The Valley
Saturday 20 December, 3:00pm
Oxford United head to the capital this weekend as they prepare to face Charlton Athletic, who sit just a few points above the U’s in the Sky Bet Championship table.
Tickets
Charlton Athletic will be selling tickets on the day of the match, with prices increased by £3 compared to the original ticket price.
Form Guide - Snapshot
- Oxford United: W1 D2 L2 from the previous five games. Despite a very good second half performance last weekend, United fell short against Preston North End and will see this is as a good opportunity to get more points on the board against a team in a poor run of form.
- Charlton Athletic: W0 D1 L4 in their last five. The Addicks come into the fixture without a win since the opening week of November, but a resilient draw away at Birmingham City last weekend will provide encouragement that a more positive run of results could be on the horizon.
The Rivalry - A Quick Head-to-Head Check
Oxford United’s recent record against this weekend’s opponents makes for encouraging reading. Across the last 15 meetings between the two sides, dating back to 2016, the U’s have suffered just one defeat and claimed eight victories.
The sides last met in League One during the 2023/24 season, when Oxford completed the double over the Addicks with 2–1 wins at both The Valley and the Kassam Stadium. Mark Harris opened the scoring on the U’s most recent visit to Charlton, while a Tyler Goodrham brace secured all three points at the Kassam.
The Connections - Worn Both Badges
- Jonathan Obika: The former England youth international joined Oxford United in July 2017, making a controversial switch from arch-rivals Swindon Town. During his time at the Club, the striker made 57 appearances in all competitions and scored eight goals. Earlier in his career, he had arrived at Charlton Athletic on loan in 2013 from his parent club at the time, Tottenham Hotspur. He featured 22 times for the Addicks, scoring three goals - most memorably a stoppage-time winner against Leeds United that remains fondly remembered by Charlton supporters.
- Matt Elliott: Best known for his spell at Premier League Leicester City in the mid-to-late 90s, Elliott signed for the Foxes from the U's. Elliott is widely regarded as a United legend, playing 181 games at centre-half and scoring 25 times. He was the rock and driving force of the Yellows' promotion push in 1996 and his sale to Leicester for £1.6 million was seen by many as the reason United had some tougher years in the late 90s. Elliott started life as a professional footballer at Charlton Athletic, making just a couple of appearances before moving to Torquay United in 1989.
Opposition Focus: An Addicks Assessment
1) Nathan Jones' side sit 17th in the Sky Bet Championship table. After a promising start to the season that saw them sitting in fifth at the end of October, they have certainly had a more difficult run of results since. Predominantly setting up with a back three and wing-backs on either flank, Charlton like to play with width in order to attack.
2) The Addicks are dangerous in the air from set pieces, and the numbers certainly evidence that. The side have won the sixth-most number of aerial duels in the division, and have scored 10 goals from set pieces so far this season - which is the fourth highest in the league.
3) Charlton have attempted and completed the fewest number of passes of any side in the Championship, showing that they do not often come out on top of the possession stats. With an average possession of 41.7% this season, it is clear that Nathan Jones is happy to see his team allow the opposition to control the game with the ball, in the hope that his team can hit teams on the counter attack with the pace they have in forward areas.
Sonny Carey: The Engine in Charlton's Machine
Sonny Carey’s strengths lie in his dynamic goal threat and forward impact from midfield. Since joining Charlton Athletic in the summer, he has quickly become one of the club’s most important attacking contributors, leading the way in terms of goals as the team’s top scorer this season with five goals. His ability to shoot from distance and get into scoring positions regularly puts pressure on opposition defences, reflected in his high expected-goals numbers and shooting involvement compared to other midfielders.
In addition to his scoring prowess, Carey brings strong ball-carrying ability, work rate and versatility to Charlton’s midfield. Manager Nathan Jones highlighted his athleticism and capacity to progress play when signing him, praising his creativity and physical attributes that bolster the team’s attacking options.
By the Numbers — Fast Facts
- Kick-off: Saturday 20 December, 3:00pm at The Valley.
- Recent form (last five): Oxford W1 D2 L2; Charlton Athletic: W0 D1 L4.
- Goals: Oxford have scored 22 goals this season, Charlton have scored 20.
- Fun Fact: Five of the last six meetings have seen three goals or more scored in the game.
- Historic classics: Charlton 1-2 Oxford (1 January 2024); Oxford 2-1 Charlton (26 August 2023); Charlton 0-4 Oxford (19 February 2022)
- Played for both teams (Years at Oxford): Sean Clare (2020-2021); Tarique Fosu (2019-2020); Ricky Holmes (2018-2019); Danny Hylton (2014-2016); Elliot Lee (2021)
- Top Goal scorers this season: Will Lankshear (5 goals); Sonny Carey (5 goals).
Voices from the Camp:
Watch Gary Rowett and Michał Helik's Press Conferences below:
RETAIL
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MATCHDAY GUIDES
Matchday Guide
Get ready for matchday at The Valley! Click the arrow below to explore travel info, stadium facilities, and top tips provided by Charlton Athletic for making the most of your day.
MATCHDAY STREAMING
Stream LIVE On OUTV
Don’t miss a minute of the action – stream the game live on the Club’s OUTV platform.
International fans can watch the game live, depending on their location. The match is streamable worldwide, except for the United Kingdom and Ireland.
