West Ham
CharltonBy Chukwuma Adeyemi — Football expert specializing in Copa Chile, Esiliiga, FNL 2, First Division, and First League
The London Stadium sets the stage for a fascinating Championship clash between the division’s heavy favorites, who stumbled in their opening fixture, and a disciplined, hard-nosed unit under Nathan Jones. West Ham United kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Burnley, showcasing a potent attack but glaring defensive frailties. Charlton Athletic, meanwhile, earned a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Derby County on Matchday 1, capitalizing on set-piece efficiency and rapid transitions from defense to attack.
At Turf Moor, the Hammers displayed excellent structure in the final third—precise finishes from Max Kilman and Manor Solomon gave them a two-goal advantage. However, the second half saw their midfield pivot buckle under physical pressure, allowing Burnley 17 shots on goal and ultimately costing them the win.
For the upcoming derby, the coaching staff is highly likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 setup. Mads Hermansen will start in goal. The back four should feature Kyle Walker-Peters at right-back, Oliver Scarles on the left (with El-Hadji Diouf as an alternative), and a central pairing of Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman. In the double pivot, Arne Engels and Mohamadu Kante are the favorites, though Edson Alvarez or Lewis Orford could feature. The attacking line is expected to consist of Jarrod Bowen on the right, Manor Solomon on the left, and Joël Piroe (or Pablo) as the No. 10, supporting striker Tati Castellanos. At home, West Ham will likely dominate possession (60–65% is expected), but their vulnerability from high full-back runs creates recurring risks.
Nathan Jones has forged a compact, athletic squad at the Addicks. After conceding an early goal to Derby County in the opener, Charlton turned the match around in the second half: a set-piece header from center-back Lloyd Jones and a clinical counter-attack finish by Tyreece Campbell secured a 2-1 win.
The visitors’ tactical framework also revolves around a 4-2-3-1, with a medium-to-low block. William Mannion is expected to guard the goal. The defense likely includes Amari’i Bell on the left, Danny McNamara on the right, and a central duo of Lloyd Jones and Billy Kumetio (with Ivan Mesik as an option). The destructive midfield engine room will be manned by Nathaniel Chalobah and Conor Coventry. In attack, Karlean Aharn-Grant will operate on the left, Sonny Keri in the center, and Tyreece Campbell on the right, supporting striker Miles Leaburn (or veteran Matt Godden). Charlton’s main weapons are dead-ball situations and swift vertical breaks.
West Ham United (4-2-3-1):
Charlton Athletic (4-2-3-1):
The stylistic matchup and squad circumstances point toward a high-scoring affair with goals at both ends.
Why West Ham will score: The hosts will control the ball and methodically dismantle Charlton’s defensive shape using the individual brilliance of Bowen, Solomon, and Castelanos. This practically guarantees at least one home goal.
Why Charlton will score: West Ham’s systemic defensive gaps on the counter are a major concern. High full-back runs leave exploitable space, and the physical Leaburn, along with rapid wingers Campbell and Aharn-Grant, are perfectly suited to punish the favorites on the break.
Set-piece danger: Charlton routinely maximizes corners and free kicks. West Ham allowed far too much aerial danger against Burnley, suggesting another vulnerable night from dead-ball situations.
The odds on a straight West Ham win are artificially low and fail to reflect the hosts’ defensive problems, while the market for “Both Teams to Score” carries a clear line imbalance. With West Ham applying positional pressure yet bleeding chances in transition, and Charlton’s counter-attacking threat, the “Both Teams to Score – Yes” option is the most logical play. We assess the probability of this outcome at 56% (anything above 1.78 is value).
Recommended bet: Both Teams to Score – Yes at odds of 2.02.
The editorial prediction is provided for informational purposes only and should not be treated as a direct call to action. Every reader should do their own analysis before deciding on a bet.
West Ham host Charlton in a Championship fixture where the home side will look to impose themselves, but the visitors have their own ideas about how this game should go. I see both teams getting on the scoresheet here, so backing "Both Teams to Score – Yes" at 1.76 is the straightforward call.
West Ham is going to dominate the corner count in this one. When they push forward and control possession, which they should at home against a weaker Championship side, the corners will pile up. Getting over 6.5 for the home team feels right, and the price is attractive.
West Ham and Charlton both come into this one having conceded in their opening round, and that’s the foundation of my bet. The Hammers were especially shaky — they shipped two goals in a single half against Burnley and still ended up at 2:2, which tells you their defensive line isn’t exactly locked in. Charlton, for their part, also let their opponents generate plenty of chances, so there’s little reason to expect a clean sheet from either side here.
I’m backing both teams to score at 1.79. The pattern from matchday one points to open play and defensive lapses on both ends, and that’s exactly the kind of setup where an exchange of goals feels like the most natural outcome.
Backing Over 1.5 goals in the second half here. West Ham and Charlton meet in the Championship, and I see enough action after the break to cash this bet at 1.80.
