Greg Docherty is fully aware that Charlton face a pivotal three‑match stretch as they try to secure their place in the Championship after just one season back. The Addicks’ captain spoke exclusively to Sky Sports ahead of Wednesday’s home clash with promotion‑chasing Ipswich at The Valley, emphasizing the importance of capitalising on their remaining fixtures.
"We know exactly where we sit in the table," Docherty said, noting that Charlton sit six points clear of the bottom three as they head into a crucial mid‑week game. The upcoming match is one of two consecutive home fixtures – the other against Hull City, Docherty’s former club, on Saturday – before a final away trip to Swansea on the last day of the season. While the position seems relatively safe, a six‑game winless run, with all three points in that span coming from draws on the road, has added a layer of anxiety for the squad and its supporters.
Ipswich, meanwhile, possess the poorest away record among the top ten teams in the division, and Charlton are the only side to have defeated Kieran McKenna’s side at Portman Road this campaign. That victory, Docherty believes, gave the team a much‑needed confidence boost. "Going into Wednesday’s game, we know they have something to play for, but we have plenty of motivation as well," he explained.
"Winning at Portman Road showed we can compete with the best and proved we are capable of pulling off a result when it matters." He admitted that the team has slipped a little since that win, but stressed that they have remained competitive. "We may have let ourselves down by not converting more games into wins, but the margins are fine and we showed we can compete.
The problem has been scoring – especially at home – where we haven’t been clinical enough," he said. Docherty highlighted the frustration of missing chances: "We have created numerous opportunities, and as those chances pile up without a goal, it starts to affect the squad’s confidence. We haven’t distributed the goals across the team as well as we could have this season. It’s not a lack of effort or creativity; we’re simply up against quality opposition and haven’t delivered a full 90‑minute performance in the last six matches.
When we have a short lapse, the league punishes us mercilessly." Looking ahead, the captain remains optimistic. "We know we have beaten Ipswich before and we will give them the respect they deserve, but the game is in our hands. Our mindset going into the home match is positive, and we want to translate that into points," he added.
Charlton’s recent history offers a reminder of what is possible. Under Nathan Jones, they achieved promotion last season by beating Wycombe and Leyton Orient in the play‑offs. This term, the Addicks have secured eight league victories at The Valley, alongside four draws – two of those against fellow top‑six sides Millwall and Coventry – demonstrating that they can take points from strong opponents. Docherty reiterated the team’s appetite for challenging big clubs.
"We relish the chance to test ourselves against quality players and top‑flight teams. Ipswich are fighting high up the table, and we want to prove we belong in this league as well," he said.
"We worked hard to earn our place here, and now we must deliver performances that match the pressure we feel on our shoulders." The captain also stressed the need to improve Charlton’s home record, which has not been as robust as in previous seasons. "A weaker home form hurts us as players and disappoints our fans. We want to get back to winning more games at The Valley," he affirmed. On a personal level, Docherty has taken on a leadership role, registering the joint‑highest assist tally (three) for Charlton while also leading the team in tackles (47).
He describes himself as an all‑round midfielder who enjoys the gritty side of the game. "I have a reputation for doing the dirty work, and I get a buzz from that just as much as from scoring," he admitted.
He is also eager to add more goals to his game. "The manager has been helping me work on my attacking contribution, and I’ve been pushing myself to improve. That’s the next step for me," Docherty explained.
He believes his season started well, experienced a slight dip in form mid‑campaign, and is now finishing strongly. "I’m satisfied with my personal progress, but true satisfaction comes when the club as a whole is doing well," he said. "I’ll do everything I can to help us win more matches because I feel we should have taken more points.
It’s easy to say that, but the evidence supports it. The Championship is a tough league, and the experiences we’ve gained this year will serve us well next season." Looking forward, both Docherty and Charlton hope to remain in the Championship for the 2026/27 season.
They understand that fine margins, particularly at home, will be decisive in achieving that goal. The captain’s resolve to tighten up the team’s home performances and to share the goal‑scoring burden underscores the ambition to stay clear of any relegation scrap and to build a foundation for future success.