Charlton Athletic are currently sat 16th in the Championship table, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
If you had offered that to Charlton fans before the season began, I think most of them would’ve taken it.
But considering the start they made to the season; their current league position might be something of a disappointment.
Out of their first fourteen games, the Addicks won six and drew five.
However, they have lost their last three in a row, scoring once and conceding nine.
As mentioned, Charlton really struggled in front of goal during their last three games. But in truth, they’ve been poor in front of goal all season.
Only three league matches have seen them score more than one goal. Midfielder Sonny Carey is the clubs top goal scorer with five goals.
Their next highest scorers are defenders James Bree and Macaulay Gillesphey with two goals each. Last season Charlie Kelman won the League One golden boot.
However, since moving to Southeast London in the summer, Kelman has only scored once. Charlton’s success this season has been built on their very strong defence.
But in recent games even that hasn’t been on display. During their most recent game against Stoke City, the Addicks found themselves 2-0 down after only five minutes.
The game prior to that, it only took Southampton 22 minutes to score four goals without reply.
It doesn’t get any easy for Charlton. In fact, it gets as difficult as it possibly could.
Next up for Nathan Jones’s side is a trip to league leaders Coventry City. League leaders Coventry City who have scored 47 goals in 17 games.
League leaders Coventry City who have a goal difference of +30. 2nd place Stoke have the second highest goal difference in the league with +13.
Furthermore, prior to this season no team in Championship history had ever been top of the league by more than six points after seventeen games. Coventry are ten points clear of 2nd place Stoke.
Charlton’s games after that are a mixed bag. Portsmouth at home is far more winnable but it’s followed by a game against 3rd place Middlesbrough.
Birmingham City away will also be a challenge, but Oxford United, Norwich City and Portsmouth once again will give Charlton the chance to get some momentum going before they have to play Coventry again.