West Ham at home in the Championship should dominate possession and territory against Charlton, which naturally leads to a steady stream of corners. I'm backing them to rack up at least seven flags here, and the 1.88 price makes that a solid value play.
West Ham won't reach seven corners against Charlton in this Championship fixture. I'm taking the under 6.5 line at 1.84 — that's the play here.
This Championship clash between West Ham and Charlton doesn’t look like a mismatch to me. A heavy home win just isn’t in the cards, so I’m backing the visitors with a +1.5 handicap at 1.70.
West Ham and Charlton both look to push forward in this Championship meeting, so I'm expecting goals. My bet is on over 2.5.
West Ham's home games are typically open and packed with goals, and this matchup against Charlton should be no different. I'm backing the total to go over 2.5, a bet that fits their attacking style at the London Stadium.
West Ham are clearly the superior side in this Championship matchup against Charlton. I expect them to cover a -1.5 handicap, as their quality advantage should be enough to win by at least two goals.
West Ham's games don't usually produce a high number of corners. The line of 10.5 feels inflated for this Championship matchup, so I'm taking the under at 1.76.
This match between West Ham and Charlton in the Championship is a great spot for a corner bet. I’m backing Charlton to take over 3.5 corners, and the 1.98 odds make it well worth it.
Charlton are more than capable of getting to four corners here. They’ll have their chances from wide areas, and I expect them to push forward enough to hit that mark comfortably.
I’m backing Charlton to score at least once against West Ham. The Addicks have been finding the net with real consistency lately, and even though they’re away from home, their attacking form gives me confidence. The odds of 1.73 look like solid value for a bet that should land.
West Ham is going to dominate the corner count in this one. When they push forward and control possession, which they should at home against a weaker Championship side, the corners will pile up. Getting over 6.5 for the home team feels right, and the price is attractive.
Backing Over 1.5 goals in the second half here. West Ham and Charlton meet in the Championship, and I see enough action after the break to cash this bet at 1.80.
West Ham at home in the Championship should dominate possession and territory against Charlton, which naturally leads to a steady stream of corners. I'm backing them to rack up at least seven flags here, and the 1.88 price makes that a solid value play.
West Ham and Charlton both look to push forward in this Championship meeting, so I'm expecting goals. My bet is on over 2.5.
West Ham's home games are typically open and packed with goals, and this matchup against Charlton should be no different. I'm backing the total to go over 2.5, a bet that fits their attacking style at the London Stadium.
This match between West Ham and Charlton in the Championship is a great spot for a corner bet. I’m backing Charlton to take over 3.5 corners, and the 1.98 odds make it well worth it.
Charlton are more than capable of getting to four corners here. They’ll have their chances from wide areas, and I expect them to push forward enough to hit that mark comfortably.
I’m backing Charlton to score at least once against West Ham. The Addicks have been finding the net with real consistency lately, and even though they’re away from home, their attacking form gives me confidence. The odds of 1.73 look like solid value for a bet that should land.
West Ham won't reach seven corners against Charlton in this Championship fixture. I'm taking the under 6.5 line at 1.84 — that's the play here.
West Ham's games don't usually produce a high number of corners. The line of 10.5 feels inflated for this Championship matchup, so I'm taking the under at 1.76.
This Championship clash between West Ham and Charlton doesn’t look like a mismatch to me. A heavy home win just isn’t in the cards, so I’m backing the visitors with a +1.5 handicap at 1.70.
West Ham are clearly the superior side in this Championship matchup against Charlton. I expect them to cover a -1.5 handicap, as their quality advantage should be enough to win by at least two goals.
West Ham host Charlton in a Championship fixture where the home side will look to impose themselves, but the visitors have their own ideas about how this game should go. I see both teams getting on the scoresheet here, so backing "Both Teams to Score – Yes" at 1.76 is the straightforward call.
West Ham and Charlton both come into this one having conceded in their opening round, and that’s the foundation of my bet. The Hammers were especially shaky — they shipped two goals in a single half against Burnley and still ended up at 2:2, which tells you their defensive line isn’t exactly locked in. Charlton, for their part, also let their opponents generate plenty of chances, so there’s little reason to expect a clean sheet from either side here.
I’m backing both teams to score at 1.79. The pattern from matchday one points to open play and defensive lapses on both ends, and that’s exactly the kind of setup where an exchange of goals feels like the most natural outcome.
The match is scheduled for 22 August 2026 at 15:00, hosted at the London Stadium.
The recommended bet is 'Both Teams to Score – Yes' at odds of 2.02, as both sides are expected to find the net.
Key attacking threats for West Ham include Jarrod Bowen, Manor Solomon, and striker Tati Castellanos.
West Ham's defensive gaps, especially from high full-back runs, leave them vulnerable to Charlton's counter-attacks, led by Tyreece Campbell and Miles Leaburn.
No injuries or suspensions are mentioned in the match preview.
Both West Ham and Charlton are expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation.