We were relentless in what we did today. It was our opening game of 2026, so it is a fantastic start for us. That winning mentality keeps going.
“We’ve been back after Christmas and had a lot of training sessions. The girls have been chomping at the bit to play. They were really excited to play today. Our performance was very professional.
“We worked really hard to make sure the players were fully prepared and knew exactly what Swindon’s threats and weaknesses were. Our players executed our game plan perfectly today.”
Ellis McMillan scores from the penalty spot against Watford/Picture: Kyle Andrews
YOUNG ADDICKS ON ROAD AGAIN
Charlton Athletic face another away tie in the FA Youth Cup.
The Addicks secured their place in the fifth round with a 3-1 victory at Watford earlier this month.
Jason Pearce’s side will take on either Burnley or Norwich City, who play on Monday evening.
KANU SCORES AGAIN
Dan Kanu is well on track to reach his target of 20 goals this season after adding to his tally in Walsall’s 3-1 win at Tranmere on Saturday.
The 21-year-old striker is now on 14 for the season in 26 appearances. That’s an impressive return.
Kanu had a spell earlier in the campaign where he netted in five successive matches for the League Two club, who he joined on loan at the start of August.
Walsall boss Mat Sadler confirmed last week that Charlton would not be recalling the forward.
“He is clinical in those situations,” said Sadler, on Kanu’s finish against Tranmere. “I’d be foolish if I said I wasn’t concerned (about Kanu’s stay being cut short) because of how well he has done.
“To get that news, or no news if you like, that everything was status quo is a boost for everybody.”
Tottenham’s X post after announcing the signing of Conor Gallagher
GALLAGHER BACK IN THE CAPITAL
Former Charlton loan hit Conor Gallagher has sealed a Premier League return.
The 25-year-old midfielder completed a move from Atletico Madrid to Tottenham on Wednesday. The fee is reportedly £35million.
Gallagher is racking up the London clubs on his playing CV. The England international started on the books of Chelsea and had a hugely productive loan with the Addicks in the 2019-20 Championship season, so much so that he only stayed until January - Swansea City taking him for the second half of that campaign.
Gallagher also had a 2021-22 season-long loan at Crystal Palace and won their Player of the Year award.
“Conor is a top midfielder, who we have worked tirelessly to add to our squad,” said Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank.
“Conor has captained teams so will bring leadership, maturity, character and personality to our dressing room, while his running power, pressing ability and eye for goal will strengthen us in a key area of the pitch.”
IMPS TRIGGER EXTENSIONS
Lincoln City have extended the contracts of Conor McGrandles and Reeco Hackett.
The two former Charlton players have been regulars in the Imps side this season.
Midfielder McGrandles re-signed for the League One club in the summer of 2024.
Hackett was on the Addicks’ books for three years before leaving for Bromley in 2019.
City have activated extension clauses for the pair as well as Tendayi Darikwa.
“We are looking to strengthen the group in this transfer window, but to do that we must also ensure that we do not weaken ourselves by losing any of our core senior players,” said Lincoln’s sporting director Jez George.
“All three fall into that bracket, all have been instrumental in our season to date, and all have a massive role to play for the remainder of this season.”
DOWIE: I DESERVED TO BE SACKED BY CHARLTON
Picture: Keith Gillard
Iain Dowie recently chatted to Mick McCarthy and Tony Pulis on the duo’s The Managers show on YouTube - and said he deserved to be sacked by Charlton Athletic.
Dowie only lasted 12 matches with the Addicks before he was dismissed in 2006.
This site provided further insight on his short stint with the south Londoners in one of Peter Varney’s diary pieces, along with Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan’s legal action against Dowie, which can be found here.
Quite how accurate Dowie’s recollections of his departure are is up for debate, not least because he told McCarthy and Pulis he had been putting his Christmas tree up when then chairman Richard Murray called to break the news that his time as Charlton manager was over - on November 14. That’s very early to be getting festive.
“To be fair, it was justified,” said Dowie. “We had signed some decent players. In the end I didn't win enough league games and do well enough. Simon served an order (writ) in the press conference, so you’re already behind the eight ball.
“I probably didn’t realise the Palace-Charlton rivalry, it got brought up in a big way. Curbs (Alan Curbishley, his predecessor) did a very good job and Nathan [Jones] is there now. They are still a very big football club and hopefully it will bounce back.
"You take it on the chin. I didn’t do enough things right. I got embroiled and concentrated on the wrong things. The club was brilliant with me. It just didn’t work out and most of it is my fault.”