Derby came to The Valley with a game plan and it worked for most of the afternoon, taking a 1-0 lead into the break. Charlton looked second best for stretches, but they're made of sterner stuff than that. The hosts came out firing after the interval and turned the match on its head, with Tyreece Campbell a constant thorn in Derby's side as he drove his side forward. Campbell, who earned the official man of the match rating, was instrumental in the comeback as Charlton scored twice to seal a 2-1 win. Derby had their chances too, finishing with more shots overall, but couldn't find a way past the home side when it mattered. It was a decent advert for the Championship—the kind of match where possession and territory don't always tell the full story. Charlton showed the character you need at this level to overturn a deficit, while Derby will be kicking themselves about how they let this one slip away. Three points on the board is all that matters though, and Charlton will take the momentum heading into their next fixture.
The Matchup
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Derby County was the final score at The Valley, in a game where Charlton Athletic did enough across the ninety minutes to deserve the three points. Charlton Athletic also had the better share of the ball, holding 45% possession, which usually goes hand in hand with the extra control a winning side tends to show. The shot count told a similar story, with 13 attempts from Charlton Athletic against 15 from Derby County over the course of the game. It was not always comfortable for Charlton Athletic, and Derby County pushed for a way back into the game, but the result stood. Games like this can carry real weight later in the season, so this is a scoreline worth remembering. Below is a closer look at how the match broke down, statistically.
Man of the Match
Match Statistics
Match Events
| Min | Team | Card | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23' | Derby County | Goal — S. Szmodics (assist: C. Morris) | 0-1 | |
| 54' | Derby County | Substitution — S. Szmodics on, A. Mowatt off | 0-1 | |
| 59' | Charlton Athletic | Substitution — M. Godden on, M. Leaburn off | 0-1 | |
| 59' | Charlton Athletic | Substitution — S. Carey on, M. Alli off | 0-1 | |
| 60' | Derby County | Sondre Langås | 0-1 | |
| 61' | Charlton Athletic | Goal — L. Jones (assist: K. Grant) | 1-1 | |
| 73' | Charlton Athletic | Substitution — K. Grant on, J. Rankin-Costello off | 1-1 | |
| 80' | Charlton Athletic | Goal — T. Campbell | 2-1 | |
| 83' | Derby County | Substitution — O. Fraulo on, C. Blackett-Taylor off | 2-1 | |
| 83' | Derby County | Substitution — C. Forsyth on, R. Brewster off | 2-1 | |
| 84' | Derby County | Substitution — J. Ward on, M. Johnston off | 2-1 | |
| 84' | Derby County | Substitution — L. Travis on, L. Salvesen off | 2-1 | |
| 85' | Charlton Athletic | Substitution — D. McNamara on, I. Mesik off | 2-1 | |
| 85' | Charlton Athletic | Substitution — N. Chalobah on, C. Sichenje off | 2-1 | |
| 90+8' | Derby County | Rhian Brewster | 2-1 | |
| 90' | Derby County | Alex Mowatt | 2-1 |
Charlton Athletic vs Derby County Lineups
Looking Ahead
Charlton Athletic have a quick chance to build on this result. Their next test comes at home to Preston North End, and how they respond after this result will be worth watching. You can follow the build-up and everything you need to know when Charlton Athletic vs Preston North End going to play at 29 August 2026 in Championship 2026-27.
Derby County, meanwhile, does not have long to wait before getting back out onto the pitch. They are next in action at home to Swansea City, a game that will give an early sense of how they carry this result forward. Full details are here: Derby County vs Swansea City going to play at 29 August 2026 in Championship 2026-27.