Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Charlton Athletic to the Amex Stadium on Sunday with both teams searching for their first [Women’s Super League](https://womenfootball.blog/womens-super-league-table-standings/) victory of the season.
The early numbers underline where both sides have struggled. Brighton have collected two points from four league matches and scored three goals despite averaging 15.3 shots per game. Charlton are still without a point and have scored only once in their opening four WSL fixtures. For two teams sitting towards the bottom of the early table, Sunday’s meeting represents an important opportunity to change momentum before the international break.
**Competition**: Women’s Super League
**Fixture**: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Charlton Athletic
**Date**: Sunday, 4 October 2026
**Kick-off**: 2pm BST
**Venue**: Amex Stadium
The match will be available to watch in the UK on Sky Sports and the WSL’s official [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@BarclaysWSL).
Arturo Ruiz’s side have taken two points from their opening four league matches after a difficult but competitive start to the campaign.
Brighton narrowly lost to Arsenal before coming from two goals down to draw with Birmingham City. They then conceded a late equaliser against Aston Villa before suffering a 2-0 defeat away to London City Lionesses last weekend.
That London City performance left Ruiz highlighting the need for his team to make more of the periods when they are on top.
The statistics support his assessment. Brighton have averaged 15.3 shots and five efforts on target per WSL match, as well as creating three big chances per game. However, they have scored only three times and are averaging 2.5 big chances missed per match. Their finishing was again an issue in Wednesday’s Subway Players Cup defeat to Tottenham.
Brighton created several opportunities at Broadfield Stadium but lost 1-0 after Olivia Holdt scored the only goal. Emily Murphy missed an excellent early chance, Maisie Symonds sent a lob over the bar and Albion pushed for an equaliser during the closing stages without finding a breakthrough.
Ruiz made five changes for that cup fixture, so another reshuffle should be expected at the Amex.
Charlton’s return to the WSL has produced an even more difficult opening run. They have lost their first four league matches, suffering defeats against Liverpool, Everton, London City Lionesses and Manchester City. Their latest WSL game ended in a narrow 1-0 home defeat to City.
Scoring has been their biggest problem. Charlton have managed one goal across those four league fixtures while averaging four shots and only 0.5 shots on target per game. Their midweek cup match did little to change that trend, with Crystal Palace recording a 3-0 victory over the Addicks.
Sunday therefore presents a sizeable challenge, particularly against a Brighton team that has already beaten them convincingly this season.
Charlton will be boosted by the availability of Ashleigh Neville, who returned to the matchday squad in midweek after completing her suspension and is in contention to start on Sunday.
However, Karen Hills remains without several players. Captain Kiera Skeels is unavailable after picking up a knock against London City Lionesses, while Paula Partido remains out with a minor knee injury and is receiving treatment with her parent club.
Charlotte Newsham also remains sidelined, while Linda Líf Boama is continuing her rehabilitation after undergoing surgery on a knee injury sustained in training.
Ruiz was able to rotate his team heavily against Tottenham on Wednesday, with the likes of Fran Kirby, Jelena Čanković and Lia Wälti involved after Brighton’s busy recent schedule.
These teams do not have to look far back for their most recent meeting. Brighton beat Charlton 4-0 at Broadfield Stadium in the Subway Players Cup on 23 September, giving Ruiz’s side their biggest victory since his appointment.
The result does not necessarily provide a blueprint for Sunday’s league encounter, particularly with different selections likely, but it does give Brighton confidence that they can create opportunities against this Charlton side.
Charlton had won the previous meeting, beating Brighton 1-0 in the League Cup in November 2025. Brighton were 2-1 winners when the teams met in January 2024.
Brighton’s cup rotation makes their selection difficult to predict, but Ruiz could restore several of the players used in the league defeat to London City.
**Predicted Brighton XI**: Nnadozie; Olislagers, Vanegas, George, Murphy; Wälti, Symonds, Hayes; Čanković, Kirby, Seike.
Charlton could bring Neville back into the starting XI following her suspension, while their confirmed absences restrict some of Karen Hills’ options.
**Predicted Charlton XI**: Whitehouse; Neville, Roe, Johnson, Startup; Jhamat, Barton, Hutton; Brazil, McAteer, Godfrey.
Brighton’s lack of efficiency in front of goal makes it difficult to expect a comfortable afternoon, but the underlying attacking numbers are encouraging.
Ruiz’s team are consistently getting into positions from which they should score more often. Charlton, meanwhile, have struggled to create chances as well as convert them and enter the weekend with only one WSL goal.
The recent 4-0 cup meeting should not be given too much weight, but Brighton have shown more attacking threat across the opening weeks of the season. A first league victory for Ruiz would be a valuable way to head into the international break.
Prediction: Brighton 2-0 Charlton Athletic