Tyreece Campbell kept his impressive start to the campaign alive, delivering an 80th‑minute strike that handed Charlton a 2‑1 win against Derby County at The Valley. The triumph came on the back of a turbulent week for the Rams, whose prospective takeover by Saudi official Turki Alalshikh fell apart on Monday, leaving the club in a state of uncertainty. Derby had taken the lead at the break thanks to a goal from Sammie Szmodics, who had also found the net in the EFL Cup defeat to Lincoln.
However, Charlton quickly responded. Lloyd Jones – who had just signed a fresh two‑year deal on the preceding Friday – rose to meet a cross and headed the ball level. Only moments later, Campbell unleashed a clinical finish with his weaker left foot, sealing all three points for Nathan Jones' side.
The Addicks began the encounter on a positive note. Early on, Billy Koumetio missed a headed opportunity from a Sonny Carey corner, and Karlan Grant, celebrating his 100th appearance for Charlton after re‑joining the club over the summer, struck a powerful shot that forced Derby goalkeeper Jacob Widell‑Zetterström into a reflex save.
Grant then set up Carey, but the attacking midfielder mishit the ball badly in the 16th minute, allowing Derby a period of sustained possession that eventually produced their opening goal. Derby’s first chance arrived when Szmodics met a low cross from Joe Ward; his first‑time effort was denied by Charlton keeper Will Mannion.
A few minutes later, however, Szmodics capitalised on a pass from Morris inside the box, beating Mannion to put the Rams ahead. The remainder of the first half saw Charlton pressing for an equaliser.
Danny McNamara unleashed a shot that forced a sliding tackle from Derby defender Taylor, while Campbell’s attempt at the near post was blocked by Zetterström’s outstretched legs. A contentious moment unfolded when Sonny Carey went down under a challenge from Lewis Travis, prompting a heated appeal from the home fans for a penalty, which referee Ben Speedie declined to award. Szmodics appeared to be carrying a niggle from the warm‑up and was forced to leave the field in the 54th minute.
He was replaced by recent signing Alex Mowatt, who added fresh energy to Derby’s midfield. Charlton restored parity in the 61st minute when centre‑back James Jones – captaining the side in the absence of Greg Docherty – rose above the defence to head Grant’s well‑timed cross from the left side of the penalty area into the net. The goal gave the Addicks a boost, and Mannion, still a little nervous with the influx of crosses, made a full‑stretch save to turn Oscar Fraulo’s 20‑yard effort onto the left upright.
The decisive moment arrived later in the hour. Campbell, who had been a constant threat on the counter‑attack, found space on the right flank and cut inside.
From a tight angle, he struck the ball with his weaker foot, curling it past Zetterström to give Charlton a 2‑1 lead – their first of the afternoon. It was Campbell’s second goal of the season, already matching the total he managed across the entire previous campaign. Derby pressed hard in the final minutes, but Charlton’s defence held firm.
Max Johnston’s cross was met by Morris, whose delivery was turned straight at Mannion, who collected the ball safely. After eight minutes of added time, the visitors were unable to find a way back, and the match ended with Charlton celebrating a hard‑earned victory. Post‑match, Charlton manager Nathan Jones praised his side: “I’m delighted – the result means everything, especially after integrating a number of new signings.
We got a captain’s goal, a superb header, and Tyreece continues to put himself in dangerous positions. He’s a real threat one‑on‑one, and we just want to keep getting those outcomes from him. Last week he hit the bar from a great chance, then cut inside and scored against Cheltenham in the EFL Cup. We are in advanced talks to secure his future, and we hope to finalise that soon.
There are still 45 games left. Last season we had a strong start after promotion, but injuries exposed a thin squad. This season we have added depth, and we’re better equipped to cope with setbacks.” Derby manager John Eustace expressed disappointment: “I’m really upset with the loss.
I didn’t see much quality in the game. We limited Charlton to very few chances, so the two goals we conceded were sloppy defensively.
To pick up points we need to be tighter. We failed to stop the crosses and didn’t organise our defence after the ball was delivered. The second goal came from a poor defensive structure and a lack of communication. This is the first time this group has played together; some legs are tired.
Craig Forsyth, at 37, is doing a fantastic job at centre‑half. The effort and attitude of the squad were sensational, as always.
Sammie had a slight tweak in the warm‑up, so it was a big ask for him to start. He’s a top player at this level, and he took his goal in stride. We just hope he’s not out for long.” The match also featured promotional content for the Super 6 competition, offering fans a chance to win £250,000 with a free entry.