Charlton Athletic kept their perfect home record intact this season by sharing a 0-0 draw with Portsmouth in a Championship clash that, while lacking goals, offered plenty of drama, especially after the break. The Addicks dominated the first half, creating the clearer opportunities, but both sides ultimately failed to find the back of the net.
In the opening 45 minutes Charlton looked the more incisive outfit. A superb left‑wing delivery from Tyreece Campbell found Millenic Alli inside the box in the 32nd minute. The loan returnee, who had spent the latter part of last season with Portsmouth, met the cross with a close‑range volley, only to see the ball sail over the bar.
Earlier, Portsmouth’s keeper Daniel Bielica had been forced into a reflexive leg‑save to deny Karlan Grant a powerful strike aimed at the near post, underscoring the early intensity. Portsmouth’s captain, Marlon Pack, was also active, rising to meet a corner generated from an early Campbell cross and heading the ball clear.
Despite having scored in each of their previous ten away league games, the visitors did not register a single shot on target before the interval, highlighting Charlton’s defensive discipline. The second half began with a flurry of activity. Charlton’s goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was quick to react in the 15th minute, extending a leg to block a low cut‑back from Terry Devlin after a slick passing move. Portsmouth’s Conor Shaughnessy later rescued his side when he cleared a dangerous ball off the line after Addicks loanee Tyler Bindon nudged a deep cross back into a perilous area.
Alli, who was constantly jeered by the travelling crowd, enjoyed one more chance before the break, unleashing a 20‑yard effort that flew straight to Bielica. Just 20 seconds into the second period, Okonkwo stretched his full frame to dive low to his left, tipping away a shot from Abu Kamara. Portsmouth seemed fresher after a full week’s preparation, while Charlton, coming off a 0‑0 draw with QPR on Wednesday, began to show signs of fatigue. Referee Andrew Kitchen dismissed a penalty appeal from Portsmouth left‑back Jayden Meghoma, who claimed a pull on his arm by Alli.
Mid‑field battles continued. Oliver Skipp produced a tidy sliding tackle to dispossess Adrian Segecic on the edge of the box after Bindon lost possession. Segecic later attempted a weak shot from inside the area, which Okonkwo comfortably saved. In the 81st minute, Colby Bishop failed to finish a close‑range sliding effort from a cross delivered by Ryan Kavuma‑McQueen, missing a chance to break the deadlock.
As the clock wound down, Charlton dug deeper into their bench. Conor Coventry curled a shot from a short‑corner that drifted over the edge of the area, while Shaughnessy made a vital defensive block on a strike from Grant. The home fans appealed loudly for a penalty when Miles Leaburn went down after a challenge with Benjamin Arthur, but no spot‑kick was awarded.
Post‑match, Charlton manager Nathan Jones praised his side’s display: "The performance 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 Mille 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 echoed a similar sentiment: "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." Both managers highlighted the importance of maintaining defensive solidity while seeking the cutting edge in attack.
The match, though goalless, demonstrated the fine margins that separate a win from a draw in the highly competitive Championship. The Addicks remain unbeaten at The Valley, while Portsmouth will look to convert the promising spells they displayed into points in their upcoming fixtures.