Football Review | Charlton Athletic 1 - 5 Southampton

A dreadful Saturday afternoon for Charlton Athletic

Southampton swept them aside with a ruthless first-half display, hitting five before the interval in a match where every goal arrived inside the opening 45 minutes.

Author | Morgan

Stadium | The Valley

Charlton defending a Southampton corner

Ryan Manning set the tone with a firm header before Adam Armstrong and Caspar Jander stretched the lead to 3-0 inside 20 minutes. Finn Azaz added two more before half-time, although Charlton at least mustered a response when Lloyd Jones nodded in from a corner moments before the whistle.

The result maintains Tonda Eckert’s perfect start as interim Southampton manager, his three wins pulling the team comfortably clear of danger and edging them towards the play-off picture. They now sit two points behind Charlton, whose second straight defeat leaves Nathan Jones facing a bruising return against his former club.

A closer look at a disaster for Nathan Jones

Southampton’s opener arrived on 14 minutes, Manning charging into the box to meet a cross from the right and steering his header into the top corner. Armstrong struck again two minutes later, seizing on a loose ball after his first effort was blocked and rifling in from a tight angle on the left.

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The third came from a sweeping move that began with Gavin Bazunu near his own goal line. Southampton worked the ball through the pitch with precision, Armstrong spinning in midfield before releasing Jander, who finished calmly with his right foot after a determined run.

Azaz made it four when Armstrong threaded a pass into his run and the midfielder rounded Thomas Kaminski before rolling the ball home. His second arrived shortly before the break, Tom Fellows driving down the right and firing a low cross to the back post where Azaz was waiting to turn it in.

45+1' Lloyd Jones rises highest to head home Sonny Carey's corner.

🗡️ 1-5 😇 | #cafc

— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) November 22, 2025

Charlton clawed one back through Jones, who climbed above the defence to head in Sonny Carey’s corner. But that was as close as they came, with Southampton easing off after the restart yet still avoiding further scares.

It was only Charlton’s second league defeat at The Valley this season, the other coming against Leicester in August.