Charlton Athletic v Preston: perfect-start hosts meet winless visitors | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic host Preston North End in the Championship at The Valley on Saturday, 29 August 2026, with the hosts chasing a third straight league win and the visitors looking to stop an early slide.

Head-to-head history leans heavily one way: Preston North End have won the last five meetings between the clubs, including both league games last season. Charlton Athletic arrive in stronger league form this time.

Charlton Athletic opened with two league wins, beating Derby County and then West Ham United away, though they exited the EFL Cup at Tottenham Hotspur in midweek. Preston lost at Bolton Wanderers and at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, and were beaten by Everton in the EFL Cup.

Nathan Jones is without Matt Godden, William Mannion, Josh Edwards, Charlie Kelman, Kayne Ramsay, Billy Koumetio and Collins Sichenje through injury. For the visitors, Brad Potts, Alistair McCann and Theo Carroll are sidelined.

The hosts have scored four and conceded two in the league, pairing efficiency with limited possession at 34% and a shooting accuracy of 60%. Tyreece Campbell and Lloyd Jones have two league goals each. Preston have had more of the ball at 46% with 74.52% passing accuracy, but have conceded five and posted 35.71% shooting accuracy, with Jusef Erabi on the scoresheet and Delano Burgzorg supplying an assist. Set pieces and aerial moments could matter, with the hosts already recording a headed goal.

A win would move Charlton Athletic to nine points and could keep them among the early pacesetters in the play-off picture. Preston, still on zero points, could climb the table with a result and ease away from the bottom places.