There's only one Tyreece Campbell and he's ours.
And he will be hoping to be the second T Campbell to get on the scoresheet against Saturday's opponents Bristol City this season.
Of late, with a lot of the dark things that are happening in the world, football might seem unimportant but in its own way, a new season brings some light in all that darkness. And for both of this Saturday's opponents, the opening weekend brought a lot of light. Harvey Knibbs lit up The Valley with a late winner against Watford upon our return to The Championship whilst Bristol City gained a measure of revenge against Sheffield United after a 6-0 aggregate loss in last season's play-offs.
When Bristol City stunned Sheffield United on Saturday, the Blades’ goal came from Tyreese Campbell — not to be confused with our one and only Tyreece Campbell. Our young Jamaican international star is likely to soon become as known a name in the Championship as the other TC, and the sooner he gets off the mark, the better. He showed flashes of his undoubted potential in last Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Watford, when so many new faces made a positive start to life back in the second tier.
That win was built on moments of quality, with Harvey Knibbs’ late goal absolutely crucial — the kind of first goal that can shape an entire campaign. There were a few hiccups at times, but there was defensive steel, aggressive pressing and with the extra pace and directness Rob Apter brings on the right following his move from Blackpool, Charlton now have an added dimension on the counter-attack.
Bristol City’s 4–1 win over Sheffield United was nearly as impressive, and it came from a side much changed since that 6–0 aggregate defeat in May. Their new manager, Austrian Gerhard Struber — formerly of Barnsley, Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls — has reshaped the squad quickly, bringing in young English midfielder Adam Randell, Japanese attacker Yu Hirakawa, and Danish striker Emil Riis Jakobsen. All played key roles in that opening victory. Charlton will also need to watch Scott Twine closely. The attacking midfielder was the ringleader in Sheffield, opening the scoring with a right-footed free-kick into the top corner and doubling his tally just before the hour mark, with several other chances in between.
They play a very similar system to the Addicks, opting for a back three with attacking wing backs but instead of one number 10 supporting two strikers, they flip it and have two 10’s supporting a lone striker. Notably, Nathan Jones used this formation in pre season at times and opted for it for about 5 minutes against Watford too. The Robin’s wingbacks will push very high, attempting to pin back Josh Edwards and Rob Apter. The high press of the home side will create space for long balls though, and the height of Miles Leaburn could be very successfully paired with the running abilities of Tyreece Campbell, Charlie Kelman or Tanto Olaofe.
However, even though we are now the new boys to the Championship and not them, history is on our side against Bristol's Robins. The head-to-head record between the clubs stretches back to the old Division Three South and Division Two days, with Charlton winning 32 matches to Bristol City’s 19. In recent decades though, all meetings have come in the Championship, the last being a thrilling 3–2 home win for Charlton on Boxing Day 2019 — just weeks before COVID-19 brought football, and much else, to a standstill.
If that history of head-to-head meetings combined with last weekend's performances offer any guide, another entertaining contest could be in store. Bristol City are likely to press hard on home turf, while Charlton will look to stay disciplined, absorb pressure, and use pace on the break to hit back with pressure of their own, exactly the kind of game that suits our one and only TC. Nathan Jones' tactics worked well last weekend — now comes the challenge of proving they can work against one of the Championship’s most in-form and re-energised sides.
We're just hoping they are sick of the initials TC by 5 o'clock next Saturday when, if we get the right result at Ashton Gate, we could find ourselves among the Top Cats of the division.
We have been contacted by Shirehampton Football Club offering themselves as an alternative refreshment venue as "most if not all of the pubs around Aston Gate are home supporters only".
They would like to offer "as a friendly non-league step 6 football club our venue as a potential stop before the game at Ashton Gate. We are able to offer the following:
- Easy access from the M5 motorway, junction 18.
- Full licensed bar with draught beers, lagers, ciders, wines and spirits.
- Sky sports and TNT sports on multiple screens including the main large screen.
- Ample seating inside and outside.
- Cash and card payments accepted.
- Disabled facilities in main club.
- Hot and cold food available.
- Designated smoking area."
Shirehampton Football Club
Penpole Lane
Shirehampton
Bristol
BS11 0EA