Town's reserve side beat Charlton 3-0 at Portman Road on Thursday night. Charlton are already champions but goals from Danny Haynes, Pablo Couñago and Jimmy Juan secured the victory for the Blues.

The first action came in the tenth minute when Dean McDonald cut in from the right and hit a left foot shot which flew just over Darren Randolph's bar.

Town scored their first goal on 15. Pablo Couñago originally lost the ball, but he tracked back and won it back. James Scowcroft picked it up and played through youngster Danny Haynes to side-foot home from a one-on-one situation.

Charlton's first real attack came on 20 minutes when Adam Gross volleyed into the side-netting after Lewis Price had dropped a corner.

Two minutes later, a James Scowcroft header forced a good save from Randolph after a well-taken McDonald corner.

Town were having most of the play, with Kevin Horlock and Jimmy Juan winning tackles in midfield and it was Juan who was the provider for Town's second goal. It came on 42 minutes when Couñago controlled the ball from the Frenchman's free-kick and the Spaniard dinked it over the keeper.

Youngster Fraser Beveridge, who is being released at the end of the season, replaced Kevin Horlock in central midfield at half-time.

Two minutes after the restart, Randolph was forced into a good save, tipping Couñago's shot from 25 yards round his post.

On 62 minutes, Charlton's Adam Cottrell was booked for a late tackle on Town's tricky winger Dean McDonald.

Nine minutes later, Town should have scored their third. Another McDonald corner caused havoc in the Charlton area and Gerard Nash blazed over from virtually on the goal-line.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Jimmy Juan was booked for a foul on Addicks left-back Nathan Ashton.

In the 78th minute McDonald dribbled past two defenders before cutting into the box, but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Randolph with Couñago and Scowcroft waiting in the middle.

After the corner had been cleared by Charlton, they made a double substitution. Mark Robson replaced Danny Phillips and Michael Carvill took over from Myles Weston.

With eight minutes to go, McDonald made another strong run past defenders before shooting. Couñago also took on the Charlton defence before cutting in and from an acute angle, tried to score, but again, Randolph saved at his near post.

On 83 Town scored their third. McDonald's corner was headed back into the danger zone by Gerard Nash, Couñago's volley from six yards was stopped on the line, but Juan fired home to make sure of Town's three points.

Three minutes later Daniel Flack replaced Danny Haynes who was suffering from cramp and Jack Clifford replaced Adam Gross for the visitors.

This win sees the reserves move one point behind second-bottom Portsmouth and three behind third-bottom Leicester. Town have one game in hand over Pompey and two in hand over the Foxes.

Town's front two worked well together and McDonald's corner-taking was all of the highest quality, but the back four were excellent and didn't give the Charlton strikers a glimpse of goal all night.

The Blues' reserve match at home to Chelsea, postponed because of the FA Youth Cup final on Monday, has now been rearranged for Tuesday 19th April (7pm).

Town: 1 Lewis Price, 2 Gerard Nash, 3 James Krause, 4 Kevin Horlock (12 Fraser Beveridge, 45), 5 Drissa Diallo, 6 Ben Patten, 7 Dean McDonald, 8 Jimmy Juan, 9 Pablo Couñago, 10 James Scowcroft and 11 Danny Haynes (15 Daniel Flack, 86). Unused: 13 Shane Supple (GK), 14 Adem Atay and 15 Charlie Sheringham.

Charlton: 1 Darren Randolph, 2 Lawrie Wilson, 3 Nathan Ashton, 4 Adam Cottrell, 5 Mark Ricketts, 6 Adam Gross (15 Jack Clifford, 85), 7 Alistair John, 8 Stacy Long, 9 James Walker, 10 Danny Phillips (12 Mark Robson, 79) and 11 Myles Weston (16 Michael Carvill, 79). Unused: 13 Szabolcs Kemenes (GK) and 14 Wayne 'Fred' Wilson.

Referee: Mr G S Evetts. Assistants: Mr C Henry and Mr C J Miller. Fourth official: Mr D Stobbart. Att: 108.

Thanks to James Ager for the report.

Photo: Action Images

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