Charlton Athletic’s can make it one of their most successful starts to a Championship season in years if they get right results against Forest and Brentford at The Valley

Charlton found themselves on familiar territory last weekend as they made the long trip up to South Yorkshire to face fellow newly-promoted Barnsley at Oakwell.

The Addicks have started the season in absolutely marvellous fashion picking up maximum points from their opening two games against decent Championship opposition in Stoke and Blackburn Rovers. Understandably there is a real feel-good factor around SE7.

The continued post-Wembley buzz is still coursing through the veins of us supporters and that positivity is really keeping our journey cruising along.

The Addicks arrived at Oakwell to face a side who are also riding that positive wave, a very successful season in League One under Daniel Stendel saw the Tykes return the second tier at the first time of asking.

This encounter was always going to be a tight one and it took something special from Barnsley frontman Cauley Woodrow to open the scoring. The striker thundered a volley into the top corner of the net, an effort that simply had to be applauded and that no keeper could do anything about.

Charlton soon found themselves level after the impressive Jonny Williams sent a ball in for Conor Gallagher, who slammed the ball home to get the Addicks level.  That’s two in two now for the Chelsea loanee who is really taking to life in SE7 like a duck to water.

Barnsley boast an unbeaten home record which stretches back to March 2018 and found themselves ahead shortly after the break when Conor Chaplin danced his way into the Charlton box. The Addicks defence will be slightly disappointed with the manner of how this goal was conceded as Chaplin was probably given too much space in the build up.

Charlton had a golden opportunity to draw level when Chuks Aneke found himself one-on-one with Samuel Radlinger but the Austrian stopper came out on top. Just as it looked like Barnsley would hold on for the three points in South Yorkshire, Gallagher was tripped in the box by Bambo Diaby.

The responsibility fell to star striker Lyle Taylor who after a run up which felt like it went on for an eternity slotted the ball home to send the Addicks home with a share of the spoils.

Lee Bowyer shared his disappointment that we were unable to come home with maximum points but leaving Oakwell with a draw taking into account the run they have at home is something not to be sniffed at.

The Addicks remain joint-top of the Championship heading into a busy week where they are at home tonight against Nottingham Forest and then Saturday afternoon against Brentford.

Bowyer will be boosted by a slight selection headache after the eventual signing of long-term target Erhun Oztumer – the EFL agreeing to release him from his contract at crisis-hit Bolton Wanderers.

The EFL obviously has Charlton on the brain after the signing of Tomer Hemed from Brighton was also finally approved. Hemed will be immediately available for selection so Charlton fans will be interested to see how Lee Bowyer slots him in to the side.

Wednesday may come too soon for Oztumer who had a real rollercoaster of a pre-season with Bolton due to their well documented ongoing financial problems and lack of a takeover.

The Addicks boast an incredible home record and if we can come away with maximum points from these next two home games it would be difficult to find a year where we started a season so strongly.