Town’s pre-season programme ended on the worst possible note as the Blues were thrashed 6-1 by League One Charlton Athletic at the Valley. Patrick Bauer, Tariqe Fosu and Josh Magennis (2) put the Addicks 4-0 up at half-time before two Ricky Holmes strikes sandwiched Andre Dozzell’s solitary goal for Town.

David McGoldrick and Bersant Celina joined Town’s list of absentees due to illness with Tom Adeyemi (ill), Emyr Huws (achilles), Teddy Bishop (groin) and Luke Hyam (ankle) also still unavailable.

Better news for manager Mick McCarthy was that Cole Skuse was back at the centre of midfield alongside youngster Flynn Downes with Dozzell in the first-team squad and on the bench for the first time during pre-season after a hip injury sustained while helping the England U19s to win the European Championships. Former Blues striker Billy Clarke starts for the Addicks.

At a drizzly and virtually empty Valley, Town threatened in the opening minute. Grant Ward, who skipped into the area and hit a low shot which six-goal pre-season striker Joe Garner was almost able to turn past Charlton keeper Ben Amos as he grabbed low down.

On three, Danny Rowe cut in from the left but shot well over, then in the seventh minute Garner rose high to head wide from Ward’s cross following a corner on the right.

The Blues had had much the better of the opening minutes but in the 11th minute the home side went in front from their first attempt of the match. Ricky Holmes sent over a freekick from the left - which had been a touch harshly awarded against skipper Luke Chambers - and Bauer glanced a header past Bartosz Bialkowski.

Following the goal, the Addicks enjoyed the greater share of the ball and in the 27th minute they added to their lead. Rowe’s poor pass into his own area on the left was seized on by Clarke, who teed-up the breaking Fosu and his low shot flew past Bialkowski and into the corner of the net.

Four minutes later, it was 3-0. Holmes crossed from the right and Magennis held of Jordan Spence and flicked a header across Bialkowski, who was only able to palm the ball into the net.

The home side continued to dominate and in the 39th minute they added a fourth. Clarke beat Chambers on the left of the area before cutting back to Magennis, who shot low past Bialkowski.

Neither side seriously threatened again before the whistle with plenty of the small number of Town fans who had made the trip having long made their exit for a half-time pint.

The Blues had started the half positively enough but after the first goal the Addicks had dominated - scoring with each of their four shots at goal - with Town unable to regain a foothold in the game.

Town made three changes ahead of the second half with Dominic Iorfa replacing Spence at right-back, Adam Webster skipper Chambers at the centre of the defend and Dozzell Danny Rowe, who had suffered a number of knocks during the first half.

Freddie Sears moved to the left of a front three with Garner in the centre and Ward on the right, while Dozzell was ahead of Downes and Skuse at the heart of the midfield.

The Blues created the first chance of the second half, Jonas Knudsen crossing from the left and Garner heading over.

But in the 51st minute the home side made it 5-0 with the best goal of the afternoon. Fosu played the ball inside to Holmes, who hit a powerful, curling effort past Bialkowski from the edge of the box.

Fosu went looking for a sixth in the 55th minute but blazed over, then two minutes later Garner had the ball in the net from distance but referee Gavin Ward had already blown up for a foul.

A minute later Knudsen crossed from the left and Downes headed down but straight at Amos, who made his first save since the opening minute of the match.

On 64 Fosu deftly chested down a looping ball midway inside the Town half and brought it forward to the edge of the box before hitting a shot straight at Bialkowski when he ought to have laid off to team-mates either side of him.

Five minutes later Iorfa won a corner on the right having made a pacy run. Smith’s header from the flag-kick was too close to Amos. On 70 Dozzell played the on-loan Wolves man in on the right and Amos again saved but with the flag already raised.

Town pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute when Ward crossed from the right, Knudsen nodded back across goal and Dozzell turned home from the edge of the six-yard box. Had the England U19 international not scored the Blues would probably have been awarded a penalty for a foul on Garner who was sent crashing to the ground as he looked to get on the end of the knockdown.

While the teams lined-up Myles Kenlock and Tristan Nydam replaced Knudsen and Skuse, then on 77, as Charlton prepared to take a freekick, Ben Folami replaced Garner, who had already left the field, presumably having suffered a knock when he was felled.

