- 1 Tottenham vs Charlton: two clean sheets in 18 matches and a side that keeps winning
- 2 Tottenham still searching for balance after the Brentford setback
- 3 Charlton keep rolling and keep scoring
- 4 Football Prediction Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic
- 5 Before anything else, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Tottenham vs Charlton: two clean sheets in 18 matches and a side that keeps winning 
Two clean sheets in their last 18 competitive games. That one stat sums up Tottenham’s defensive mess at the start of the season. It says plenty about the stakes in this second-round EFL Cup tie.
The mood in London is edgy. Tottenham host Charlton on Wednesday 26 August at 20:45 with a place in the third round on the line.
Things have turned sour for Spurs since the weekend. Their season opener became a hammering at Brentford (3-0), prompting Roberto De Zerbi to publicly call out his players for their lack of effort.
Charlton are the complete opposite. Led by Nathan Jones, the Addicks have made a perfect start to their Championship campaign with two wins from two, including a standout showing at the London Stadium against West Ham (2-1) in front of 59,000 fans.
One of only three second-tier teams still with a 100% record, Charlton, who already knocked out Cheltenham (3-1) in round one, head across London with no fear at all.
Recent history between the clubs still leans heavily towards north London, though. Tottenham have won the last five meetings by an aggregate score of 16-4.
Charlton have not won at Spurs since November 2004, back when Alan Curbishley was in charge and a 3-2 Premier League victory was enough. Twenty-two years have passed since then.
But current form muddies the waters. A club that has splashed more than 300 million pounds in the summer and still looks a shambles at the back against a side full of momentum rarely gives you a cagey night.
Tottenham still searching for balance after the Brentford setback 
Spurs began the season with a 3-0 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium. Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt had the game done before half-time, with Michael Kayode adding a third after the break.
De Zerbi did not try to soften it afterwards, saying his group was not yet a team. The message was aimed straight at a squad that has been heavily rebuilt.
The London club’s summer outlay has topped 300 million pounds, with Savinho and Omar Marmoush tipped to follow. Most of the money has gone up front, far less into the defence.
The numbers back that up: just two clean sheets in their last 18 competitive matches, and goals conceded in four of their seven summer friendlies. The real problem is still stability at the back.
The treatment room is not helping. Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert are all out with knee problems, Mohammed Kudus has a thigh issue, while Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro and Pape Sarr are not expected to be risked.
James Maddison, who went down with a shoulder problem late on at Brentford, is also a doubt. Mateus Fernandes, signed this summer for 85 million pounds, is likely to anchor midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall.
Archie Gray, 20, became the club’s youngest captain on Saturday and should keep his place on the right against Charlton. Dominic Solanke is expected to lead the line ahead of Richarlison.
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Charlton keep rolling and keep scoring 
Nineteenth in the Championship last season, Charlton have been transformed since the restart. Three wins from three competitive games have set the tone for 2026-27.
Their two league wins have both finished 2-1, first against Derby County and then away at West Ham. Lloyd Jones, the captain, and Tyreece Campbell scored in that London victory.
It forms part of a meaningful run: the Addicks are unbeaten in their last four away games against clubs relegated from the Premier League, with three wins and a draw. The underdog tag is not bothering them anymore.
The club brought in eight players this summer to keep the momentum going. Nathan Jones now has a squad deep enough to rotate without killing the rhythm.
The attacking output is following suit: all three matches played this season have gone over 2.5 goals. Charlton score, but they also concede in every game.
The cup record still raises a warning flag, though. They have gone beyond the second round only once in the last 10 years, reaching the quarter-finals in 2022-23, and they crashed out 3-1 at Cambridge United at this stage last season.
As for injuries, Kayne Ramsay and Charlie Kelman are still sidelined. Timothy Ouma, on loan from Slavia Prague, is working his way back to fitness with the under-21s and should miss this trip.
Probable Tottenham Hotspur XI: Dubravka ; Gray, Van Hecke, Danso, Udogie ; Fernandes, Bentancur, Bergvall ; Moore, Solanke, Tel
Probable Charlton Athletic XI: Kaminski ; Rankin-Costello, Jones, Burke, Bell ; Chalobah, Coventry ; Campbell, Carey, Grant ; Leaburn
Football Prediction Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic
Our pick: Over 2.5 goals in the match
All three of Charlton’s games this season have gone above 2.5 goals, and Nathan Jones’ side have scored in every one. They even found two at the London Stadium against West Ham.
At the other end, Tottenham have kept only two clean sheets in their last 18 competitive matches and have conceded in four of their seven summer friendlies. The last five meetings between these clubs have produced an aggregate score of 16-4, which works out at an average of four goals a game. Charlton are more than capable of landing a punch.
A Spurs attack bolstered by more than 300 million pounds of spending up against a Championship defence that leaks in every outing, and the numbers add up. This is a bet on goals, not on the winner.
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