A goal in either half from Albie Morgan and Omar Bogle saw Charlton to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Town at Portman Road. Morgan put his side ahead with a low shot on 21 in an evenly-balanced first half, while sub Bogle scored with his first touch in the 68th minute to seal the three points for the visitors with the Blues, who are down to sixth, never looking like staging a comeback.

Liam Gibbs and David Cornell were handed their league debuts as manager Paul Lambert made four changes from the team which lost 3-0 at home to Hull City on Tuesday.

Gibbs, 17, came into the midfield three with Andre Dozzell, who was back after his three-match ban and Brett McGavin.

Bury St Edmunds-based academy product Gibbs, who had previously made two starts and one sub appearance in the EFL Trophy, started in a role ahead of the deeper Dozzell with McGavin completing one of the youngest midfields the Blues have ever fielded in a league game.

Emyr Huws is missing from the squad, presumably having joined Jon Nolan, Teddy Bishop, Flynn Downes, Cole Skuse and Tristan Nydam on a long midfield injured list.

Cornell took over in goal from Tomas Holy, who dropped to the bench. The Welshman had previously made five starts in cup games for the Blues since his summer move from Northampton.

At the centre of the defence, Toto Nsiala returned to the right of Luke Woolfenden with Mark McGuinness among the subs. Skipper Luke Chambers and Stephen Ward continued as the full-backs.

Up front, Keanan Bennetts was on the left and Alan Judge the right with James Norwood again the central striker.

For Charlton, manager Lee Bowyer, a former Blues midfielder, brought Chuks Aneke, Albie Morgan and ex-Blues loanee Jonny Williams into his XI for Omar Bogle, Alex Gilbey and Marcus Maddison, who were among the subs.

The Addicks were again forced to field a makeshift centre-half pairing of right-back Chris Gunter and midfielder Darren Pratley.

Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s applause in memory of football legend Diego Maradona, who died earlier in the week.

The game started scruffily but in the fifth minute McGavin won the ball midway inside the Charlton half and fed Bennetts, who took it on and hit a shot from the edge of the box which struck and Addicks defender. On the arm, according to Bennetts, but referee Craig Hicks showed no interest.

On 13 Judge found Chambers in space on the right. The Blues captain cut in and hit a shot with the outside of his boot which caught a defender on its way wide. From the resultant corner on the left, Nsiala rose highest but nodded beyond the far post.

A minute later, with Town looking the more dangerous side, Bennetts appeared to try to catch Addicks keeper Ben Amos unawares with a shot from wide on the left when a cross looked the more obvious option.

As the game approached the quarter-hour mark, the Blues came close to going in front when Dozzell played a ball through for Norwood, who held off Gunter but a heavy touch took it away from him and the striker was unable to avoid hooking his effort at goal from eight yards over the bar as well as Amos.

Two minutes later, Charlton felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Aneke’s flick sent Williams in on goal but Nsiala somehow got back to outmuscle the Welsh international and stab away and Cornell saved down to his right. A spot-kick would have been harsh but as Town know to their cost that penalties can be awarded in such situations.

The Addicks were starting to look more threatening and on 20 Aneke shot well over from a tight angle on the right.

And the South Londoners only had to wait another minute to go in front. Aneke won the ball from Woolfenden as he sought to play out on the edge of the area to the left and fed Andrew Shinnie. The Scot took it into the area before his low ball deflected off a Town defender to Morgan and the 20-year-old fired his first league goal for the Addicks past Cornell from 12 yards. Once again, Town’s defending had contributed much to an opposition goal.

In the 28th minute the Blues wasted a free-kick in a promising position not far outside the box. Dozzell played it wide to Judge on the left but the Irishman’s cross looped beyond Nsiala at the far post and out for a goal-kick.

Town lost striker Norwood to what looked to be another hamstring injury in the 35th minute. Aaron Drinan replaced the former Tranmere man a minute later, while Ward was receiving treatment for a knock of his own. Norwood’s exit was the third time in three games the Blues had lost a player to injury in the first half.

Drinan was making his first appearance since the opening day of the league season when he suffered a thigh injury in the 2-0 victory over Wigan.

The visitors had keeper Amos to thank for maintaining their 1-0 lead in the 38th minute, the keeper flying away to his right to palm Judge’s flicked header from Dozzell’s free-kick on the right past his post.

A minute later, Drinan won the ball on the byline from the hesitant Pratley and cut it back to Judge, whose shot was somehow deflected over by Ian Maatsen. As has been the case too often of late, Town’s corner came to nothing.

