Championship football don return after three-week international break, and Charlton Athletic go welcome Bristol City to The Valley on Saturday afternoon.
Di Addicks currently dey on run of five games without win. Dem end September with 3-1 defeat to Cardiff City. But di Robins return to winning ways at end of last month with narrow victory over Watford.
After finishing 19th last season, Nathan Jones begin him third campaign in charge of Charlton, hoping to steer di club clear of another relegation battle.
Even though dem no win any of dia previous five Championship matches, di Addicks so far manage to avoid being dragged into trouble. Dem currently sit one point and one place outside di playoff places.
Their position for table would have been welcomed by Jones and him side, but run without win since August don highlight dia inconsistency. E leave dem keen to turn dia fortunes around before dem slip further down table. Dem start season at summit before dropping to ninth by end of September.
Di Addicks draw three of dia five league matches in September. Defeats to Stoke City and Cardiff City come alongside stalemates against West Bromwich Albion, Queens Park Rangers and Portsmouth.
Despite that worrying run, Charlton don establish themselves as one of di stronger defensive sides in division. Dem concede just 10 goals in eight matches, record wey only four teams better.
Bristol City, meanwhile, make di journey to London occupying di final playoff place. Four wins, one draw and three defeats earn dem 13 points from dia opening eight matches.
Now led by Michael Skubala, who guide Lincoln City to League One title last season, di Robins hope to mount more serious challenge for maiden promotion to Premier League. E come after disappointing second half of previous campaign wey see dia hopes fade away.
Bristol City head into di extended international break on positive note, securing 1-0 home victory over Watford at Ashton Gate. Dominic Ballard score him third goal of season since joining from Leyton Orient in summer.
That rare home victory come after successive defeats. Di Robins get thrashed 4-1 by Southampton for game where scoreline arguably flatter di Saints before dem suffer narrow defeat to Skubala former club few days later.
Should di Robins make am back-to-back wins, and five victories from dia opening nine games, dem fit finish weekend in automatic promotion places. Dem go also take confidence from facing Charlton side wey dem don lose to just once since 2013.
Following di extended break, number of players wey no go international duty go return to action fully rested.
Di Addicks fit name same side wey start di defeat to Cardiff at end of last month after avoiding any further injuries, although William Mannion, Kayne Ramsay and Collins Sichenje remain unavailable.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Oliver Skipp expected to retain him place for midfield, while club top scorer Tyreece Campbell should continue in wide role.
As for Bristol City, di Robins dey much healthier position on injury front this season than dem been during crisis-hit 2025-26 campaign.
Luke McNally score against Crystal Palace for club friendly last weekend and e dey “very close to getting picked” after serious knee injury wey e sustain in February 2025 keep am sidelined for extended period.
Brian De Keersmaecker also find net with free-kick for that clash and fit make him competitive debut for di Robins on Saturday.
Rio Cardines, who dey on loan from side wey Bristol City face last weekend, don already register six assists this season and expected to return at full-back, while Ballard go dey push for another start after scoring against Watford.
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup: Okonkwo; McNamara, Jones, Bindon, Mesik; Coventry, Skipp; Alli, Grant, Campbell; Leaburn. Bristol City possible starting lineup: Tickle; Tanner, Eile, Atkinson, Cardines; Williams, Randell; Hirakawa, Knight, Wallace; Ballard.
Bristol City go dey look to make am back-to-back victories and enter Saturday contest as favourites against Charlton side wey no win since August.
We expect closely fought encounter at The Valley, but believe di Robins go get enough to secure 2-1 victory in London.
For EFL Championship, Charlton vs Bristol City match lineup on Saturday 10-10-2026. Round 9 – First Leg. Charlton line up in 4-2-3-1 led by Jones, while Bristol City set up in 4-2-3-1 led by Knight. Charlton dey led by head coach Nathan Jones, while Bristol City dey managed by Michael Skubala. Di match dey played at The Valley, Charlton.
