Charlton 2 Derby County 1
There was opening-day delight for the Addicks in the Sky Bet Championship as they came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Derby County at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.
Tyreece Campbell continued his fine start to the season by making it two goals in two games, firing home the winner in front of the Covered End after Lloyd Jones had cancelled out Sammie Szmodics' first-half opener for the visitors.
Charlton got the game under way in SE7 and had their first corner inside the first minute. Sonny Carey swung the ball into the box, that was met by Billy Koumetio, who headed narrowly wide of the target.
Karlan Grant tried his luck from range shortly after, but his effort was well gathered by Jacob Widell Zetterström.
The away side turned up the tempo mid-way through the first half, as Sammie Szmodics had a shot from inside the box, but his effort was smothered by Will Mannion.
Derby continued to cause trouble for the Addicks’ defence as Carlton Morris found his way beyond the defence and into the box. He fed the ball through to Szmodics, who slotted it home past Mannion to give the Rams the lead on 23 minutes.
As the clock ticked towards half-time, Tyreece Campbell had a shot on goal that was parried away by the Derby goalkeeper. The ball fell into the path of Danny McNamara who unleashed a goalbound effort. Charlie Taylor produced a huge block to deny the defender from levelling the scoring.
Campbell began to cause problems down the left-hand side and did well to get beyond his man, before firing his shot directly at Zetterström at the near post.
Carey had a claim for a penalty kick just before the break, but it was waved away by the referee. The ball found its way back to Campbell who was fouled on the edge of the area and the Addicks couldn’t make anything of the subsequent free kick and went into half-time trailing 1-0.
Less than 10 minutes into the second half, Charlton had a stellar opportunity to draw themselves level. Nathaniel Chalobah rose highest to meet Carey’s corner, but he glanced the ball wide of the target.
Moments later, McNamara denied Derby a second goal, as he produced an excellent block to thwart Oscar Fraulo’s shot.
Nathan Jones made a double change to his side on 59 minutes, as Miles Leaburn and Millenic Alli entered the fray in place of Godden and Carey.
Sondre Langås was shown a yellow card on the hour mark after being penalised for a lengthy shirt pull on Campbell.
The Addicks began to ask more questions of the Rams as they searched for an equaliser. Chalobah poked the ball out to Grant out wide, who lifted a perfectly weighted cross into the box. Skipper Jones was there to head the ball home in front of a packed out Covered End, to bring the home side level on 61 minutes.
The gaffer made another change with just over a quarter of an hour to play. Joe Rankin-Costello was brought on in place of Grant, who registered 100 appearances for the Addicks on his return to The Valley.
Meanwhile, produced a fine stop on 75 minutes to keep out Fraulo’s volley.
Rankin-Costello produced a lovely through ball that set Leaburn on his way and through on goal. The striker did superbly to hold the ball up and bide his time in the box until support arrived. He set up Campbell who smashed the ball beyond Zetterström, to give Charlton a well-deserved lead.
Derby made a quadruple change in response as they tried to salvage a result.
Nathan Jones made his final changes to the side in the latter stages, as Collins Sichenje and Ivan Mesík were introduced in place of Chalobah and McNamara.
Eight minutes of stoppage time were added at the end of the 90. Alex Mowatt was then booked for a foul on Alli, as the Addicks continued to push on.
Morris had the chance to bring Derby level at the death, but his effort was deflected out for a corner that came to nothing. Rhian Brewster then found himself in the book for dissent after a foul on Amari’i Bell.
Charlton held firm to see out the win and kick-start their Championship campaign with three points on the board, which was no less than Jones' side deserved.
The Addicks return to action next weekend, making the short trip to the London Stadium to take on West Ham United.
Charlton: Mannion; McNamara (Mesík 85), Jones (c), Koumetio, Bell; Coventry, Chalobah (Sichenje 85); Campbell, Carey (Alli 59), Grant (Rankin-Costello 74); Godden (Leaburn 59)
Subs (not used): Brooks, Mwamba, Knibbs, Apter
Goals: Jones 61, Campbell 80
Assists: Grant 61, Leaburn 80
Derby County: Zetterström; Ward, Forsyth (Brewster 84), Sanderson, Langås; Taylor; Fraulo (Blackett-Taylor, 84), Travis (Salvesen 84), Clark, Ward (Johnston 84); Szmodics (Mowatt 53)
Subs (not used): Vickers, Nyambe, Bilbija, Eames
Goal: Szmodics 23
Assist: Morris 23
Booked: Langås 60, Mowatt 90, Brewster 90+8
Referee: Benjamin Speedie
Attendance: 21,539 (3,057 away supporters)
