Did you know that Charlton Athletic’s 0-0 draw against Portsmouth today means that they are one point and one place better off than at the same stage of the previous Championship season?
I think most people felt that the Addicks started the 2025-26 campaign strongly but they were defeated by Leicester City and QPR in August.
Their record after the opening seven league matches this time around is won three, drawn three and lost once. Twelve months ago it was won three, drawn twice and two reverses.
Miles Leaburn is grabbed by Portsmouth sub Ebou Adams/Picture: Paul Edwards
With more composure and accuracy from Millenic Alli this afternoon, Charlton might have squeezed a narrow victory over Pompey that would have put them fourth in the table and level on points with leaders West Ham United.
The summer signing from Luton Town should have converted Tyreece Campbell’s left-wing cross on 32 minutes. Unmarked. Close range. Volleyed over. The Addicks were the better side in the first half, without being able to make that superiority count.
It was more even after the restart and Arthur Okonkwo made one quality save from Abu Kamara.
Only Swansea City (four) have kept more clean sheets than Charlton (three) in the Championship, the Addicks are joint second with Millwall and Lincoln City for shutouts.
Below is pretty much everything that Nathan Jones had to say in his post-match press conference.
What did you make of it today?
Jones: “The performance was really good, especially in the first half when we were really fluid. We created some excellent chances, looked a threat and we controlled the game.
“When you look at the game we had last season (a 3-1 loss to Portsmouth) it was the polar opposite. We had real control, our midfield two were excellent and our wide ones carried a threat. We probably had the only absolutely clear chance of the whole game. It was a clear-cut chance.
“I’m probably just a little bit frustrated we haven’t won it because if we scored the first goal, especially in the first half, then we are very difficult to beat here.
“Overall the performance level was there, it’s a clean sheet and some individual performances, plus some partnerships you can see building, it’s not bad.”
Probably frustration that you didn’t make it count when you had that control in the first half?
