Soccer
Tyreece Campbell caps comeback win for Charlton
Tyreece Campbell’s impressive start to the new season continued as his 80th-minute goal earned Charlton a 2-1 victory over Derby at The Valley.
It capped off a week to forget for the Rams after Saudi government official Turki Alalshikh’s takeover collapsed on Monday.
Sammie Szmodics, who had also netted in the EFL Cup loss to Lincoln, had put Derby into a lead at the halfway point.
But Lloyd Jones, who signed a new two-year contract on Friday, headed the Addicks level before Campbell produced an excellent finish to seal maximum points for Nathan Jones’ side.
Charlton had started in positive fashion with Billy Koumetio heading wide from an early Sonny Carey corner.
Karlan Grant, making his 100th appearance for the Addicks having rejoined in the summer, shot straight at Jacob Widell Zetterstrom before teeing up a chance for Carey but the attacking midfielder produced a horrible miskick in the 16th minute.
Derby enjoyed a spell of possession before they went ahead.
There had been a warning when Szmodics got on the end of Joe Ward’s low cross but his first-time finish was saved by Charlton keeper Will Mannion. But moments later he made no mistake from inside the penalty area after being picked out by Morris.
Charlton finished the first half asking a few more defensive questions and Taylor made a sliding block from a goal-bound shot by Danny McNamara. Zetterstrom also saved with his legs when Campbell attempted to squeeze the ball home at the near post.
Referee Ben Speedie ignored home appeals for a penalty when Carey went down from a challenge by Lewis Travis.
Szmodics, who looked to be troubled by a niggle in the warm-up, was forced off in the 54th minute. He was replaced by new signing Alex Mowatt.
Charlton levelled in the 61st minute through Jones. The centre-back, captaining the side in the absence of Greg Docherty, headed home Grant’s dinked cross from the left of the penalty area.
Mannion, who looked nervy dealing with crosses, went full stretch to turn Oscar Fraulo’s 20-yard effort around his left upright.
Campbell was the most dangerous outlet for the Addicks and produced a fine strike, on his weaker left foot, to put the south Londoners in front for the first time on the afternoon.
It was the 22-year-old’s second goal of the season, only one fewer than he managed in the whole of the previous campaign.
There were eight minutes of stoppage time added but Charlton fended off the late Derby pressure, with Morris only able to send Max Johnston’s cross straight at Mannion.
