How Callum Styles proved rough West Brom start has passed as Charlton heroics honoured

Callum Styles hadn't been his typically excellent self in the early weeks of West Bromwich Albion's season.

The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the top left-backs in the Championship during his time at The Hawthorns.

Since joining from Barnsley in the summer of 2024, he's seldom put a foot wrong in an Albion shirt.

He's become a hugely popular figure amongst the Baggies support as a result, and criticism is rarely directed his way.

That's largely down the fact it's not required, but his first few performances of this season haven't been great.

But in the 1-1 draw against Charlton on Wednesday, the Hungarian international reminded everyone just how good he is.

How off-standard had Callum Styles been for West Brom before Charlton?

After ending the 2025-26 campaign in his usual top form, for many it would be a given that Styles would carry that into the start of 2026-27.

On matchday one of the Championship season against Norwich he put in a strong performance, and so it looked as though this notion was correct.

However, he would score an own goal in the 3-1 loss to Burnley, and put in a showing against the Clarets that was very un-Styles.

Per FotMob, he won zero tackles or aerial duels in that game, whilst also winning just two ground duels and being dispossessed twice.

Then in the next league match against Middlesbrough, Styles was very much off the pace at the Riverside.

He had zero shots on goal, was dispossessed twice, only won two of his six ground duels, committed a foul and won just the one tackle.

So, another poor performance against Charlton may have had James Morrison glancing over at the returning Conor Townsend.

But right when he needed to, Style reminded everyone that his early-season struggles were merely a blip.

Where did Styles lead everyone on the pitch in West Brom vs Charlton?

Wednesday night didn't end the way Styles would've wanted from a scoreline perspective, but he can be delighted with his display.

It was his superb half-volley that gave Albion the lead on the hour mark, but that was just the cherry on the top of his Player of the Match performance.

Per FotMob, no player on the pitch created more chances (three) or took more touches (113) than Styles did against the Addicks.

On top of that, he also played seven passes into the final third, wasn't dispossessed once, won five tackles and made five recoveries.

He also made a marked improvement in his duels, winning five of his six on the ground.

This was the Styles West Brom know and love, and it's now up to him to continue at this level moving forward.