A run of three home games in a week gave the new Valley pitch a thorough workout. The Addicks now have a break of three weeks before they play on home soil again.

Prior to that though, they face three away games in a week before the international break. First up will be Huddersfield on Saturday.

Charlton travelled to the John Smith’s Stadium three times last season. The first visit was for a Capital One Cup game in August. It would have come as something of a culture shock for the foreign players after the match, when they enjoyed fish and chips on the coach, supplied by the chip shop on Leeds Road. 

Huddersfield have had a difficult start to the season, losing their first two games. Bournemouth beat them 4-0 at the John Smith’s on the opening day of the season and the Terriers then succumbed to Cardiff.

The Bournemouth defeat cost Mark Robins his job. For once, the opposition chants of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning,’ proving to be correct.

Chris Powell has been mentioned as a leading contender to succeed Robins but Mark Lillis will continue in temporary charge on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Huddersfield travelled to the Madejski and recorded a surprising 2-1 victory over Reading.

The Addicks are confident and in good form. They have injury concerns about Stephen Henderson and George Tucudean but both are likely to be fit enough to travel and be available options for Bob Peeters.

Peeters gave Nick Pope public support after his difficult game against Derby and said the former Bury Town stopper would feature on Saturday. If Henderson has recovered from his hamstring niggle though, the Irishman is likely to be recalled.

Chris Solly will probably come back in place of the impressive Joe Gomez, and warranted there has been no serious reaction from his ankle, Rhoys Wiggins will continue on the left side of defence.

The formidable duo of Tal Ben Haim and Andre Bikey will form the central defensive barrier.

The midfield quartet of Johann Gudmundsson, Yoni Buyens, Johnnie Jackson and Jordan Cousins are set to continue.

Tucudean and Igor Vetokele – fitness permitting – will continue up front.

Charlton could start with this team:

Henderson; Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins; Gudmundsson, Buyens, Jackson, Cousins; Tucudean, Vetokele.

Subs: Pope, Fox, Morrison, Wilson, Moussa, Harriott, Church.

Tim Robinson will travel from West Sussex to take charge of the game.

Peeters came desperately close to recording his first away win in England at Brentford and will be hoping to go one better on Saturday.

Another exhilarating display by the Addicks who beat another of the teams fancied for promotion on Tuesday evening.

Nick Pope came in for the injured Stephen Henderson and the young custodian had a difficult night. His kicking was wayward and a late faux-pas gave Derby hope.

Chris Solly’s knee was not risked, so Joe Gomez made his league debut on the right side of defence.

Charlton again put on an easy-on-the-eye display, as did the Rams.

The Addicks went ahead after 11 minutes with a glorious move. Johann Gudmundsson played a cross field ball to Jordan Cousins on the left.

Cousins played it into George Tucudean in the area, Tucudean swivelled and fired beyond Lee Grant’s right hand to give the hosts the lead.

Derby got themselves back into the game and levelled just past the half-hour mark, when the ball was pulled back from the byline for Jamie Ward to fire high into the net from the edge of the area.

Tucudean took a knock which saw him substituted at the break but the big Romanian had one more  vital contribution to make.

He got into the area, twisted, turned and was brought down by Richard Keogh.

Yoni Buyens smashed the resultant penalty into the roof of the net to restore Charlton’s lead on the stroke of half-time.

Tucudean was replaced by Franck Moussa at the interval and Steve McClaren sent his team out early.

The Rams certainly flew out of the blocks but it was the Addicks who continued to enjoy the better chances.

Moussa scuffed a good chance when Johnnie Jackson set him up and Igor Vetokele was denied by Grant.

Gudmundsson tried his luck from range and, after Moussa was brought down, Jackson fired a 25-yard free-kick narrowly over.

Charlton looked to have sewn the game up 12 minutes from time. Moussa broke down the left and delivered a deep cross to beyond the far post.

Jackson played it back in, Lawrie Wilson headed it on and Vetokele had the simplest of headers from close range to make it 3-1.

The Addicks had a great chance to increase their lead, but Vetokele shot straight at the keeper after a sweeping move involving Gomez and Wilson.

Instead Derby reduced the arrears five minutes from the end when a Ward shot went through Pope’s legs and trickled over the line.

Charlton held their nerve though and saw the game out safely.

Both the results and style of Bob Peeters’ team is making a trip to The Valley a real joy these days.


Charlton: Pope; Gomez,  Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins; Gudmundsson (Fox 89), Buyens, Jackson, Cousins (Wilson 64); Vetokele, Tucudean (Moussa 46).

Subs (not used): Phillips, Morrison, Harriott, Church.

Goals: Tucudean 11, Buyens 45 (pen), Vetokele 78.

Booked: Buyens 73 (foul).


Derby: Grant; Christie,   Buxton, Keogh, Forsyth; Dawkins (Russell 69), Bryson, Hendrick (Best 77),  Hughes (Mascarell 46). Martin, Ward.

Subs (not used): Roos, Naylor, Eustace, Whitbread.

Booked: Bryson 35 (foul).

Referee: Michael Bull (Essex).

Attn: 15,317 (1,434 Derby).

The Addicks play their third home game in a week on Tuesday evening when Derby visit The Valley.

Steve McClaren oversaw a dramatic turn round in Derby’s fortunes after taking over from Nigel Clough last season. His impact was instant and his team went from the lower reaches of the table to a play-off position.

Derby’s strength is in midfield and Yoni Buyens and Johnnie Jackson will have to be at their best to quell the Rams. Buyens tired towards the end on Saturday and Jackson had been troubled with a stomach bug in the lead up to the game.

Bob Peeters will have to make an enforced change in goal, as Stephen Henderson’s hamstring problem will rule him out.

Nick Pope has hinted that the club could bring a keeper in before the game but it would be a surprise if Pope did not start.

It will be interesting to see if Chris Solly’s knee will allow him to play another game so quickly after Saturday. Lawrie Wilson will step in if Solly is ruled out.

Andre Bikey and Tal Ben Haim were impressive against Wigan, so Michael Morrison will again be confined to the bench.

Rhoys Wiggins struggled with Callum McManaman’s trickery but is unlikely to face such a talented opponent all season.

Buyens and Jackson will be flanked by Johann Gudmundsson and Jordan Cousins in midfield.

George Tucudean and Igor Vetokele will continue up front, so, Charlton could line-up like this:

Pope; Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins; Gudmundsson, Buyens, Jackson, Cousins; Tucudean, Vetokele.

Subs: Phillips, Morrison, Fox, Wilson, Moussa, Harriott, Church.

Michael Bull from Essex will be the referee.

Derby will be warm favourites to win the match but the Addicks have demonstrated their ability to create chances this season. They are solid at the back and in confident mood right now. Derby will not have it all their own way.