Charlton Athletic: Repeat of Sasa Ilic feat will have eased Nathan Jones' fears - View | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic are yet to concede a goal in League One so far during the 2024/25 campaign.

Key Takeaways

Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones has been in the market for a new goalkeeper for much of the summer transfer window but Will Mannion's performances will have reassured the Welshman.

Mannion, who signed for the Addicks this summer on a free transfer from Cambridge United, has made an excellent start to life at The Valley.

The 26-year-old has kept a clean sheet in each of Charlton's first three League One games this season, helping his new side get off to a perfect start with nine points from a possible nine.

The last time a Charlton goalkeeper started a league campaign with three consecutive clean sheets was at the beginning of the 1998/99 season when the Addicks were in the Premier League.

Having made a heroic save in the play-off final penalty shootout against Sunderland to take his side into the top flight a few months earlier, Charlton's iconic Serbian goalkeeper Sasa Ilic kept three clean sheets in a row at the start of the Premier League campaign in August 1998.

Will Mannion has repeated the feat of Sasa Ilic

Ilic kept a clean sheet in each of Charlton's first three games in the Premier League, in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United at St James' Park, a 3-0 win at home against Southampton, and another 0-0 draw against Arsenal at Highbury.

The Addicks went on to be relegated at the end of the 1998/99 campaign despite their promising start, before bouncing back to the top flight at the first time of asking the following season and spending seven straight seasons in the top division of English football.

Mannion has kept clean sheets in victories over Wigan Athletic, Leyton Orient, and Bolton Wanderers at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, and Charlton supporters will hope that the achievement can again precede a successful period in the history of the club, just without any relegation.

The Addicks reportedly made signing another new goalkeeper a priority earlier this summer, so manager Nathan Jones will be delighted that Mannion has made such a good start after he failed to bring in any of his other targets.

Nathan Jones will feel reassured by Will Mannion's performances

Charlton have been in the market for a new goalkeeper for much of the summer transfer window and even left the number one shirt vacant when they announced their squad numbers, with Mannion handed number 25.

The Addicks failed with attempts to sign several goalkeepers this summer, including Viljami Sinisalo, Asmir Begovic, and Karl Hein, who instead joined Celtic, Everton, and Real Valladolid respectively.

Any concerns that Jones may have had about Mannion starting the season as first choice will have been put to rest, and if Charlton do now sign another goalkeeper before the deadline on Friday, they will need to earn their place between the sticks.

Mannion has been part of a defensive unit that has looked solid so far this season, having commanded his area and been in the right positions to comfortably deal with most of the shots he has faced.

It will be interesting to see whether the Addicks do bring in another new 'keeper before the end of the transfer window, but either way, early signs suggest that Mannion has the ability to be Jones' number one.