Charlton Athletic and Coventry City will aim to kick off their 2026 with a win on New Year’s Day.

Two sides searching for momentum after frustrating festive periods meet on New Year’s Day, as Charlton Athletic welcome Coventry City to The Valley in a Championship clash that carries significance at both ends of the table.

While Coventry remain firmly in the promotion hunt, Charlton are battling to arrest a worrying slide that has dragged them toward the relegation picture. With both teams eager to reset after disappointing results, this fixture arrives at a crucial moment in their respective campaigns.

Charlton’s promising start to the season has faded rapidly, with Nathan Jones’s side now deep in a run of poor form. The Addicks have claimed just one win from their last nine league matches, a slump that has seen them tumble to 20th in the Championship standings, only five points clear of the relegation zone.

Their struggles were compounded over the festive period, suffering defeats to both Norwich City and Portsmouth, the latter coming via a late blow on the south coast. Those results have underlined a recurring issue: Charlton’s inability to see out matches and protect narrow margins.

That said, The Valley has offered some respite. Charlton have lost just three of their ten home league games this season, with their most recent home victory coming against Oxford United shortly before Christmas. If there is to be a turning point, it is likely to come on familiar turf.

One of the few consistent bright spots has been Sonny Carey, who has adapted impressively to Championship football following his move from Blackpool. With five goals in 23 appearances, the midfielder has provided drive and a cutting edge during an otherwise difficult run.

Coventry City arrive in South London seeking to rediscover their rhythm after seeing a remarkable unbeaten run come to an end. Prior to Monday’s defeat, Frank Lampard’s side had gone 11 matches without defeat and had built an imposing record at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

That run came to a halt against Ipswich Town, who secured a 2-0 victory thanks to second-half strikes from Jack Clarke and Wes Burns. It marked only the fourth time all season that Coventry had failed to score, and just their third league defeat overall.

Despite that setback, the Sky Blues remain well placed in the promotion race, sitting third and 10 points behind league leaders after 24 matches. Their away form has been a major strength, with Coventry collecting 22 points and six wins on the road, the best return in the division.

However, recent away performances have shown slight vulnerability. Coventry City failed to win any of their December away fixtures, drawing at Ipswich, Preston North End, and Southampton. While still difficult to beat, their previously relentless momentum has cooled slightly.

Charlton Athletic will aim to make the most of home advantage and feed off the urgency of their situation, likely adopting an aggressive approach early on. Coventry, meanwhile, will look to reassert their authority through structure and control, trusting their proven away form to guide them.

With both sides seeking a response, this contest promises intensity and edge, one team desperate for breathing space, the other eager to re-establish momentum in the promotion race. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

Charlton Athletic

Charlton Athletic continue to deal with key absences as they prepare for the New Year’s Day clash. Veteran striker Matt Godden remains sidelined with a knee injury, denying him the opportunity to face his former club once again. His absence continues to limit the Addicks’ attacking depth and experience in the final third.

The injury situation is compounded by the unavailability of Onel Hernandez, who has featured only sparingly this season and remains unavailable for selection. His absence further reduces Charlton’s attacking options, particularly in wide areas where his pace and directness are usually valuable.

Despite those setbacks, head coach Nathan Jones is expected to stick with a familiar shape that has offered relative defensive stability at home, even if results have not always followed. Charlton are likely to line up in a 3-5-2 system designed to provide compactness through the middle while allowing width from the wing-backs.

Thomas Kaminski is expected to start in goal, offering leadership and experience at the back. The three-man defensive unit should consist of Reece Burke, Lloyd Jones, and Amari’i Bell, with Jones anchoring the centre of defence and the other two providing cover on either side.

In midfield, James Bree is likely to operate as the right wing-back, while Tyreece Campbell is expected to patrol the left flank, providing energy and forward thrust when possible. Centrally, Sonny Carey will be tasked with driving play forward, supported by Conor Coventry, who offers ball retention and defensive discipline, and Luke Berry, who is expected to operate between the lines.

Up front, Charlie Kelman is set to lead the line, with Miles Leaburn partnering him as a physical presence capable of stretching opposition defences and competing aerially.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Kaminski; Burke, Jones, Bell; Bree, Carey, Coventry, Berry, Campbell; Kelman, Leaburn

Coventry City

Coventry City will be without one of their key attacking figures on New Year’s Day, as Brandon Thomas-Asante continues to recover from a hamstring injury that has stalled his momentum in the Championship Golden Boot race. The striker’s absence remains a notable blow for the Sky Blues, who lose a reliable focal point in the final third.

They will also be without Jay Dasilva, who serves the final match of his three-game suspension following his red card against Southampton in December. On a more positive note, centre-back Bobby Thomas could return to action after missing the last three matches through illness, potentially strengthening the defensive unit ahead of a demanding fixture.

Tactically, Coventry are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation that has served them well for much of the campaign. Carl Rushworth is likely to start in goal, offering composure and leadership from the back.

The defensive line should see Milan van Ewijk operate at right-back, with Luke Woolfenden and Liam Kitching forming the central partnership, while Miguel Angel Brau is expected to slot in at left-back. In midfield, Victor Torp and Josh Eccles are set to form the double pivot, providing energy, ball progression, and protection for the back four.

Further forward, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto is expected to feature on the right flank, bringing pace and direct running, while Jack Rudoni will operate centrally as the main creative outlet. Ephron Mason-Clark should occupy the left-sided attacking role, offering width and attacking thrust. Leading the line, Ellis Simms is likely to spearhead the attack, tasked with occupying defenders and finishing moves created by Coventry’s dynamic midfield support.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; Torp, Eccles; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Simms

Key Stats

• Charlton Athletic have won just one of their last nine Championship matches, collecting only four points in that period and slipping dangerously close to the relegation zone.
• Coventry City boast the best away record in the Championship, having picked up 22 points from 12 matches on the road this season.
• Charlton Athletic have lost only three of their 10 home league games.
• Coventry City have suffered just three league defeats all season, the joint-fewest in the division.
• The Sky Blues have scored in 20 of their 24 league matches.

Player to Watch

Brandon Thomas-Asante

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Brandon Thomas-Asante has been one of Coventry City’s most influential attacking figures this season, and his presence has been sorely missed during his recent spell on the sidelines. Before his hamstring injury, the forward was enjoying a prolific run, establishing himself as a key figure in Frank Lampard’s attacking setup and emerging as a genuine contender in the Championship’s Golden Boot race.

What makes Thomas-Asante such a threat is his blend of physicality, movement, and composure in front of the goal. He is comfortable operating as a lone striker, capable of holding up play under pressure while also possessing the pace and awareness to exploit space behind defensive lines. His ability to attack crosses and make intelligent near-post runs makes him particularly dangerous in tight matches where chances are limited.

Beyond his goalscoring ability, Thomas-Asante’s work rate and pressing from the front play a crucial role in Coventry’s system. He sets the tone defensively, forcing turnovers high up the pitch and helping his side sustain pressure in advanced areas. Against a Charlton defence that has struggled for consistency, his movement and physical presence could prove decisive if he returns to action.

Prediction

Charlton Athletic 1-2 Coventry City

Charlton’s home form gives them a fighting chance, but Coventry’s consistency across the season, particularly their strength away from home, gives them a clear edge going into this contest. The Sky Blues are more balanced in midfield, more reliable in possession, and better equipped to manage key moments in tight games.

Charlton are likely to compete aggressively and make life uncomfortable, especially early on, but their recent struggles in front of goal and defensive lapses may once again prove costly. Coventry’s attacking structure and control in transition should eventually tell.