Town's run of away games without a win increased to 15 as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Charlton. The Blues were awful in a first half in which the Addicks scored three times through Darren Ambrose (2) and Chris Iwelumo. Town improved after the break, Pablo Couñago scoring, while Alan Lee missed a penalty.

Fabian Wilnis and Gavin Williams were considered fit enough to start after suffering with a flu bug towards the end of the week. Wilnis replaced Alex Bruce alongside Jason De Vos at the back, while Tommy Miller returned to the starting line-up in place of Sylvain Legwinski, who dropped out of the 16. Jon Walters moved back to midfield as Town switched to 4-5-1.

As at Bristol City in the week, the Blues were a goal down within five minutes. Lloyd Sam did well to hold off Dan Harding and played the ball wide to former Town skipper Matt Holland to his right. The ex-Ireland international whipped in a cross which another former Blue, Darren Ambrose, headed into the net at the far post.

It was a poor goal to concede with the Town academy product not a player often lauded for his aerial prowess and with both Blues central defenders ahead of him in the box. Neither Ambrose nor Holland celebrated the goal.

The home side were much the better of the two teams, Ambrose shooting over three minutes later, with Town looking short on confidence and were finding completing a pass an impossibility.

Rain fell in torrents as the Blues continued to struggle, with chances rare at either end. Nicky Weaver was a virtual spectator in the Charlton goal.

On 28 Lloyd Sam hit a shot wide of Neil Alexander's goal from 25 yards. Two minutes later the home side increased their lead with Alexander the man at fault. The Town keeper completely missed a corner from the right and Chris Iwelumo, a resident of Ipswich during his spell at Colchester, nodded home from inches out.

Jim Magilton immediately made a change to his side which had failed to get any grip on the game at any stage, with boos ringing around the packed away end. Pablo Couñago replaced Gavin Williams, who still looks some way from his best, as the team moved to 4-4-2.

The Spaniard hit a post within a couple of minutes of coming on, although a linesman's flag had already been raised.

However, the home side were to add to their goals before the half-time whistle. Neither De Vos nor Wilnis dealt with a long ball which Andy Reid took under control and laid off to Ambrose, who struck a shot to Alexander's right and into the net, the former England U21 international again not celebrating his goal.

The Town end was by now echoing to chants of “What a load of rubbish” with the Blues performance the worst of the season so far. The scoreline might have been even worse with Andy Reid diverting a low cross from the right over the bar from close in.

It was difficult to find anything positive to say about such an abject display and the boos which greeted the whistle were no surprise. Town had failed to get their passing going, had defended poorly, had lacked energy and commitment in midfield, looked thoroughly lacking in confidence and again looked absolutely nothing like the team which has won so regularly — and often so easily — at home.

Jim Magilton made two changes at the break, Sito coming for his first appearance of the season in place of Dan Harding and Danny Haynes taking over for the again poor Gary Roberts, with Jon Walters moving to the left flank.

Town immediately looked a completely different side with Lee having a shot blocked inside the area in the opening minute.

On 47 the Blues had a great chance to pull a goal back after referee Neil Swarbrick — or rather his assistant — decided Lee had been fouled inside the area. The Irishman took the kick himself, but struck a poor effort straight at Weaver. Lee slipped and couldn't get to the rebound and Garvan's subsequent effort was blocked.

Despite the setback, Town continued to push, Walters shooting wide and Lee just failing to get on the end of the former Chester man's cross from the left.

On 54 Danny Haynes headed the ball against the bar from eight yards out after a Couñago shot had deflected off a defender. The former Charlton academy schoolboy will feel he should have scored.

Jason De Vos picked up a yellow card for a foul on a marauding Ambrose on the edge of the area, before Charlton thought they had been awarded a penalty. Ambrose, a danger throughout, had hit a shot from a tight angle on the right which struck Fabian Wilnis. Referee Swarbrick pointed to the spot and looked set to red card the Dutchman until he consulted with his linesman and instead decided on a corner.

Sam Sodje headed over from a corner as Charlton came back into the game, prior to Couñago flicking a Garvan cross just wide. Moments later, a Lee cross from the left struck the top of the crossbar, Haynes sending the ball back in from the right and Walters heading wide.

Town finally pulled a goal back in the 70th minute, and what a goal it was. Haynes played a ball from right to left to Walters, who laid the ball back to Lee. The Irish international sent in a low ball to Couñago's feet on the penalty spot, from where he shimmied one way and the other before backheeling the ball into the corner of the net in a Thierry Henry-esque manner.

The Blues, who were well on top and who had dominated the majority of the second half, went looking for another goal. Tommy Miller shot over, before Jonathan Fortune was booked for a foul on Couñago on the edge of the area.

Garvan sent a dangerous ball across the Charlton six-yard box in the 79th minute but Fortune got in ahead of Couñago and Lee. Soon after, Garvan shot narrowly over from 25 yards.

Ambrose shot over from a similar distance with the Blues caught on the break as they chased another goal. Former Canary Danny Mills picked up a yellow card for a foul on Walters.

As the game moved into injury time, Couñago's shot was deflected wide off Mills, then Lee was booked for handball. David Wright joined him in the referee's book for a foul on Ambrose.

Late on, Lee and Jonathan Fortune clashed, the Blues being awarded a freekick. Fortune chased after Lee and Sodje prevented the incident from overheating, but only momentarily as when the final whistle blew a few moments later the Charlton man hit Lee, leaving the Town striker on the ground.

Things briefly boiled over with players flying in from all directions, but order was quickly restored and Fortune was showed a straight red card.

A much better performance from the Blues in the second half and in the end a draw wouldn't have been an unfair result. This time the Town players were applauded off by their supporters.

Over the course of the game, Town had more chances than the Addicks and will rue Lee's poor spotkick, while Danny Haynes will feel he should have scored his header.

Couñago's goal was fantastic and the Spaniard surely must have won his place in the starting line-up away from home with a fine display.

As good as the second half was — some of the finishing aside — it should be seen in the context that the first was as bad as we've witnessed under Jim Magilton's management and that Town were already three goals down with the game to all intents and purposes lost.

Three home matches next give the Blues a chance of pushing their way back up the table, but until the problem of getting results away is solved, Town's season will be at best one of taking two steps forward and one back.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Wilnis, Garvan, Williams, Miller, Walters, Roberts, Lee. Unused: Supple, Trotter. Att: 24,680.

Photo: Action Images

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