In the 43rd minute Judge was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Shinnie as Charlton broke.

In the final scheduled minute of the half, Paul Smyth got away behind Nsiala but threw himself to the ground just outside the area as the defender looked to get back in front of him. Referee Hicks was unimpressed with his dive but showed no card.

As half-time approached, most of the game was being played in the visitors’ half of the field but with Blues passes going astray at vital moments.

Again Town were left rueing having not taken chances at one end while being the architects of their own downfall at the other with there having been little between the sides during what had been a scruffy half overall.

Norwood will feel he should have taken his chance, while Judge’s header was kept out by an excellent Amos save, although the Irishman may believe he should have scored his other opportunity after Drinan had done well to win the ball back on the byline.

Keeper Cornell had had a relatively quiet half but the Blues still found themselves behind at the break from another very preventable goal.

Charlton were first the threaten after the restart. Morgan broke down the right and sent over a deep cross which Smyth looked to volley but the ball scuffed off his foot and out of play.

On 51 Aneke broke away from Woolfenden and hit a shot across Cornell which the keeper saved down to his right. Three minutes later, the Addicks swapped Williams for Gilbey.

As the hour mark approached, the Addicks were presenting the greatest threat, counter-attacking after Blues moves forward broke down. But fortunately up to now without seriously testing Cornell.

Town swapped Gibbs, who will have learned a lot from his first senior game and had shown one or two moments of his promise, for Jackson in the 64th minute as Charlton’s Smyth underwent treatment on the pitch having injured himself trying to bring down the Town youngster moments before his substitution.

Smyth was eventually helped to the stretcher cart, taken straight down the tunnel and replaced by Bogle, while Jackson joined Drinan in a front two.

Less than two minutes after being introduced, Bogle doubled his side’s lead with his first touch. Woolfenden failed to clear a long throw from the right, Pratley crossed and the former Wigan and Grimsby man slammed into the net at the far post having escaped Chambers’s attention. Yet another very soft goal from a Town perspective.

In the 71st minute Town were forced into another change with Nsiala suffering a knock and McGuinness taking over. The Blues also switched McGavin for Jack Lankester. Charlton replaced Aneke, a thorn in the Town backline’s side all afternoon, with Ben Purrington.

The Blues had a mountain to climb having gone two goals down, particularly as they had only scored more than once in one of their last six league games.

Their performance became more disjointed as the visitors grew in confidence having established their two-goal lead.

On 81 Judge hit a powerful shot against a defender, then took the rebound into the box before hitting another effort which was easy for Amos, whose only serious save all afternoon had been the Irish international’s header in the first half.

After seven minutes of injury time, referee Hicks’s whistle confirmed another Blues defeat to a side in the upper reaches of the division with Town still to win against anyone in the top eight and having taken only three points from their three back-to-back home games, and those via a very fortunate victory over Shrewsbury.

The Blues never really looked like getting back on terms in the early stages of the second period and once Charlton had gone two in front the destination of the three points never looked in any doubt.

Another defeat will see manager Lambert’s position come under further scrutiny with fans having made their frustrations known after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to leaders Hull City.

The Blues have now lost three of their last four in the league and seven of their last 10 in all competitions.

Whether owner Marcus Evans heeds fans’ calls for a change of manager remains to be seen but something certainly needs to change to prevent the season going in the same direction as the last campaign in which the Blues started brightly before drifting to a dismal mid-table finish.

Town are now down to sixth, with their game the only fixture involving the teams at the top being played today, ahead of tricky away trips to Oxford on Tuesday and Plymouth next Saturday.

Town: Cornell, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, Nsiala (McGuinness 71), Ward, Dozzell, McGavin (Lankester 71), Gibbs (Jackson 64), Bennetts, Judge, Norwood (Drinan 36). Unused: Holy, Kenlock, Hawkins.

Charlton: Amos, Gunter, Williams (Gilbey 54), Aneke (Purrington 71), Shinnie, Pratley (c), Matthews, Morgan, Maatsen, Watson, Smyth (Bogle 66). Unused: Maynard-Brewer, Pearce, Maddison. Referee: Craig Hicks (Surrey).

