Southampton v Charlton Athletic: play-off push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Southampton host Charlton Athletic in the Championship on Saturday, 21 February 2026 at St Mary's Stadium, with the hosts chasing the play-off pack and the visitors looking to pull further clear of the bottom three.

Southampton won 5-1 in November's reverse fixture and come into this one off a run that includes a 4-3 win at Leicester and a 1-0 victory over Watford. Charlton Athletic's recent results include a 2-0 success at Leicester and a 1-0 win against Stoke, though they also fell 3-1 to Portsmouth.

Saints are without Alex McCarthy, Jack Stephens, Mads Roerslev, Welington, Elias Jelert Kristensen and Jay Robinson. Charlton Athletic list Matt Godden, Harvey Knibbs and Josh Edwards as absentees.

The Saints tend to control games, averaging 57% possession with 83.49% pass accuracy and 333 shots this season. Adam Armstrong has 11 league goals, with Finn Azaz on eight and Léo Scienza supplying six assists. The visitors lean on width and deliveries, posting 415 open-play crosses at 22.89% accuracy and 11 clean sheets.

Saints may look to work the flanks and crosses as well, with nine headed goals and 18.76% cross accuracy from open play, while Armstrong's movement could trouble a defence that has made 1,078 clearances. For Charlton Athletic, Sonny Carey's seven league goals and strong aerial numbers, with 848 duels won, point to a direct route that could test the hosts.

Saints sit 10th on 46 points. A win would take them to 49 and could nudge them into the top six. Charlton Athletic are 18th with 39 points and victory would move them to 42, a result that may lift them up the table and ease relegation concerns.