Hills' start is impressive as women lead the way, Aneke signs for Shrews and Edwards demands more clinical edge
The latest review of the week - a round-up of Charlton Athletic news
By now you know the drill, Monday morning is time for review of the week.
And in this update we have details of another win for Charlton Athletic Women as well as covering the south London derby against Millwall at The Valley.
TOP OF THE LEAGUE
It’s a case of played two and won two for Charlton Athletic Women, with Sunday’s 2-1 comeback victory at Durham leaving Karen Hills’ side as the early pacesetters in the WSL 2 table.
The Addicks scored twice in the final 15 minutes at Maiden Castle Sports Park.
Charlton are two points ahead of nearest challengers Southampton, Birmingham City, Sunderland and Newcastle United.
Next up is a home game against rock bottom Ipswich Town, yet to get a point or score a goal, on September 21.
Beth Hepple put Durham ahead shortly after the half-hour mark.
Charlton levelled through Gillian Kenney, one of the summer signings. Lucy Fitzgerald secured the victory in the 83rd minute, controlling Charlotte Newsham’s low cross before turning the ball home from close range.
Charlton defender Josh Edwards
Picture: Kyle Andrews
EDWARDS REFLECTS ON DERBY DRAW
Josh Edwards wants Charlton Athletic to start “putting teams away” when they are in the ascendency in Championship matches.
The Scottish full-back was on media duties after Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Millwall at The Valley.
Sonny Carey’s first-half goal was wiped out by a late equaliser from Ra’ees Bangura-Williams.
Charlton have not won against their local rivals since March 1996, drawing seven of the last 14 meetings.
Our post-match pod can be found here, with five talking points here.
“That was probably my favourite atmosphere I’ve had so far at The Valley, I really enjoyed that one,” said Edwards, when asked what he made of his first South London derby.
“The build-up, it has been a long time coming. We’ve been itching to get back on the pitch after a couple of weeks ago at QPR when we let ourselves down a little bit. We were desperate to get back out there and we showed that in the first half, with how well we started.
“We gave a really good account of ourselves and were the better team for the majority of the game. The red card changed the game and we were penned in. They had a lot of the ball then, which you expect when you’re down to 10 men.
“We’re just disappointed we couldn’t see the game over the line for the fans, we knew the importance of the game for them. In the dressing room….obviously [everyone feels] gutted. But there are plenty more games to go and we’ll look to get more points.
“We had really good spells. Millwall were still a threat for certain parts of the second half but we dealt with that fairly well.
“We had to make a few changes after the red card to try and stay compact.
“He (Kayne Ramsay) will know himself that he has made a mistake but he has been brilliant for us. We’ll back him all the way. There is absolutely no way we’ll turn on him. He’s made a decision that we can live by.
“We wanted to start well and we did that. We kept on top and deserved a goal. It was a great finish by Sonny.
“We all know we should have more points than we do. Now we need to start putting teams away when we’re on top.
“It’s been a good start. We have proved that we can compete at this level.”
Sky Sports co-commentator Sam Parkin described the challenge which earned Kayne Ramsay an early exit in Saturday’s derby against Millwall as “rash”.
The centre-back was sent off for two bookable offences in the second half, both on Aidomo Emakhu.
Parkin said: “I don’t think there could’ve been any arguments. They have steamed into quite a lot of challenges, him and his centre defensive counterparts in the second half.
“This one is rash. He wins the first (challenge) and sometimes the adrenaline goes up there.”
Charlton goalscorer Sonny Carey is surrounded by Millwall players
Picture: Kyle Andrews
Saturday’s match made it the fifth consecutive league and play-off game that Charlton Athletic have had an attendance of at least 20,000, the first time that sequence has been achieved since 2008.
“They (Millwall) will be considerably happier than we are,” said manager Nathan Jones. “We need to be cleverer and show a bit more quality at times. We need to make better decisions - that is not just attacking but defensively as well.
“We will get better, because no side we manage goes backwards. It’s still an exciting time but right now it is raw and disappointing because we have thrown away an opportunity to do something semi-historic."
“We could do better on their goal, down the side.
“With Kayne suspended now people get their opportunity.”
There is more post-match reaction from Jones here.
CHUKS AWAY….
….to Shrewsbury Town.
South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition has been told that Chuks Aneke turned down interest from overseas to sign for the League Two club on Monday.
The 32-year-old striker was released by the Addicks at the end of last season.
Aneke scored 27 goals in 138 matches for Charlton, earning the reputation as a supersub.
The former Arsenal, Birmingham City and MK player posted a message on his Instagram with an image of him playing for Charlton in May’s League One play-off final. He said: “I would like to say farewell to a club that holds a special place for me.
