Town got back into winning ways last night beating Charlton 4-2 in Portman Road's best game this season. George Burley made a number of changes to the side that capitulated against QPR on Saturday, completely leaving out Manu Thetis and putting Gary Croft and Jermaine Wright on the bench. Back in came the 5-3-2 formation and most importantly Tony Mowbray marshalling the defence. Also returning were Mickey Stockwell at right midfield and Fabian Wilnis at right back.
Charlton started the brighter, but surprisingly Town went ahead through a deflected James Scowcroft shot after just four minutes. However, Town's defensive weaknesses showed once again as Charlton went level and then ahead before ten minutes was up. Poor marking at a corner allowed former Town man Eddie Youds to nod a corner back to Andy Hunt who headed in. Hunt scored his second after Mark Venus carelessly lost the ball allowing the former WBA man a free run on goal in much the same way as Gavin Peacock had been allowed on Saturday. Hunt shot low and the ball scraped under Richard Wright.
Gradually though, the Town defence was starting to get re-used to Mogga's organisation and Town were getting better an better as a whole. It was no surprise when in the 29th minute the Blues equalised. A free-kick was headed off the post by Tony Mowbray and the clinical from two yards out Mark Venus hammered home his third of the season.
Town continued to get better and the applause as they left the field at half-time was in stark contrast to the howls of derision of Saturday.
The second half was all Town, but it took until the 67th minute for them to regain the lead. James Scowcroft headed goalwards from a corner and in dived David Johnson in front of Shaun Newton on the line to claim the lead for Town. The victory was sealed nine minutes later when the excellent Mickey Stockwell took a ball from James Scowcroft inside and hammered past the crowd-baiting Dean Kiely in the Charlton goal. The best goal of the night was the last and left Charlton with no way back. They were further set back by an injury to the superb Eddie Youds (was he ever that good for us?) which left them down to ten men as they had previously used their subs.
A good night for Town then, with the old-stagers Mowbray and Stockwell among the most impressive. Scowcroft was again marvellous, whilst Jim Magilton and Fabian Wilnis both had their most impressive games of the season. Walsall next for Town then and the chance to put in another good run and get the memories of recent weeks well and truly consigned to history.
R Wright 6 Little to do, but let second goal under his body
Wilnis 7 Impressive running down the wing and tackling
McGreal 8 Far better than Saturday. Thank God
Mowbray 9 As good as ever. One more season in him?
Venus 7 At fault on second, but took goal well
Clapham 7 Much better as a wing-back
Stockwell 9 Superb. Five more seasons in him?
Holland 8 Another all-action Matty display
Magilton 8 Best game of the season so far
Johnson 8 Took goal well
Scowcroft 9 Excellent in the air, brilliant hold up play