Exclusive: Why Don Goodman thinks Charlton Athletic won't seal a play-off finish | OneFootball

The Addicks have made an impressive return to the Championship under Nathan Jones

Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert Don Goodman believes a finish inside the Championship play-off places may be a step too far for Charlton Athletic despite the club's impressive return to the second tier.

As is so often the case when a side earns promotion through the League One post-season lottery, the Addicks were made immediate favourites for relegation back to the third tier as soon as they defeated Leyton Orient 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on May 25th.

Whilst plenty of the spotlight shone on their promoted counterparts in Birmingham City and Wrexham - largely down to the global attention and financial backing associated with both clubs - it is Nathan Jones' men who have been the strongest performers out of the newly-promoted trio of sides thus far, leading to talk of whether a shock run for the play-offs can be maintained in the coming weeks after what has been an extremely even second tier season aside from Coventry City's remarkable start under Frank Lampard.

At present, only a handful of points separates the sides towards the top end of the early-season play-off picture and those who have endured even more of an inconsistent start and could be precariously looking over their shoulders if such feats continue between now and May, meaning anything is possible.

There have been plenty of reasons for Charlton supporters to look on the positive side ever since Jones was appointed at The Valley in February 2024, and a shock run towards the top six of the second tier for the first time since the millennium would only add to that.

Yet, whilst a fine start to the campaign has earned plenty of praise, Goodman isn't quite so sure that such form can be fully maintained when exclusively issuing his thoughts to Football League World.

Don Goodman cast doubts on potential Charlton Athletic play-off bid amid impressive recent form

Across the opening two months of the season, the South London side have proven to be no pushovers, particularly in SE7, where they have now recorded 13 home victories in a calendar year for the first time in six years after defeating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 on October 18th.

Indeed, the only side to take maximum points away from The Valley were Leicester City, who won a tight encounter through a moment of brilliance from Abdul Fatawu.

Despite accumulating the vast majority of their points total thus far on home turf, there have been examples where Jones' side's robustness has shone through on their travels, taking four points off two of last season's play-off sides in Bristol City and Sheffield United.

It has been that defensive solidity that has enabled Charlton to make such an impressive start, with new signings such as Thomas Kaminski proving their worth, although they haven't been the most free-flowing of sides in terms of chances created and goals scored just yet.

As such, Goodman has praised the Reds for their start, but debates whether supporters and outsiders are getting slightly carried away when assessing their prospects for the remainder of the campaign.

"I do think this could be a very wide-open season in the Championship, and there is the prospect of 'surprise packages'," Goodman told FLW.

"But, I think it's nothing more than a really, really good start for Charlton. It's one they should be really proud of, and I don't think it should be understated.

"A play-off campaign at this stage? I'd be thinking not, given the majority of their points have been taken against teams in the bottom eight or nine, and teams in the top 11, they haven't been able to win in five - losing three and drawing two.

"Is that an indicator as to where they are?" Goodman debated.

"They are going to be a big 'banana skin' for the teams that are really chasing promotion.

"But, it's been a brilliant start.

"Never say never. But, at this moment in time, I think it's too early to say Charlton will be play-off contenders."

Nathan Jones has previous experience of achieving play-off finishes against the odds

As Goodman alluded to, nothing can be ruled out for certain. But, many outsiders would fancy sides such as Ipswich Town and Southampton to eventually click into gear and mount promotion or play-off bids at the expense of a 'surprise package' like Charlton, Stoke City or Queens Park Rangers.

So far, Jones has consistently spoken about the unity within his squad that has galvanised them into making such an impressive start, and whilst it won't be at the forefront of his mind, the Welshman can certainly lean on previous experiences when it comes to proving doubters wrong.

Nothing embodies this more than when the 52-year-old was able to guide Luton Town into the 2021/22 play-offs against all odds, before his side were defeated by fellow underdogs, Huddersfield Town, in the semi-finals.

The following season, Sunderland proved that a play-off berth could be immediately achieved after winning the League One showpiece event in North London, whilst Ipswich achieved back-to-back promotions between 2022 and 2024.

Of course, the predicaments of each club cannot quite be compared, but it proves that it isn't an impossible task for newly-promoted sides to assert themselves as contenders in the Championship.