Charlton Athletic 2-1 Derby County
by Joseph Musa
at The Valley

BACK-TO-BACK club player of the year Lloyd Jones, whose also just signed a new contract, helped Charlton come back from a goal behind to win 2-1 vs Derby in front of a raucous home crowd in a tight-edged game.

Charlton manager Nathan Jones expressed how pleased he was with the result and on contract talks regarding match winner and academy graduate Tyreece Campbell.

“I speak to TC [Tyreece Campbell] all the time. I know he’s happy here, and the club is in advanced negotiations with him.” 

The home side were on the front foot dominating the ball in the opening 10 minutes. Charlton’s returning academy graduate Karlan Grant had the first shot on target at the edge of the area, but straight into the hands of Jacob Widell Zetterstroem.

Derby right-wingback Joe Ward started to get a bit of space with a few dangerous aerial crosses, set up a chance for Oscar Fraulo with a low cross. But his effort was easily saved by Will Mannion.

The Rams gained more control of the game and took the lead thanks to a one-two pass between Sammie Szmodics and Carlton Morris, the two linked up brilliantly with Szmodics’s right footed finish just inside the area sending Mannion the wrong way.

Nathaniel Chalobah who was making his league debut for Charlton attempted to lift the team’s tempo by winning his midfield battles and trying to drive the team forward.

This seemed to reignite the attackers as Campbell and Grant swapped wings, and Campbell threatening Derby’s right side of their defence with some good actions just before the break.

Derby goalscorer Szmodics went off early in the second half, which probably came as no surprise to the coaching staff. Manager John Eustace mentioned after the game that Szmodics experienced a slight thigh tweak during the warm-up.

Grant who returned to Charlton this summer after leaving back in 2019 drifted to the left and provided an in-swinging cross where Jones leaped above his marker to head home. New contract and goal to sign off a great few days for Jones.

It was all to play for with 30 minutes left on the clock.

Campbell continued stretching the Derby back line and with 10 minutes to go in normal time, the danger man Campbell managed to shift the ball onto his left foot and struck the ball sweetly from an acute angle in the area beating Zetterstroem to give Charlton the lead.

Former Addick Corey Blackett-Taylor came on for Derby and was a constant threat, but Charlton hung on for the win.