Charlton Athletic Vs Chelsea Player Ratings: Blues Cruise to a 5-1 FA Cup Victory

From our perspective, this FA Cup tie at The Valley was a classic case of David versus Goliath, and Goliath didn't hold back. Chelsea put on a dominant display, dismantling a spirited but ultimately outclassed Charlton Athletic side in a comprehensive 5-1 victory. The Blues controlled the tempo from the first whistle, suffocating the home side with relentless pressure and fluid passing, something we noticed they struggled to cope with all evening.

The breakthrough felt inevitable and arrived just before the break through Jorrel Hato. The second half saw the floodgates open. Tosin Adarabioyo doubled the lead early on, and while Miles Leaburn gave the home fans a moment of cheer by pulling one back, it was merely a consolation. Marc Guiu quickly restored the two-goal advantage before late goals sealed a truly dominant performance, which you can read about in our full match report.

What stood out to us was the sheer number of saves made by Charlton's keeper, Will Mannion, who single-handedly prevented the scoreline from reaching double digits. It was a brutal lesson for the Addicks, while Chelsea marched on impressively. The gulf in class was evident from start to finish.

Charlton Athletic Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Goalkeeper

Will Mannion - 7.5: We felt for the keeper today. Conceding five goals is never good, but the man made an astonishing 11 saves. Without him, this would have been a historic humiliation. He was peppered with shots all game and stood tall for most of it. The late penalty he conceded was just the unfortunate end to a heroic, if ultimately futile, performance.

Defenders

Lloyd Jones - 5.0: A really tough evening for Jones. He was part of a defensive unit that was pulled apart time and time again. While he won a couple of aerials, he was caught offside and looked overwhelmed by the pace and movement of Chelsea's attack. It was a chastening experience against top-level opposition.

Amari'i Bell - 5.5: Bell worked hard down the flank but was constantly on the back foot. He made a few clearances and tackles but struggled to contain the threat from Chelsea's wingers. From our perspective, he was just a step behind all night. He was eventually substituted after a difficult 74 minutes.

Keenan Gough - 5.0: A difficult day at the office for the young defender. The stats show a few tackles and interceptions, but watching the game, he was part of a backline that was simply porous. The constant pressure from Chelsea was too much to handle. A tough learning curve for him.

Midfielders

James Bree - 6.0: One of the few who tried to provide some quality going forward. He put in a couple of decent crosses and made some important interceptions. However, he was fighting a losing battle in a midfield that was completely overrun. A commendable effort in a sea of blue shirts.

Conor Coventry - 5.5: He ran his socks off but had little to no impact on the game. Coventry was swarmed in the midfield and lost possession too often. He looked a bit lost before being substituted in the second half. Just not his night.

Tyreece Campbell - 6.0: Campbell was one of Charlton's brighter sparks in a dark performance. He created a couple of chances and wasn't afraid to take players on. His work rate was good, but his evening was cut short by an unfortunate injury. We hope it's not too serious.

Greg Docherty - 5.5: The captain put in a shift, but it was a thankless task. He made a few tackles but spent most of the match chasing shadows. Picked up a yellow card for his troubles, which summed up his frustration. Substituted after a grueling 67 minutes.

Sonny Carey - 5.5: He was busy, but ultimately ineffective. What stood out to us was losing possession 17 times, which is simply too high. He made some recoveries but offered very little going forward. A frustrating performance where he couldn't get a foothold in the game.

Forwards

Miles Leaburn - 7.0: Easily Charlton's best outfield player. He was a real handful, winning an incredible number of aerial duels and holding the ball up well. He took his goal with the instinct of a true poacher, giving the home fans something to cheer about. He fought a lone, admirable battle up top.

Charlie Kelman - 5.0: A completely anonymous performance. He barely touched the ball and was totally isolated up front. He lost almost all of his duels and offered no threat whatsoever. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Substitutes

Macaulay Gillesphey, Karoy Anderson, Joe Rankin-Costello, Harvey Knibbs - N/A: The substitutes came on when the game was already stretched. They ran hard but couldn't change the tide against a superior Chelsea team.

Manager

N. Jones - 5.0: His game plan to contain Chelsea fell apart almost immediately. His team looked disorganized at the back and were completely outplayed in midfield. While the gulf in quality is huge, conceding five goals at home is a tough pill to swallow. The changes he made had little effect on the outcome.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Charlton Athletic

Goalkeeper

Filip Jørgensen - 6.5: Had very little to do for most of the game, a spectator for long periods. He couldn't be faulted for the goal he conceded. His distribution was clean and he claimed what he needed to. An easy night's work.

Defenders

Tosin Adarabioyo - 8.5: Our man of the match. An absolutely imperious performance at the back. He was dominant in the air and on the ground, winning almost every challenge. His passing was near-perfect, and he capped it all off with a thumping header. A complete and highest-rated performance.

Benoît Badiashile - 6.5: Solid, if a little clumsy. He won his fair share of duels but an early yellow card showed a bit of rashness. He was comfortable on the ball, but you felt a mistake wasn't too far away. Still, a comfortable evening overall.

Jorrel Hato - 8.0: What a performance from the defender. He broke the deadlock with a smart finish, showing great composure. He was solid defensively, making some crucial blocks. His attacking intent from the back was a constant threat. A really mature display.

Josh Acheampong - 7.5: We were very impressed with Acheampong. He was a constant outlet on the flank, creating three chances with his dangerous runs. His passing accuracy of 98% is ridiculous for a full-back. Defensively sound and always willing to join the attack. A brilliant showing.

Midfielders

Andrey Santos - 7.5: Ran the show from the middle of the park. He completed a massive 110 passes, dictating the entire pace of the game. He was everywhere, breaking up play and starting attacks. A truly commanding midfield performance that deserved a goal.

Moisés Caicedo - 7.0: The captain was his usual industrious self. Racking up 152 touches, he was the hub of everything Chelsea did. He spread the play beautifully and created four chances for his teammates. An effortless-looking performance of pure class.

Jamie Gittens - 6.5: A very lively but ultimately frustrating outing. He got into great positions and wasn't afraid to shoot, but his finishing was wayward. He showed great energy and skill but lacked that final product before being subbed.

Alejandro Garnacho - 6.0: Not his best game, from our perspective. He tried to make things happen but often ran into dead ends or saw his shots blocked. He was on the periphery for large parts of the match. A quiet night by his standards.

Facundo Buonanotte - 8.0: A fantastic creative display. He was the architect of so much of Chelsea's good play, bagging an assist and creating two big chances. His vision and passing were a joy to watch. Substituted after a hugely effective performance.

Forwards

Marc Guiu - 7.5: Led the line brilliantly. He took his goal with an emphatic finish and also turned provider with a clever assist. He worked hard, linked play well, and was a constant nuisance for the Charlton defence. A goal and an assist is an excellent return.

Substitutes

Estêvão, Enzo Fernández, Liam Delap, Pedro Neto, Wesley Fofana - 8.0: The substitutes were fantastic. Enzo Fernández came on and provided two assists, Estêvão won the penalty, and Pedro Neto scored a fine goal. They added another layer of quality and ruthlessly put the game to bed.

Manager

L. Rosenior - 8.0: A perfect game plan executed flawlessly. He trusted his players to dominate, and they delivered in style. His team looked hungry, organized, and clinical. His substitutions were spot-on, adding more goals and killing any hope for a comeback. A professional and impressive job.