Chuks Aneke’s last appearance for Charlton Athletic was as a substitute in their League One play-off final win against Leyton Orient in May
Picture: Kyle Andrews
“A massive thank you to everyone involved during my time at Charlton. To the incredible fans who have always been amazingly supportive of me, thank you! I have loved every minute of my two spells at the club. I wish everyone associated nothing but the best!”
Aneke played under Shrewsbury boss Michael Appleton during the latter’s time in charge of the Addicks.
“We had a good time there, got to know each other and he got in contact," Aneke told Town’s official website. “I like to score goals, I like to get assists, I like to be creative, and I like to influence games.”
Appleton added: “He plays the game in a certain way and has an impact as a substitute as good as anyone I’ve ever worked with or seen.
“When his team-mates see him stripped off and ready to come on, that gives them a boost of confidence and gives everyone a lift.
“Whether we’re home or away, he’ll add that effect for us, no matter who we're playing so I’m delighted to get him on board.”
Aneke did not make the matchday squad for Saturday’s 3-1 home loss to Salford City.
SPACES IN ADDICKS SQUAD
We touched on this in last Thursday’s podcast, but Charlton Athletic only named 22 players in their EFL squad list for the 2025-26 season.
That number does not include U21 registered players.
The Addicks, just like every other EFL club, could have named 25 players in their main squad.
Isaac Olaofe is one of the 10 new signings made by Charlton Athletic during the summer transfer window
Their full list of senior players named is as follows:
Rob Apter, Amari’i Bell, Luke Berry, James Bree, Reece Burke, Tyreece Campbell, Sonny Carey, Conor Coventry, Greg Docherty, Josh Edwards, Macaulay Gillesphey, Matty Godden, Lloyd Jones, Thomas Kaminski, Harvey Knibbs, Miles Leaburn, Charlie Kelman, Will Mannion, Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Isaac Olaofe, Kayne Ramsay and Joe Rankin-Costello.
All of the above count as homegrown players. EFL rules mean that any club must have at least eight. Homegrown is someone who has been registered with a club associated with the English or Welsh FA for at least three years before their 21st birthday.
The Addicks also listed 27 U21 contracted players.
SELLES DITCH
Sheffield United, Charlton Athletic’s opponents this weekend, sacked Ruben Selles on Sunday.
The Blades were hammered 5-0 at Ipswich Town on Friday night.
And that proved to be the final straw for United’s hierarchy, who only appointed Selles, 42, in the middle of June.
The Spaniard lasted just six matches as head coach, losing all of them.
“Following a review of recent performances, and taking into account the feelings of supporters, the timing of the change has been made to give the club the best possible opportunity to improve the current league position,” said a club statement.
All roads appear to lead to Sheffield United re-appointing Chris Wilder, who parted company by mutual consent after the end of last season.
Wilder had been on the verge of becoming Addicks manager in 2016, only for the Blades, his boyhood club, to make their move and gazump the deal.
Former Charlton winger Ricky Holmes talked about Wilder’s expected switch to SE7 in this South London Sport podcast.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
Picture: Keith Gillard
RAK’S CRACK AT TURKISH FOOTBALL
Former Charlton Athletic loan hit Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has made a temporary move to Turkish club Caykur Rizespor.
We talked on one of our recent pods about the fact that it sounded like the 22-year-old was set for a switch abroad after no domestic deal happened before the transfer window shut.
It does not sound like the ideal scenario for Rak-Sakyi, especially when there was a £7.5million deal with Coventry City that looked to be in place. One of the reasons that the move did not happen was down to concerns over the winger’s playing time.
Instead, rather than facing the prospect of playing U21 football all season, Rak-Sakyi joined Rizespor, who finished ninth in the Turkish top flight in the previous campaign.
He was the standout performer for Charlton in the 2022-23 League One season.
KANU’S HOT START
Daniel Kanu has taken to League Two life at Walsall like a duck that has shooting boots and isn’t scared to use them. He definitely fits the bill (not sorry) for the Saddlers.
The 20-year-old’s 25th-minute goal on Saturday, reacting sharply from close range after a cross was nodded down inside the penalty area, earned his loan club a 1-1 draw at Fleetwood Town.
Kanu also scored the previous weekend as Walsall, who lost in last season’s play-off final against AFC Wimbledon, defeated Chesterfield.
Walsall boss Mat Sadler said: “He tested their backline a lot. The conditions were tough, probably not what he has overly been used to when you consider where he has come from.
'“He just shows he is a good striker.”
Rich I know it felt like a defeat on Saturday, but don’t rub it in with your sub heading!