Charlton kick off the new Championship season at The Valley with real momentum behind them. They closed last term with a gritty 2-1 home win over Hull City, a result that showed they can dig deep and grind out points when it matters. That victory was no fluke — it was built on organisation, desire, and a crowd that believes. The Addicks survived their first season back in the second tier, and that experience is gold. They know what it takes to scrap in this league, and they’ll be desperate to start this campaign with a statement on their own patch.

Derby, though, arrive with loftier ambitions. Under John Eustace, the Rams are building something — a young, hungry side with a clear identity. But their recent form is a worry. A 1-2 home defeat to Lincoln City in the EFL Cup in early August is a red flag. That’s exactly the kind of result that leaves a mark. It wasn’t a friendly; it was a competitive game, and they lost it at Pride Park. Confidence takes a hit. The summer signings of Szmodics and Filip Bilbija from Paderborn are meant to fix the creativity problem, but new faces need time to gel. This is a team still finding its rhythm, and they’re walking into a bear pit.