Charlton Athletic have done one thing not many predicted in the EFL Championship - Nathan Jones will be delighted | OneFootball

The Welshman has the Addicks outperforming the other two newly-promoted teams, Birmingham City and Wrexham

Charlton Athletic’s start to the 25/26 Championship campaign has surely taken many by surprise, especially considering the pre-season expectation that surrounded Birmingham City and Wrexham.

Manager Nathan Jones has quietly positioned the Addicks in 13th place after nine matches, sitting above both Blues and the Red Dragons, who are 16th and 18th respectively.

Yes, they’re level on points with Birmingham, but have still been better defensively by conceding three less goals.

Given the South East London side finished 26 points behind table-topping Blues at the end of last season before winning the playoffs, perhaps their own fans didn't think they'd be the best performing team to come out of the third division at this stage.

Birmingham and Wrexham, of course, both committed themselves to blockbuster, free-spending summer transfer windows, further fuelling the long-term ambitions within the Hollywood-backed duo. Charlton's ambitions, and spending power, are somewhat more modest, yet they're quietly motoring on and are currently eclipsing both the Blues and the Red Dragons.

Nathan Jones has Charlton Athletic outperforming Birmingham City and Wrexham AFC

With all the Cardiff City links in the summer being put to bed by the five-year contract he signed in June, Welshman Jones has built on the momentum from Wembley really well at Charlton without distraction from elsewhere.

"We're still evolving," Jones admitted after Charlton’s 1-1 draw with Millwall, highlighting the careful approach that has seen the Addicks avoid the defensive frailties plaguing their more fancied rivals.

Birmingham City have failed to register a single clean sheet in any of their away fixtures and Wrexham have conceded 18.1 expected goals (xG), the second-most in the division behind struggling Sheffield Wednesday.

In the time since settling for a point against the Lions, Charlton went on a four-game unbeaten run before losing to Preston North End last Saturday, which included back-to-back wins against Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers.

After Isaac Olaofe's late goal earned three points at Bramall Lane, Jones reflected by saying, "This is Sheffield United, away, full house, returning manager who's been synonymous with success here so to put in that level of performance I thought was outstanding."

This is just one example of Jones praising how his team rose to the occasion this season when they weren't fancied, and it's fair to say he's got his players putting in more effort at this stage than Chris Davies or Phil Parkinson would maybe like.

For comparison, Wrexham are yet to win two league games on the bounce, and Birmingham haven't done so since the end of August. In fact, Blues have only won one of their last six Championship games, with scrutiny growing on head coach Davies following a slow start in which the Second City outfit have fallen some way short of resembling promotion contenders as they were tipped to.

Quiet success story could continue at The Valley for Charlton Athletic

Jones' early achievement becomes even more impressive when considering Charlton's relatively modest transfer activity compared to their promoted rivals.

While Birmingham and Wrexham flexed their financial power with high-profile signings, the Addicks focused on shrewd recruitment. Even though it involved Jones signing four of his ex-Luton players — you can’t say it hasn’t worked out.

Thomas Kaminski, Amari'i Bell, Reece Burke and James Bree all played under Jones at the Hatters, and Kaminski is the only one out of the listed lot Charlton paid a fee for, albeit Bree is on loan from Southampton.

Kyogo Furuhashi arrived in the West Midlands for a reported fee of €12m, and he's yet to score in the second-tier this season. While Wrexham paid up to £10m for Nathan Broadhead, who has found the back of the net once in the league.

Sonny Carey has outscored these two, with two goals, and he's an attacking midfielder who came on a free from Blackpool.

So, where other clubs ride the pressure of expectation, Charlton seem to be thriving off quieter ambition. If the Addicks can sustain even half of this form, then dreams of a dark horse play-off push may not be beyond them.

Overall, many would deem it a successful season for Charlton to even remain in the division, though, and they're already making a real strong effort of exactly that.