Three games, three wins. For a club that finished 19th in the Championship last season, Charlton Athletic's opening to the new campaign has raised eyebrows across the division. Victories over Derby, West Ham and Preston have put Nathan Jones's side among the early pace-setters, and questions are already being asked about whether the Addicks can sustain it.

Grounded expectations at The Valley

BBC Final Score pundit Sam Parkin, speaking after the Preston result, was quick to frame the situation in its proper context. "I'm sure if you offered Nathan Jones and the most ardent of supporters a mid-table finish now, they'd snap your hand off for it," he said. "So I don't think anyone will be getting carried away."

It is a fair point. Charlton came up from League One two seasons ago and spent much of last term looking over their shoulder, finishing 19th. Survival was the objective. The fact that most of last season's narrow wins came by the slenderest of margins told its own story: a side learning what the second tier demands, holding on more than it was imposing itself.

A shift in style and recruitment

What is different this time, according to Parkin, is the way Jones has approached both the summer transfer window and the tactical set-up. "I think they look a bit more attacking this season," he said. "He played a wing-back system before, and they look like they're playing with wingers this season, which is a bit more attack-minded."

The recruitment tells a similar story. When Charlton were promoted, they brought in a cohort of players with proven League One pedigree, men who had made the journey with them. This summer, the approach has been notably different, with a premium placed on experience at a higher level. Parkin highlighted two additions in particular: Karlan Grant, who got on the scoresheet against Preston, and Nathaniel Chalobah. Both arrive with significant Championship and top-flight experience behind them.

"When they got promoted, they signed a lot of good lads from League One to try and make the step up with them," Parkin noted. "This summer I think there's been a slightly different tack in terms of recruitment, with a lot more experience coming to The Valley."

That is press-release language made real on the pitch, at least so far. Grant's goal against Preston was a reminder of what a forward with genuine second-tier nous can add to a side that, not so long ago, was scrapping to stay in the division.

What a good season actually looks like

Charlton supporters will be right to enjoy this start. Three consecutive wins at any stage of a Championship season is a significant return; in the opening weeks of August, when squads are still settling and the window remains open, it is especially encouraging.

But Parkin's broader point stands. The Championship is a division that has a habit of levelling things out. A club that finishes 19th one year and then challenges the top six the next is the exception, not the rule. The more realistic measure of progress is whether Charlton can build a cushion above the bottom three and perhaps push into the top half by the spring. On the early evidence, there is more about them to suggest that is achievable than there was twelve months ago.

The tactical adjustments Jones has made, combined with the experience brought in during the summer, represent a considered attempt to stop being a side that reacts and start being one that imposes. Whether the squad depth is sufficient to maintain that across a 46-game season is the next question. For now, though, The Valley has reason to feel cautiously optimistic, and that in itself marks a step forward from where this club was a year ago.

Frequently asked

How many games have Charlton won to start the Championship season?
Charlton have won all three of their opening Championship matches, beating Derby, West Ham and Preston.
Who has Charlton signed this summer to strengthen for the Championship?
According to reports, Charlton have brought in experienced players including Karlan Grant and Nathaniel Chalobah ahead of this season.
Where did Charlton finish in the Championship last season?
Charlton finished 19th in the Championship in 2025-26, their first full season back in the second tier after promotion from League One.