The Addicks made it 6-1 from the freekick with Holmes curling his second of the afternoon over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Australian youngster Folami forced a save from Amos with a shot from a tight angle on the left of the area on 81, then Charlton should have made it seven when Magennis played in Jake Forster-Caskey but Bialkowski did well to save.

There were no further chances before referee Ward blew the final whistle to inevitable boos from the Blues support behind the goal.

Town improved to some extent after the break - they couldn’t have been as poor as they’d been in the first half - but still only rarely seriously threatened, while Charlton always looked the more dangerous side going forward and may well feel they should have scored at least once more.

Blues boss Mick McCarthy will have wanted to go into next week’s opening game of the season at home to Birmingham having won today, however, such a comprehensive defeat to a team from a lower league will only serve to raise concerns among fans regarding the Blues prospects for the season ahead in what is now a very difficult Championship.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Bauer (Sarr 84), Konsa, Dasilva (Barnes 89), Kashi (Dijksteel 85), Forster-Caskey (Ahearne-Grant 85), Fosu (Crofts 85), Holmes (Jackson 85), Clarke (Watt 71), Magennis. Unused: Maynard-Brewer.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence (Iorfa 46), Chambers (Webster 46), Smith, Knudsen (Kenlock 74), Ward, Skuse (Nydam 74), Downes, Rowe (Dozzell 46), Sears, Garner (Folami 77). Subs: Gerken, Bru, McKendry, Folami, Patterson. Referee: Gavin Ward. Att: 2,297 (Town: 350).

Photo: PagePix

madmouse1959 added 22:42 - Jul 29 Why are we still playing footballers from last seasons miserable season ? Can anyone suggest a possible answer why we still have players that have proved they are simply not good enough.
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BlueArrow added 23:23 - Jul 29 What I want to know is. Why are we supporters putting up with this? Make a point with your feet and your wallet until something positive happens. I've not been to Portman Road since the Derby defeat. I don't intend to anytime soon either.
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:36 - Jul 30 Not sure what to realistically expect next season. Lose more games than we win, a good number of draws, play with some belief and purpose on occasion - but on the whole struggling to make any real impact and some considerable vitriol towards the manager as the weeks and months pass. Where it will end I don't know but in truth there's little to zero chance we'll be in the promotion mix by end of season. Some analysists have the club down as one of the candidates for relegation if correct. Following today's rabble, it's hard to dispute. For what it's worth - and I realize this is a futile endeavor - I wish the manager would do the honorable thing and step down as soon as possible before any real harm can come to the team next season. Another nine months of what we still possess, is, in the simpest terms, an unsavory proposition.

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shakytown added 03:27 - Jul 30 No fist pumps from first on the sheet chambo today. We have been awful defensively for 3-4 years and he is by far the worst defender in the club. Nothing has been done to remedy this problem and sadly as long as Muck is here nothing will be done as he is blinkered by favouritism to certain player regardless of performance.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:55 - Jul 30 While I think that, even with everyone fit, this season will at best be a long slog to avoid relegation with our current squad, it does seem likely that the infection (so-called "flu") that has hit the club must have played some part in this abysmal performance. If several players have been laid low for a week or more, it must have disrupted preparations. Having said that, this should be the kind of situation that proper blokes roll up their sleeves for.

3

Swn98 added 07:13 - Jul 30 The season hasn't begun yet and I see the personal abuse has already started Wark the line! How sad.
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 07:23 - Jul 30 Even more players out with "illness"? I swear I've never seen a group of people as frequently sick as this team is. They exercise, eat right, train, yet they all have an immune system of a mouse with salmonella. Tired of reading the same sh*t over and over again. Has Didzy ever been fully healthy? Hyam has been down for what feels like years. Same with Bishop. Same wounded players, same tired excuses.... Same BS story as last year. Our team is decimated with illness and injury and the season hasn't even started yet.

