Charlton Athletic review of the week: Addicks women take Liverpool to extra-time in FA Cup quarter-final, Matty Godden has not expected contract talks yet and James Bree is heading to Wembley
Jermain Defoe and Ricky Holmes take on non-league managerial roles
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.”
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.
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.