Charlton Athletic 0-0 Portsmouth: Goalless at The Valley
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley on Saturday; Nathan Jones' Addicks and John Mousinho's Pompey play out a goalless draw.
Saturday 12 September 2026 18:08, UK
Charlton maintained their unbeaten home record this season with a 0-0 draw against Portsmouth.
The Championship encounter may have lacked goals, but it was not devoid of entertainment, particularly in an open second half.
The hosts were the better side in the opening 45 minutes and had the big chances to break the deadlock.
Millenic Alli, who spent the second half of last season on loan with the visitors, volleyed over from close range from a perfect left-wing cross by Tyreece Campbell in the 32nd minute.
That came soon after Portsmouth goalkeeper Daniel Bielica used his legs to repel a fierce strike from Karlan Grant at his near post.
- Watch FREE Championship highlights | Latest EFL news and rumours
- Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream EFL games with no contract📺
Portsmouth captain Marlon Pack needed to make a crucial header out for a corner from an early Campbell cross.
The visitors, who came into the contest having scored in their last 11 away league matches, did not have a shot on target before the interval.
Charlton keeper Arthur Okonkwo needed to be alert in the 15th minute, sticking out a leg to cut out Terry Devlin's low cutback after slick approach play.
Conor Shaughnessy came to the away team's rescue when he hooked the ball away from his own goal-line after Addicks loanee Tyler Bindon had nodded a deep cross back into a dangerous area.
Alli, booed by the travelling support every time he got on the ball, had the last chance of the half but hit a 20-yard effort straight at Bielica.
Okonkwo needed all of his long frame to dive low to his left and get a hand to Abu Kamara's shot just 20 seconds into the second period.
Portsmouth had a full week to prepare for the match and they looked fresher and stronger as Charlton, who drew 0-0 with QPR on Wednesday night, began to show signs of fatigue.
Referee Andrew Kitchen was unimpressed by Jayden Meghoma's penalty claims, the left-back appealing for a pull on the arm by Alli.
Oliver Skipp produced a fine recovery tackle to slide in and dispossess Adrian Segecic on the edge of the area after Bindon had turned over possession.
Adrian Segecic wastefully shot tamely at Okonkwo from inside the area before Colby Bishop failed to apply a sliding close-range finish to Ryan Kavuma-McQueen's inviting cross in the 81st minute.
Charlton dug deep into their reserves as time ticked down.
Conor Coventry curled over from a Charlton corner that was played short and worked across the edge of the area.
Shaughnessy produced a crucial defensive block from a shot by Grant and there were big appeals from the home support for a penalty when Miles Leaburn went down after a coming together with Benjamin Arthur.
The managers
Charlton's Nathan Jones:
"The performance was really good, especially in the first half. We created some excellent chances, looked a threat and controlled the game.
"When you look at the game we had against them here last season, it was the polar opposite. Our midfield two were excellent and our wide ones carried a threat.
"We had the absolute clear-cut chance of the game. If we had scored the first goal, especially in the first half, then we are very difficult to beat here.
"There probably won't be an easier chance in the Football League today than Mille Alli's chance. He is three yards out. He just needs to guide it on target and he scores. He managed to put it over.
"Karlan Grant has had a great chance. It was a really good game, end to end and two really committed sides. Portsmouth beat us twice last season, so it is a better result than we had last year.
"Overall the performance level was there and it's a clean sheet. You can see some partnerships building.
"We want to get all our injured players back. We had Charlie Kelman back today and hopefully we get Josh Edwards back next week, so that is another one.
"We will be in a stronger position after the international break. The five defenders have had to go from the Tottenham game until now, really putting in proper shifts. To keep three clean sheets shows that."
Portsmouth's John Mousinho:
"You come away from home and draw 0-0, then a clean sheet is the really positive aspect of the game.
"We created some really good chances in the second half but just didn't put the ball in the net. Mixed emotions, because we could have won it.
"We got into some good spots but didn't really test the goalkeeper in the first half. With Charlton playing Wednesday night we thought we'd have more joy as the game opened up, which we did.
"There are some really good signs, but we need to keep improving.
"We put the chances in the back of the net last week. We didn't do it this week. The top end of the pitch, we have got quality and goals there, which I think will come."