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Dire_Straits added 08:07 - Jul 30 It was a FRIENDLY!! The real stuff starts next week calm down.
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feelinblue2 added 08:49 - Jul 30 Don't panic folks, we are just lulling the rest of the championship to thinking we're this bad, such clever tactics from MM............coughs loudly!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 08:50 - Jul 30 Lathers I do not. Us playing a bunch of Irishman at the end of a week Ireland had no bearing on this result at all, again it was nothing more than a kick about for the squad. Had we played Barcelona instead would it have made a difference to yesterday? No. I don't know why you want to carry on the convo in all honesty.
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warktheline added 08:51 - Jul 30 @swn, what! Personal abuse.....where? keep marking me down, believe me I'm more than well used to it! I've had 8 years of it at University whilst completing an honours degree! @dire straits, believe me pal, we certainly are!
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runningout added 08:51 - Jul 30 Friendly or not it was 6 one .. it doesn't hide how poo things are. Reasons why better players should be boggy in early and given us some needed hope, rather than same faces that buckle with criticism and little pressure
2

runningout added 08:53 - Jul 30 not sure how boggy turned up instead of bought :)
0

Warkys_Tash added 08:55 - Jul 30 Big worry, friendly or not. No professional player should be happy getting smashed like this. Unfortunately players like Spence, Knudsen & and an unfit Chambers, Skuse aren't really up to Championship standard. Buying cheap for the past 5 seasons has finally caught up on Town.
6

pegasus added 09:01 - Jul 30 Grim. Very Grim. But it does look (after reading the report of MM's interview) as if illness, this virus that's spread in the dressing room MIGHT have been a factor.
2

Swn98 added 09:12 - Jul 30 ah i get it your more intelligent than me thanks for letting me Know.
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trncbluearmy added 09:43 - Jul 30 Pegasus 100% agree There is something else going on here. Having paid the £1 to watch live there seemed to me to be several players that were really struggling from the start. I am a wondering if we did our best to honour a fixture when we should have pulled out. The real question is are the standards of food and hygiene good enough at the training center?
1

sidtheswan added 09:57 - Jul 30 Moaning doesn't change anything. Action does . Stop going to games. Don't buy tickets those with season tickets on direct debit stop paying . The end result is you will be richer you won't have to watch shocking football and you will feel better. Then with falling crowds falling revenues etc ME will eventually get the message and leave or sack Myopic Mick . We then might get our club back and we can then get back to supporting the team we all love . Whether you go or not we're going to get knocked out of the cups and struggle to finish mid table if we are lucky. You know it makes sense .

8

midastouch added 10:05 - Jul 30 And that red strip needs to go, it could be a our new bogey strip! Doesn't seem right seeing Town play in red!
1

Robert_Garrett added 10:24 - Jul 30 All is well. Nothing like a good thrashing to bend some soccer sense into the system. Not to read too much into the result as Charlton wont be played again this season unless we are unfortunate and draw them in the FA CUP. Town lost 1-10 at Fulham and beat them a week later 4-2 - so what?
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blueherts added 10:33 - Jul 30 Sick and a virus - I think the players are probably sick of the sight of the same old approach Carton House , play some pub teams , get beat by league one opposition Blame Ogle We are going up
2

happybeingblue added 10:51 - Jul 30 yesterday just proves yet again that the team is no where near good enough and that with smith chambo as our 2 c backs we are going to get roasted,we let berra go and have replaced him with guys who are not wanted by other championship teams, still shopping in the bargain basement bin = RELEGATION even midfielders like huws ade etc were let go by the likes of warnock norwich etc roll on october when i believe our mick will finally be shown the door, but the shambles of a squad assembled will be a huge task for whoever comes in to keep us up... at the moment we have HOPE that the new season brings , but i and thousands of other town fans im sure our fearing the worst yet again!

3

runningout added 11:04 - Jul 30 You going well back there Garrett.. it's not such a funny old game at times like yesterday. Yes it's all down to the dodgy red kit
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grumpyoldman added 11:06 - Jul 30 Until the season starts I will hold back on comments about the performance or lack of it. Some on here are well into the preseason training, same old position from a lot of people, no new approach taken by any of the old brigade, people taking offence when none intended, other blowing their own trumpets, making out they are better at judging a football, team due to their education. I have followed the town for over fifty years, does that make me a better judge than anybody else, no. I have my opinions usually founded on facts, not entrenched open to being influenced. As I keep saying today is another day nearer to MM leaving, I did used to support him but I will not return until he has left

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Ipstones added 11:14 - Jul 30 Nothing's changed since my last post just getting slightly worse as time goes by! I haven't been to Portman road since we lost to Brentford 3-1 with ten men! The next time I go will be just so I can leave and show a certain person where the exit is !!! A few notes will be going on town going down as my heart tells me that we are definitely one of worst five teams in the league with still no direction cohesion in playing style and an inability to pass teams off the park ... gone are those days . We are gonna get some right tonkings this season.gutted as another season rolls around not looking forward to it!:(

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