Photo: Matchday Images

blues1 added 20:55 - Nov 28 Beattiesbackpocket. Of course we can be category 1. And we're still working to get that in place. It has nothing to do with Evan's strategy as u put it. Remember we missed out on cat 1 by .25 before. And theres nothing that can be done to stop youngsters being taken by pl clubs prior to them signing a professional contract.
-1

Bluearmy_81 added 21:02 - Nov 28 Skip, so much aggression and anger towards me, a town fan who expects and demands better for his club (shoot me) but you can't muster a bad word against the man that has killed your club. Really weird
1

BeattiesBackPocket added 21:10 - Nov 28 Blues1 here you go https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/marcus-evans-i-m-glad-i-turned-down-offers-to-buy-i So tell me from my post what would you rather what we had before he came or now? Simple question. If you're happy with now then great for you but I'm not. Manny managers have come and gone as have clegg Milne etc he has sold players totalling over 50 million any quality sold off and 70 million added to the debt? You think he's done well?? Why bemoan the supposed losses every year and not want to sell? He's got no affinity whatsoever to Ipswich he's a chelsea fan why still be here why stay? 6th richest owner outside the premier league. No he can't spend now but the problem has been previous seasons lack of investment and I'm not even on about spending millions on players every season but look at how Brentford run their club half the gates we get, new stadium but their scouting network is amazing and they spend 3 or 4 million on someone they know they can improve and sell on later For much bigger profit pretty sure that's how evans has become successful as businessman as well but doesn't implement it in our club!

2

warktheline added 21:14 - Nov 28 Barring the ‘exceptional' few, the rest on this forum are ‘shortsighted' muppets ! Has the coffee aroma finally hit the nostrils? 🙈😱😂🤣
1

Tractorboy1985 added 21:15 - Nov 28 Britain is struggling for comedians these days and good jokes but I think we've found them in BLUES1... DOLPHIN AND RABBIT 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 😂😂😂😂😂😂... un be leeeeeeeeevibale how people can still back 1 Shambo but more hilariously EVANS!!!! WAKEY WAKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!
3

KenHancocksBoot added 21:16 - Nov 28 It has to be the end for Lambert, his record is so poor it's unbelievable. We can all see what's behind the demise of our once great club, just about everything that's mentioned above. We need a hard man to sort it out and take on the senior players. Step forward Nigel Pearson. Good shout from Planet Blue!
1

Skip73 added 21:36 - Nov 28 Bluearmy, I was having a rant about the performance and forgot to mention Evans. You tell me to explain myself. It slipped my mind as i typed in a bit of a hurry. I'm sorry I'm not as obsessed as you. I want him to go of course but he isnt the one who lost momentum again by changing the whole team v Pompey when we had 2 weeks off after, or is he the one who trains the players or can't keep fit.

2

alfromcol added 22:04 - Nov 28 Great post budgieplucker.
0

BeattiesBackPocket added 22:10 - Nov 28 Blues1 here you go from the academy website; ‘From Under 17 to Under 21 there are no travel time restrictions and there is no travel limit for the Academy players engaged in the Full-Time Training Model at Category 1 Academies in the U14, U15 and U16 age groups' For category 2, 3 and 4 there is a limit of 1 and a half hours travel time. He lies the problem the players we were compensated for were from this age group we can only fish an hour and a half they can do whatever they want and this is why we cannot keep those players from category one clubs! Blues1 you're blinkered until we are in category one we CANNOT implement his five point plan as the BEST kids are taken from us by category one clubs we cannot take kids from that category so no matter if we produce the best kids they can and will be stolen from those bigger clubs. Fact!

1

BeattiesBackPocket added 22:15 - Nov 28 Category One is elite mainly made up from premier league clubs even a big club like Leeds have only just been accepted or being considered. Why would the most selfish league in the world want more and more academy's joining that category because that screws up their talent pool of being able to look across the country it's an advantage to keep it to a minimum. There are currently 26 clubs in it made up from premier league teams or teams who were in the premier league recently

1

BeattiesBackPocket added 22:26 - Nov 28 Rabbit, Blues1 and Dolphin what would it take? League two or national league before you decide enoughs enough? Or are you still going to continue to say he's doing well and there's no one else etc etc. Don't think we couldn't go to league two most wouldn't have thought we'd be in league one let alone finish 11th our lowest position in over 60 years WITH the 6th richest owner outside the premier league!

2

bluesince76 added 22:26 - Nov 28 Thought rock bottom was dropping into this league not so sure now Lambert simply has to go no better than Hurst and has got a lot more time what about that Dutch guy for manager can't be any worse.
1

TimmyH added 22:28 - Nov 28 Moggasnotebook - you start your post off saying 95% were happy with the Lamberts appointment!?!, not really true fella certainly not that much. I messaged some regulars on here (about 15) who have posted for a number of years and I can state it was around 55%, there were quite a few against his appointment due to his background, recent years record and Culverhouse being the success at the Budgies. Personally I was on the fence which I'm now well and truly off (since the end of last season really).

