Charlton Athletic kept their perfect home record in the Championship intact by securing a 0‑0 draw against Portsmouth at The Valley. While the match lacked a breakthrough goal, it offered plenty of excitement, especially after the interval when both sides opened up and created several clear-cut chances. In the first half, the home side looked the more dominant of the two, pressing high and generating the better opportunities.
The most notable chance fell to Millen Alli, who had spent the latter part of the previous season on loan with Portsmouth. In the 32nd minute, Tyreece Campbell delivered a pinpoint left‑wing cross that found Alli in the box. He met the ball with a volley from just a few yards out, only to see it sail over the bar.
Earlier, Portsmouth keeper Daniel Bielica had been forced into a dramatic leg‑save to parry a powerful strike from Charlton forward Karlan Grant that was heading for the near post. Portsmouth’s captain, Marlon Pack, also made his presence felt when he rose to meet a corner generated from an early Campbell delivery, but his header failed to trouble the keeper.
The visitors entered the game on the back of an impressive run of eleven consecutive away league matches in which they had found the net, yet they failed to produce a single shot on target before the break. Charlton’s goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was called into action early, stretching a leg in the 15th minute to block a low cut‑back from Terry Devlin after a slick passing move. Later, Conor Shaughnessy rescued his side when he cleared a dangerous ball off the line after Charlton loanee Tyler Bindon headed a deep cross back into a perilous area.
Alli, who was frequently jeered by the travelling Portsmouth fans whenever he touched the ball, enjoyed one more opportunity before the half‑time whistle, unleashing a 20‑yard effort that was comfortably saved by Bielica. The second half began with Portsmouth showing fresh legs after a full week of preparation, while Charlton, still recovering from a 0‑0 draw with QPR three days earlier, began to exhibit signs of fatigue.
Referee Andrew Kitchen dismissed a penalty appeal from Portsmouth left‑back Jayden Meghoma, who claimed that Alli had pulled his arm in the box. Meanwhile, Charlton’s Oliver Skipp made a fine sliding tackle to dispossess Adrian Segecic on the edge of the area after Bindon had lost possession. Segecic’s subsequent shot from inside the box was weak and easily handled by Okonkwo, and later in the 81st minute, Colby Bishop failed to convert a close‑range sliding finish from a cross by Ryan Kavuma‑McQueen.
As the clock ticked down, Charlton dug deeper into their bench. Conor Coventry curled a delivery from a short corner into the edge of the area, while Shaughnessy produced a vital defensive block from a Karlan Grant strike. The home crowd appealed loudly for a penalty when Miles Leaburn went down after a collision with Benjamin Arthur, but the referee waved play on.
After the final whistle, Charlton manager Nathan Jones praised his side’s performance: "The first half was especially strong – we created quality chances, threatened the defence and controlled the tempo. Compared with last season’s fixture, this was a completely different display.
Our midfield duo were excellent and our wide players added real width. We had a clear‑cut opportunity when Alli was three yards from goal; he only needed to guide the ball in. Grant also had a great chance. It was an end‑to‑end game with two committed teams.
Portsmouth beat us twice last season, so a draw is an improvement. Overall, the level was there, we kept a clean sheet and are seeing partnerships develop.
We’re eager to get our injured players back – Charlie Kelman featured today and we hope Josh Edwards returns next week. After the international break we’ll be stronger; the five defenders have been playing continuously since the Tottenham match, and three clean sheets reflect that consistency." Portsmouth boss John Mousinho echoed a similar sentiment, noting the positives despite the lack of goals: "Leaving home with a 0‑0 result and a clean sheet is a positive takeaway. We crafted several good chances in the second half but couldn’t finish.
It’s a mixed feeling because we could have taken all three points. We created quality chances in the second half, especially after Charlton’s midweek game opened up the match. There are encouraging signs, but we must keep improving.
We scored in the previous game; we didn’t this time. The top end of our pitch has quality and goals, and we expect that to translate soon." Both managers highlighted the importance of building on the defensive solidity while working on converting the numerous opportunities they created. The match, though goalless, served as a benchmark for both sides as they look ahead to the next round of fixtures, aiming to turn draws into victories and maintain the momentum needed for a successful promotion push. For fans who missed the live action, highlights of the Championship encounter are available to watch for free online, and the EFL continues to offer streaming options for mobile devices.
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