Charlton vs Watford: Resumen

Charlton Athletic secured a dramatic late victory over Watford FC in the Championship opener at The Valley, with substitute Harvey Knibbs scoring in the dying moments of stoppage time to seal a 1-0 win.

The atmosphere at The Valley was electric as 21,778 fans witnessed the home side's triumphant return to the Championship following their promotion via the League One playoffs last season. The late winner sent the red section of the stadium into raptures, with scenes of jubilation continuing long after the final whistle.

This victory provides Charlton with the perfect start to their Championship campaign, moving them temporarily into the top six of the early league table. For Nathan Jones' men, maintaining their impressive home form – now unbeaten at The Valley since December – will be crucial to their survival hopes this season.

Watford, under new head coach Paulo Pezzolano, showed glimpses of quality but ultimately left empty-handed. The Hornets will need to regroup quickly as they aim to improve on last season's mid-table finish. Their new-look squad featuring several summer signings will require time to gel, but the competitive nature of the Championship offers little patience.

The match itself was tightly contested, with both teams creating chances without finding the breakthrough until the dramatic conclusion. Lloyd Jones had Charlton's best opportunity in the first half, while Watford's Kwadwo Baah looked threatening whenever he received the ball in advanced positions.

Ultimately, it was Charlton's resilience and determination that earned them the three points, giving their fans hope that they can establish themselves in the Championship after their promotion.

"I couldn't be prouder of the lads today. To start our Championship campaign with a win against a strong Watford side speaks volumes about the character in this group. We created chances throughout and I felt we thoroughly deserved the three points in the end. Harvey's impact off the bench was exactly what we needed – that's why we brought him to the club," stated Nathan Jones, Charlton Athletic manager.

"Football can be cruel sometimes. I thought we controlled periods of the game well and created some good opportunities, but we didn't take them. In this league, if you don't score when you're on top, you get punished. It's a disappointing start, but there were positives to build on as we continue to develop our identity," reflected Paulo Pezzolano, Watford head coach.

"What a moment to score my first goal for the club! When I came on, the gaffer just told me to make an impact and thankfully I was in the right place at the right time. The atmosphere was incredible – I've never experienced anything like that before. This is just the start for us," said match-winner Harvey Knibbs.

"Charlton showed today why they've been so formidable at The Valley. They defended resolutely and took their chance when it came. For Watford, there's clearly work to do, but Pezzolano is implementing a clear style that will likely bear fruit as the season progresses," analyzed former Championship manager Neil Warnock on Sky Sports.

Possession: Charlton Athletic 47% - 53% Watford FC

Shots (On Target): Charlton Athletic 12 (5) - 9 (3) Watford FC

Corners: Charlton Athletic 7 - 4 Watford FC

Fouls: Charlton Athletic 14 - 11 Watford FC

Yellow Cards: Charlton Athletic 2 (Coventry 34', Bell 71') - 1 (Doumbia 56') Watford FC

Red Cards: None

Individual Highlights:

Conor Coventry (Charlton) dominated the midfield with an 87% passing accuracy and created 3 chances, including the assist for the winning goal.

Thomas Kamiński (Charlton) made 3 crucial saves to keep a clean sheet, including a spectacular stop from Kwadwo Baah's 65th-minute effort.

Moussa Sissoko (Watford) was a commanding presence in midfield with 7 successful tackles and 42 completed passes.

Kwadwo Baah (Watford) completed 5 successful dribbles – the most of any player on the pitch – but couldn't convert his chances.

The statistics reflect a closely contested match where Charlton made their home advantage count. Despite having less possession, the Addicks were more efficient in the final third, registering more shots on target and ultimately scoring the decisive goal. Watford's territorial advantage didn't translate into clear-cut chances, with the visitors struggling to break down Charlton's disciplined defensive structure.

3': Early chance for Charlton as Lloyd Jones' header from Robert Apter's corner forced a fine fingertip save from Egil Selvik.

27': Watford's first significant opportunity came through Kwadwo Baah, whose powerful drive from the edge of the box whistled just past the post.

34': Conor Coventry entered the referee's book for a tactical foul on Moussa Sissoko, halting a promising Watford counter-attack.

56': Watford midfielder Mamadou Doumbia received a yellow card for a late challenge on Greg Docherty in a fiercely contested midfield battle.

65': Closest chance of the match as Baah cut inside from the left wing and unleashed a curling effort that required a spectacular diving save from Thomas Kamiński.

80': Tactical substitution by Nathan Jones as Harvey Knibbs replaced Charlie Kelman, giving Charlton fresh legs in attack for the final push.

90+5': GOAL! Charlton Athletic 1-0 Watford FC. Harvey Knibbs became the hero with virtually the last kick of the game. Conor Coventry's deep corner found its way to the back post where Knibbs reacted quickest to prod home from close range, sending The Valley into ecstasy.

The match followed a pattern of increasing tension as both teams recognized the importance of starting their Championship campaign with a positive result. Nathan Jones' substitution proved inspired, with Knibbs making the decisive contribution after Charlton had weathered periods of Watford pressure in the second half. The late goal exemplified Charlton's never-say-die attitude and gave them a precious three points.

The rivalry between Charlton Athletic and Watford FC has been relatively evenly matched historically, with this victory giving Charlton their 19th win against the Hornets' 18, alongside 16 draws. However, this was their first meeting since the 2019-20 Championship season, when both sides suffered relegation.

In recent encounters prior to today, Watford had enjoyed the upper hand, winning three of the last five meetings before this match. The last time these teams met at The Valley in February 2020, the game ended in a 1-1 draw with Adam Masina canceling out Andre Green's opener.

Today's fixture featured several intriguing individual battles across the pitch. The midfield contest between Charlton's Conor Coventry and Watford's Moussa Sissoko was particularly captivating, with both players showcasing their technical ability and physical presence. Sissoko's experience was evident throughout, but Coventry's energy and creativity ultimately proved more influential.

The duel between Charlton's Amari'i Bell and Watford's Kwadwo Baah on the flank was another highlight, with Baah's pace and trickery testing Bell's defensive capabilities. While Baah completed several successful dribbles, Bell's positioning and recovery pace ensured the Watford winger couldn't deliver the decisive contribution.

This victory continues Charlton's impressive record against Watford at The Valley, where they've now lost just once in their last seven home games against the Hornets, a statistic that will give Nathan Jones' side confidence when these teams meet again later in the season at Vicarage Road.