It was a tale of the unexpected at The Valley, as Alli, who had failed to impress since arriving from Luton Town in the summer, opened the scoring with an ambitious strike before the break and then set up the winner with a fine run and cross deep into the second period.

Hit by injuries to Nathaniel Chalobah, Lloyd Jones, Miles Leaburn and Karlan Grant, Charlton had been forced into four changes from midweek, with skipper Jones absent from the league squad for the first time since the club returned to the Championship in August 2025.

Keeper Will Mannion had to make an early block from veteran striker Jordan Ayew as the novice central defensive pairing of Billy Koumetio and Tyler Bindon settled in.

But it was Charlton who went ahead on 12 minutes when Danny McNarama fed Alli on the right corner of the 18-yard box. The winger moved the ball on to his favoured left foot before unleashing a 20-yard drive that surprised Blades’ stopper Michael Cooper at his near post.

It was Alli’s first goal for the club and the confidence it gave him was apparent.

Midfielder Alan Mwamba then had a great chance to add a second as a Tyreece Campbell cross from the left found him unmarked six yards out, but the 20-year-old could not adjust his feet quickly enough to take advantage of the opportunity.

Instead, Ayew had the Blades back of level terms on 25 minutes. Alli was again involved, conceding a free-kick on the Charlton right, which Kalvin Phillips fired goalwards. Mannion’s two-fisted punch lacked conviction and Ayew headed it back into the goal.

There was a potential case for a red card when Hamza Choudhury brought down the breaking Campbell, but referee Matt Corlett eventually flourished a yellow one after being surrounded by United players who appeared to be arguing for an offside decision.

Matty Golden rifles home the winner against Sheffield United (Image: Paul Edwards)

The official booked three Charlton players before half-time and irritated home fans with a string of free-kicks for the visiting side as the game went on. His failure to intervene when a through ball was blocked by a United arm after the break intensified the ill-feeling.

Unlike on Tuesday night against Bolton Wanderers, however, the home side had been applauded off at the interval.

The visitors replaced right-back Choudhury, who was struggling to contain Campbell, for the second half, but then also lost his substitute Femi Seriki, who was stretchered off five minutes after the resumption with a serious knee injury.

Neither side was able to take control but Charlton’s began to look more dangerous after Harvey Knibbs and Sonny Carey came on for Mwamba and Joe Rankin-Costello on 64 minutes. However, it was the arrival of Gooden for Charlie Kelman that brought the winner.

He had been on the pitch for just four minutes when McNamara again fed Alli and this time the wide man took the ball to the byline before cross with his right foot to pick out Godden.

Characteristically, the striker had just eased himself into enough space to lash a first-time effort inside the near post from close range. The 79th-minute winner was a further clue to how much his absence had cost the Addicks during their long winless run.

As The Valley held its breath through eight minutes of stoppage time, Mannion was called into action to keep out efforts from Tahith Chong and Sydie Peck, but the backline stood firm as it had for most of the afternoon, with Koumetio a dominant presence.

It was the third time the Addicks have defeated Chris Wilder's side in the 14 months since he resumed the Sheffield United manager's role.

Matty Godden salutes the Valley crowd after scoring the winning goal (Image: Paul Edwards)

An emotional Nathan Jones said afterwards that this was probably his favourite win as Charlton boss after the 2025 play-off final.

“Relief is a big thing because of everything that’s gone on, but that was more like us,” he said. “From start to finish we were front-footed and had real control in our play. We implemented the game plan really well and I’m really proud of the group today.

“They have had to contend with so much pressure, especially being at home, and then we’ve lost five or six people this week through injury. Apart from Wembley it’s probably my favourite result at this football club. It’s only one win, but it was important today.”