Tyreece Campbell continued his strong start to the campaign by delivering an 80th‑minute strike that secured a 2‑1 win for Charlton against Derby at The Valley. The goal not only gave the Addicks three points but also provided a morale boost after a turbulent week for the Rams, during which the proposed takeover by Saudi official Turki Alalshikh fell through on Monday.
Derby had taken the initiative in the first half when Sammie Szmodics, who had previously found the net in the EFL Cup defeat to Lincoln, nudged the visitors ahead just before the interval. Charlton, however, responded quickly. Lloyd Jones – fresh from a two‑year contract extension signed on the previous Friday – rose to meet a cross and headed the ball level, restoring parity. The decisive moment arrived when Campbell, operating on his less‑favoured left foot, slipped the ball past the Derby defence and into the net, clinching the maximum points for Nathan Jones’ side.
The match began on a positive note for Charlton. Billy Koumetio attempted to meet an early corner delivered by Sonny Carey, but his header sailed wide.
Shortly after, Karlan Grant, celebrating his 100th appearance for the Addicks after re‑joining in the summer, struck a powerful shot that forced Derby goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom into a reflex save. Grant then set up a chance for Carey, whose attempt was mishit in the 16th minute, resulting in a harmless clearance. Derby enjoyed a spell of possession and eventually broke the deadlock.
Szmodics received a low cross from Joe Ward and, despite a first‑time effort that was tipped over by Charlton keeper Will Mannion, he soon after found the back of the net from close range after a pass from Morris. The goal gave the Rams a brief lead, but Charlton’s defence remained resolute, with Taylor making a sliding tackle to block a threatening shot from Danny McNamara and Zetterstrom using his legs to parry a near‑post attempt by Campbell. Controversy flared when Charlton’s Sonny Carey went down after a challenge from Lewis Travis, prompting the home crowd to appeal for a penalty. Referee Ben Speedie, however, waved play on, leaving the decision to the officials’ discretion.
Szmodics, who appeared to be nursing a minor knock sustained during the warm‑up, was forced to leave the field in the 54th minute and was replaced by recent signing Alex Mowatt. The deadlock was broken in the 61st minute when Charlton’s captain, Lloyd Jones, rose above the Derby defence to head home Grant’s well‑timed cross from the left side of the box.
The centre‑back’s aerial prowess gave the Addicks the lead they would hold for the remainder of the game. Shortly after, Mannion, who had shown some nerves dealing with high balls, stretched fully to deflect Oscar Fraulo’s 20‑yard effort onto the left upright, preserving the clean sheet. Campbell proved to be Charlton’s most potent outlet. Using his weaker foot, he struck a precise, low‑driven shot that slipped past the Derby back line and into the net, putting the south‑London side ahead for the first time in the encounter.
The 22‑year‑old’s strike marked his second goal of the season, a marked improvement over the previous campaign when he managed only one. Eight minutes of added time were announced, but Charlton held firm against a late surge from Derby.
Morris attempted to create a chance by sending Max Johnston’s cross into the box, but Mannion was quick to smother the ball, denying any further threat. After the final whistle, Charlton manager Nathan Jones praised his side: "I’m delighted – the result means everything and we’ve integrated a lot of new signings. We got a captain’s goal with a superb header. Tyreece is always in dangerous positions and is a real threat one‑on‑one.
We just need to keep getting the outcomes from him. Last week he hit the bar from a similar chance, then cut inside and scored against Cheltenham in the EFL Cup.
We’re in advanced talks to secure his future and hope to finalize it soon. There are still 45 games left. Last season we started well, but injuries exposed a lack of depth.
This season our squad is better equipped to cope with those challenges." Derby’s boss John Eustace expressed disappointment: "I’m really upset with the loss. I didn’t think we had many chances. We limited Charlton to almost nothing, 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 properly, especially after the second goal.
Communication broke down. 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 team’s effort and attitude 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 took his goal well.
We hope he’s not out for long." Overall, the match highlighted Charlton’s growing cohesion and the impact of their recent signings, while Derby will need to address defensive lapses and injury concerns if they hope to bounce back in the upcoming fixtures.