Charlton Athletic could do something against Sheffield Wednesday that they haven't done in 6 years | OneFootball

The Addicks' recent home form has been key to a resurgence under Nathan Jones

In recent weeks and months, Charlton Athletic have been the epitome of a steady, upwardly-mobile club, which could lead to further success in the near future.

Within the past decade, though, circumstances haven't exactly been smooth sailing at The Valley, with the appointment of several managers and head coaches on top of ownership controversies leading to numerous counts of high turnover, meaning consistency hadn't exactly been possible.

However, that has certainly changed ever since Nathan Jones was appointed in this part of South London in the winter of 2024, with the Addicks making great strides of progress under the man who had previously kickstarted Luton Town's rapid rise up the EFL, before enduring mixed fortunes before and after his eventual full-circle return to Kenilworth Road.

At 52 years of age, the Welshman has been around the block for long enough in order to know what is required to succeed at Championship level. However, it would be fair to say that many believed that relative short-term success for Charlton would still be achieved with a 21st-place finish, as long as they didn't immediately fall back into League One, which they did back in the 2019/20 season under Lee Bowyer.

Yet, nine games into the second tier campaign, the Reds are certainly defying the majority of people's pre-season predictions, as they are currently outperforming Birmingham City and Wrexham, who they were promoted alongside and somewhat in the shadow of, largely down to the financial backing and worldwide reputation recently associated with Blues and the Red Dragons.

Unsurprisingly, a strong home record has been key to such impressive form, and if that continues against cash-strapped Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, Charlton will have achieved a feat for the first time in six years.

Charlton Athletic could match their 2019 exploits at The Valley vs Sheffield Wednesday

Little did Jones and his side know it at the time, but a 1-0 win against eventually relegated Shrewsbury Town - courtesy of Thierry Small's dramatic 96th-minute winner - was the catalyst for an impressive stretch of home form that has lasted throughout the course of 2025.

A run of nine wins in the following 10 league games in SE7 with a total of 23 goals scored was integral to the Addicks mounting a promotion charge and, ultimately, securing a play-off place as the regular third tier campaign drew to a close. A packed-out Valley saw them book their place at Wembley in May through Matty Godden's winner in the second leg of the play-off semi-finals against Wycombe Wanderers.

Indeed, Jones' side have proven to be a match for most Championship rivals in the opening weeks of the campaign, with Harvey Knibbs' stoppage-time debut winner against Watford on August 9th setting the tone and continuing the aforementioned streak.

It may come as no surprise that the club's only league defeat came against a former Premier League side, with Leicester City edging past a valiant Charlton side courtesy of an Abdul Fatawu wonderstrike.

Since then, though, the side from the capital have bounced back in impressive style, losing just two of the following six games, which recently included a 3-0 success over Blackburn Rovers.

The dominant scoreline over Valerien Ismael's side made it 12 home wins for the calendar year. Therefore, with many expecting another home maximum against Wednesday this weekend, it would equal a feat set in their last promotion-winning year of 2019, albeit there are still a further six games afterwards where such a record could be equalled and bettered.

Charlton Athletic will have to guard against complacency against defiant Sheffield Wednesday

Whilst outsiders will see this game, on paper, as a home banker, that almost certainly will not be the case despite the off-pitch woes currently affecting Charlton's upcoming opponents.

Wednesday may be sat second bottom with just six points, but Henrik Pedersen's side have emerged with real credit for their performance levels amid a backdrop of uncertainty, with several youth team players also impressing after being thrust into the limelight.

Five of their six points have also come on the road, as they came from behind to earn a draw at Wrexham in August, before emerging 2-0 victors at Portsmouth last month and very nearly taking all three points away from St. Andrew's, before Demarai Gray rescued a late point for Birmingham City.