Greg Docherty is acutely aware that Charlton face a critical three‑match run to close out their inaugural season back in the Championship, a stretch that could determine whether they stay up or slip straight back into League One. "We know exactly where we sit on the table," the club captain told Sky Sports ahead of Wednesday's showdown with promotion‑chasing Ipswich at The Valley. This fixture is the first of two consecutive home games, the second coming on Saturday against another top‑six side, Hull City – a club Docherty previously represented – before a final away trip to Swansea on the last day of the campaign. Going into the mid‑week fixtures, Charlton sit six points clear of the bottom three.
While there is a lingering sense of caution, the Addicks retain control of their own destiny. Yet a six‑game winless streak – all three points in that period coming from away draws – has amplified the pressure on the squad. Ipswich, on the other hand, own the poorest away record among the top ten Championship teams, while Charlton are the only side that have managed to beat Kieran McKenna's side at Portman Road this season.
Docherty explained his mindset: "I go into Wednesday's game knowing they have something to play for, but we have plenty of reasons to be motivated as well. The victory at Portman Road was a massive confidence boost; it announced that we are capable of taking on strong opposition and coming out on top." He continued, "You could argue that we have let ourselves down a bit since then, not converting enough matches into wins, but we have remained competitive.
That shows how fine the margins are at this level. In that win we seized our chances, something we have struggled to do at home lately, especially when it comes to putting the ball in the net." Docherty admitted the lack of goals at The Valley has begun to affect the squad’s morale. "We've created numerous chances, and the longer we go without scoring, the more it starts to seep into the dressing room. We haven’t spread the goals around enough this season – it’s not for lack of effort or creativity, but we have been up against quality sides and, over the last six games, we haven’t delivered a full 90‑minute performance." He added, "In those occasional ten‑minute spells where we falter, the league punishes us harshly – that’s the brutal reality of the Championship." Docherty stressed the belief within the group: "We know we have beaten Ipswich before and we will give them the respect they deserve, but coming into a home game, the outcome is in our hands.
The mood in the camp is positive, and we intend to keep it that way heading into the match." Charlton’s promotion last season was built on strong end‑of‑season form under Nathan Jones, who guided them past Wycombe and Leyton Orient in the play‑offs. This term, the Addicks have collected eight league wins at The Valley, complemented by four draws – two of those against fellow top‑six teams Millwall and Coventry.
The nature of the Championship means that taking points from bigger clubs is a vital part of any survival strategy, and Charlton hope to repeat that pattern in the coming days. "We relish the challenge of facing quality players and top teams," Docherty said. "Ipswich are fighting high up the table, which is deserved, but we also want to make a statement." He reflected on the journey: "We fought hard to get into this league last year, to play these games, to feel the pressure and to compete for something. Now, I want to improve our home record again.
Our home form hasn’t been as strong as it once was and that hurts us as players and the fans. Ultimately we just want to start winning games again." As captain, Docherty has been forced to lead by example throughout the season.
He shares the joint‑highest assist tally in the squad with three, while also topping the team in tackles with 47, positioning himself as a true all‑round midfielder. He reflected on his playing style: "I’ve earned a reputation for the tougher side of the game and I love that.
I get a buzz from winning the ball as much as from scoring. But I also want to contribute more at the attacking end. The manager has been working with me on that, and I’ve pushed myself to add that extra dimension – that’s the next step for me." Docherty believes his season started well, experienced a dip in the middle, and is now finishing strongly.
"I’m happy with my personal performances, but I’m only truly satisfied when the club as a whole is doing well. I’ll do everything I can to help us win more games because I feel we should have taken more points. It’s easy to say that, but the evidence backs it up.
The Championship is a tough league, and the experiences we’ve gathered this year will serve us well next season." Looking ahead, both Docherty and Charlton are hopeful that the 2026/27 campaign will see them retain their Championship status, fully aware that fine margins – particularly a solid home record – will be decisive in achieving that goal.