0

blues1 added 22:29 - Nov 28 Beattiesbackpocket. Where did I say I was happy with how things are. Maybe u should read my posts correctly. Nowhere did I say Evan's has done a great job. And what you posted a out the academy players being taken by pl clubs, is exactly what I said in the 1st place. So why you arguing that point with me. All I said was that we can still be a cat 1 academy by meeting the criteria. Which brian klug has said we are trying to do. As I say tho, whether that happens is another matter, especially as u pointed out the agreed of the pl clubs.

0

Carberry added 22:38 - Nov 28 blues1, same old story, we should be thankful for having an owner who has guided us into £100m of debt and League 1, when will you and your friends wake up? Evans is thinking about himself when he says the offers weren't right, do you really believe he's waiting for a wonderful philanthropist who loves the club to take over? No he's waiting for someone to meet his asking price. If he sacks Lambert, he will replace him on the cheap and that means Chambers and Skuse. Is there a vaccine that can protect us from this nightmare?

1

blues1 added 22:38 - Nov 28 Tractorboy 1985. Please point out where in my posts I've said anything about backing either lambert or Evan's? You wont bcse you cant. Because I've not said it. What I have done is point out facts tho. But people like you dont like facts as they get in the way of u slagging the club off. And the facts are, I want Lambert out. And I'd like Evan's to sell. But until that happens, hes going nowhere, and theres nothing you, I or anyone else can do about it. So no point continually slagging him off on here or on fb. Not as if hes likely to see it. Better things to do than waste my time doing that.

0

dirtydingusmagee added 22:40 - Nov 28 BBP no good asking Dolphin [''Flipper''] , he hasnt surfaced . he will be back if we get a point somewhere,jumping through hoops as usual.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 22:43 - Nov 28 give me a greaseproof bag ,i want to puke. Lambert your after match rambling make me sick.
2

bernie added 22:43 - Nov 28 Sad thing is I could see this happening I'm not surprised!! Lambert will get away with it because of the injuries we have . Would like to know what the players are thinking ?? Give him three more games and that's it , and in meanwhile be looking at replacements
0

BeattiesBackPocket added 22:53 - Nov 28 Blues1 how can they be worse that what we have as my first post mentioned 30 million debt but a decent team challenging for the playoffs with an ex player as manager. Now 100 million sliding down the leagues poor team with no real quality maybe two or three players would cut it in the championship definitely not fit to even lace up the teams boots we had in 2007 a manager with no incentive it appears or seems and concerned with the current plight but given a 5 year contract last year during our worst season in over 60 years as I say how can it be worse in your eyes?? League two national league, Blackburn ousted their owners look at them now, look at other teams doing well who ousted their owners or forced their hand? We ALL love the club but I'm sick of how it's been run by a non football owner who has no affinity for the club! And as I say due the the category of our youth set up we will not be given one status unless we went up to the premier league it will not happen we've tried for years now and always a reason why. So we cannot implement a plan of the owners due to them being nicked by other bigger sides. YOU said he can but he can't the proofs there and also why it's recycled every year. Under mick my season ticket application stalled of challenging for promotion in the championship low and behold the manager leaves and the truth comes out it was about staying up so he's a liar as well plus this guy was also under investigation for selling on olympic packages at a huge profit but illegally. So tell me HOW can it be worse and how long before some realise this league twos too late

3

moggasnotebook added 22:55 - Nov 28 TimmyH - not sure a canvas of 15 TWTD posters is a fair reflection of all ITFC fans?!
0

RobsonWark added 22:59 - Nov 28 The manager picks the team but he can't influence the game when it starts. That's the captains job but we have the worst captain in the clubs history! For god's sake drop him for good Lambert or you will soon be out the door - or is that your plan so that you can get a nice pay off?
1

Michael101 added 23:12 - Nov 28 Blues1,Evans don't like the price offered to buy the club, HARD LUCK when it's his incompetence that's made itfc worthless.
1

RobsonWark added 23:20 - Nov 28 Q. How is it that we have so many injuries but Chambers remains injury free? A. He always stays away from the opposition as can be seen from the way he let the Charlton player get away from him to score the second goal! Never mind, you picked up you £10-15,000 a week pay Chambers!!! And probably a brown envelope too!!!
-1

MrBigBoy added 23:52 - Nov 28 Look Daddy. Teacher says every time a bell rings, an Ipswich player is injured for the season from an innocuous challenge.
1

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls