Charlton Athletic kept their flawless home record intact this season by holding Portsmouth to a 0-0 draw at The Valley. While the Championship fixture lacked the usual flood of goals, it offered plenty of drama, especially after the interval when both sides opened up and created chances. In the first half, the Addicks were the more assertive team, carving out several clear-cut opportunities to break the deadlock.
The most notable moment came in the 32nd minute when Millen Alli, who spent the latter part of last season on loan with Portsmouth, found himself in a promising position. Tyreece Campbell delivered a perfect low cross from the left wing, and Alli rose to meet it, only to volley over the bar from close range. Earlier, Portsmouth keeper Daniel Bielica had been forced to use his legs to parry a powerful strike from Charlton striker Karlan Grant that was heading for the near post, highlighting the early intensity of the encounter.
Portsmouth captain Marlon Pack also made his presence felt, rising to head a corner generated by an early Campbell delivery. Despite having scored in their previous eleven away league matches, the visitors failed to register a single shot on target before the break, underscoring Charlton's defensive solidity. Charlton’s goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was kept busy from the outset.
In the 15th minute he stretched a leg out to block a low cut‑back from Terry Devlin after a slick buildup. Later, Conor Shaughnessy rescued his side when he cleared a ball off the goal line after loanee Tyler Bindon headed a deep cross into a dangerous area.
Alli, who was frequently jeered by the travelling Portsmouth fans, enjoyed another chance before the interval, striking a 20‑yard effort that sailed straight to Bielica. The second half began with Portsmouth’s Abu Kamara firing a shot that forced Okonkwo to dive low to his left, using his height to get a hand on the ball within seconds of the restart. Portsmouth appeared fresher after a full week of preparation, while Charlton, having drawn 0‑0 with QPR just three days earlier, began to show signs of fatigue. Referee Andrew Kitchen dismissed a penalty appeal from Portsmouth left‑back Jayden Meghoma, who claimed he had been pulled on the arm by Alli.
The match also featured a fine recovery tackle from Charlton’s Oliver Skipp, who slid in to dispossess Adrian Segecic on the edge of the box after Bindon lost possession. Segecic’s effort from inside the area was weak and easily saved by Okonkwo, and later Colby Bishop failed to convert a close‑range sliding finish from a cross by Ryan Kavuma‑McQueen in the 81st minute.
As time ran out, Charlton dug deep into their bench. Conor Coventry curled a delivery from a short corner into the edge of the area, while Shaughnessy made a crucial defensive block on a shot from Grant. The home crowd appealed loudly for a penalty when Miles Leaburn went down after a collision with Benjamin Arthur, but no foul was given.
After the final whistle, Charlton manager Nathan Jones praised his side’s performance: "The display was really good, especially in the first half. We created some excellent chances, looked a threat and controlled the game. When you look at the game we had against them here last season, it was the polar opposite. Our midfield two were excellent and our wide ones carried a threat.
We had the absolute clear‑cut chance of the game. If we had scored the first goal, especially in the first half, then we are very difficult to beat here. There probably won't be an easier chance in the Football League today than Millen Alli's chance. He is three yards out.
He just needs to guide it on target and he scores. He managed to put it over. Karlan Grant had a great chance. It was a really good game, end to end and two really committed sides.
Portsmouth beat us twice last season, so it is a better result than we had last year. Overall the performance level was there and it's a clean sheet. You can see some partnerships building.
We want to get all our injured players back. We had Charlie Kelman back today and hopefully we get Josh Edwards back next week, so that is another one. We will be in a stronger position after the international break.
The five defenders have had to go from the Tottenham game until now, really putting in proper shifts. To keep three clean sheets shows that." Portsmouth boss John Mousinho reflected on his side's effort: "You come away from home and draw 0‑0, then a clean sheet is the really positive aspect of the game. We created some really good chances in the second half but just didn't put the ball in the net.
Mixed emotions, because we could have won it. We got into some good spots but didn't really test the goalkeeper in the first half. With Charlton playing Wednesday night we thought we'd have more joy as the game opened up, which we did.
There are some really good signs, but we need to keep improving. We put the chances in the back of the net last week.
We didn't do it this week. The top end of the pitch, we have got quality and goals there, which I think will come." The match, though goalless, highlighted the tactical battle between two well‑organized sides, the importance of defensive discipline, and the fine margins that separate a win from a draw in the tightly contested Championship.
Both managers emphasized the need for squad depth and the return of injured players as they look ahead to the upcoming international break and the next series of fixtures.