What every manager said about Charlton Athletic this season - including Birmingham City and Blackpool rants

Charlton Athletic are riding high over the international break having recorded an impressive win over league leaders Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.

That victory turned heads across the country as the Addicks became the first League One outfit to get the better of the Blues so far this term. The Midlands club are early favourites to win League One following their relegation from the Championship last season, having splurged multiple record fees on new signings over the summer.

Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones has earned plaudits for his work at The Valley, taking the side from relegation candidates to promotion hopefuls in his eight months in charge. LondonWorld looks at what the side's opponents in League One have been saying about the club so far this season.

Charlton Athletic ‘really difficult’ in Wigan Athletic season opener

Jones' men began the campaign with a 1-0 away win over Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium. Speaking after the game, Latics boss Shaun Maloney praised the London club's defensive work.

He said: “The way Charlton defend, it's really difficult to play through them in that final third. Today was always going to be how we could create crosses, cut-backs, and probably the most dangerous we were was when we had two wingers on the pitch."

A second win of the season came in the first home league fixture of the campaign, against London rivals Leyton Orient. Talk after that match centred on the performance of referee Edward Duckworth.

‘Ruined the game’ - Leyton Orient fuming after derby defeat

Jones took issue with a challenge that injured defender Josh Edwards and O's boss Richie Wellens claimed the official 'ruined the game'. He said: "I got booked for clapping my full-back being in a really good position. He thought I was clapping him.

"[He was] miles off it and if the FA keep their standards up about how referees perform, that they don’t get a game next week, then I hope I don’t see him on a team-sheet next week. He ruined the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if he travels home tonight with a whistle stuck to his lips."

A third league victory in a row followed against Bolton Wanderers, but Trotters manager Ian Evatt believed his side's defeat was 'self-inflicted'. A first League One defeat then came at Reading with Royals coach Ruben Selles praising his side for 'dominating' Charlton Athletic.

There was more refereeing drama in the 1-1 draw against Rotherham United at the start of September. Millers manager Steve Evans quoted veteran manager Neil Warnock when blaming a London bias for not getting a penalty.

Steve Evans goes full Neil Warnock

Evans said: "I remember the Neil Warnock quote, ‘you don’t get penalties in London unless you’re from London’. And how that’s not a penalty is beyond me. But we didn’t get it. It was a clear and obvious penalty, there’s no attempt to play the ball.

“So not only did the referee miss a penalty, there’s no attempt to play the ball which constitutes a red card. So it would have been a penalty and at a big time in the game.”

It was back to winning ways against Shrewsbury but Paul Hurst believed his side were "the better team first half" and "warranted at least a point". Jones then saw his side lose against Blackpool at The Valley, with the visitors under the new leadership of Steve Bruce.

Fallout from that game focused on an interaction between the former Manchester United defender and an Addicks supporter. Bruce was seen exchanging words with a fan behind the dugout in the fixture.

Steve Bruce slams Charlton Athletic ‘abuse’

After the match, he said: "I had someone abusing me in the crowd, with kids around him – you think ‘wow, really’.

“He was someone my age, with a 10-year-old next to him. Unbelievable. Nothing surprises me anymore. It was too far. You know you’re going to get a bit of abuse, but when it’s like that, with kids around. He was as old as me. Anyway, it is what it is.

“I wasn’t upset with the abuse he was giving me, I was upset with the language he was using in front of kids who were 10 years old and have come to watch a game of football. But then again, it doesn’t surprise me anymore.”

Charlton Athletic suffered another defeat against Stevenage with boss Alex Revell claiming his side allowed Charlton to "play a bit too much" and "respected them too much" in a cagey opening. Bristol Rovers also got the better of Charlton last week with manager Matt Taylor praising the "quality players" in the Addicks' side as the visitors nearly came back from 3-0 down.

Finally, it was a return to form against Birmingham City at the weekend. A lot of post-match chat centred on a controversial interview given by Blues captain Krystian Bielik, claiming that the club was 'too good' for League One.

‘Charlton spent a fortune’ - Birmingham City boss snaps back

Birmingham boss Chris Davies also pointed to Charlton Athletic's summer spending when reminded just how much his club spent in the window. He said: "Absolutely, again, Charlton spent a fortune. They’ve spent a lot of money on their squad and they’re a good team so there’s no doubt in my mind that there are multiple teams in this league that are well equipped to be successful.

“We are one of those teams, it’s not Birmingham and the rest. It’s League One. Every game is a different challenge for us that we have to face, and we have to prove how good we are every single game.

“It was one of those games, only one shot on goal. It’s unusual for us, I think that’s the first time that’s happened this season. I think in the final third we normally have a little more creativity and a little more danger when we get there. We just lacked a little bit of that today. It’s something that is painful, it’s painful to lose. It should be painful for all of us but you grow from defeat and that’s what you should do.”