There were blue skies and bright sunshine over The Valley on Saturday as Charlton’s game with Swansea City kicked off. But by the time referee David Webb blew the final whistle, rain was pouring down over SE7 – a fitting reflection of the afternoon’s shifting fortunes.
Just like the unpredictable weather, Charlton’s fortunes can change in a heartbeat.
Two defensive injuries within minutes, with Amari’i Bell and Reece Burke both forced off just before half-time, completely altered the game’s momentum. Their absence allowed Swansea to seize greater control, forcing Charlton to juggle their shape and structure.
Even so, the Addicks struck first shortly after the break. It was a joyous moment to see every outfield player in red rush to celebrate as Charlie Kelman finally opened his account for the club.
From that point, however, Swansea dominated possession, dictating the tempo and probing constantly until their equaliser arrived. It was a thunderous strike from summer signing Adam Idah – the former Celtic forward showing his class.
The Swans continued to press and could easily have snatched all three points late on, but Joshua Key, who had been excellent throughout, spurned a golden opportunity.
By the end, relief was the overriding emotion. A hard-earned point took Charlton’s total to 20, which is a small but timely psychological boost at this relatively early stage of the season.
So, what next for Nathan Jones and his men?
The manager now faces a defensive dilemma. To retain his preferred back five, he could turn to summer addition Joe Rankin-Costello from Blackburn Rovers, whose versatility makes him a natural candidate. Youngster Ibrahim Fullah is another option, having featured as a left wing-back in the Carabao Cup tie against Stevenage back in August.
Jones has long favoured five at the back, but with West Bromwich Albion visiting on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT), there may not be enough time to establish the alternative 4‑2‑3‑1 set-up.
The takeaways from Saturday? Gratitude for a point on an off day. Encouragement from Kelman’s long-awaited goal. But genuine concern too, with Bell and Burke joining Josh Edwards on the defensive injury list.
Testing times could lie ahead for the Addicks, but there’s still plenty of spirit in this squad.