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

cat added 11:18 - Jul 30 Time for a change, and I don't just mean the management. We have been carrying the likes of Chambo, Knudsen and Skuse for too long now. Smith is 'one of our own' but let's be honest here, is woeful at best and uncomfortable on the ball. This is going to be a nothing season already, why not take a gamble on the youth, they can't be any worse. I have never gone into a season on such a complete downer, take a risk MM, you never know it might just save you, cause the proper blokes certainly won't!. Bart, Dids, Webster, Adeyemi, Huws, Garner & Celina are the only quality players of any note, so let's build round them and bin the rest.

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warktheline added 11:29 - Jul 30 @swn, we are heading for div1 then 2 with Evans as owner, unless by sheer luck he accidentally appoints a manager that bucks this trend! We at present are unfunded on the pitch, and failing miserably to unearth 'gems' ( when occasionally we do, we sell ) add to that 'youth system' ! Nowt about intelligence , more like common sense!!!!!!
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MicksZzzTactics added 12:26 - Jul 30 @warktheline You my dear **good** sir are imho explaining it exactly like the honorable Bob Marley: Unfortunately, your adversary @Swn98 -- who btw also displays the incredible **ill-mannered** & infantile audacity to downvote someone (you) who is PERSONALLY wishing an entirely other poster (me) welcome back!!! -- is clearly one of those "men" who with a bit of ehmmm magical foresight :-) lol I take it, was among those referred to in the this classic quote from the 1770 philosophical milestone of the French Enlightenment 'Système de la Nature" by Paul-Henri Thiry d'Holbach: :-) LMAO :-)

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ChestnutSe added 13:23 - Jul 30 Midas Touch - brill video, made my day
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Swn98 added 14:42 - Jul 30 sidtheswan i will make my own mind up whether to attend or not.
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Swn98 added 14:44 - Jul 30 if you say so Warktheline if you say so.
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Swn98 added 14:46 - Jul 30 No Mickszzzzzposts i voted it down because im not glad to see you back.
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warwickblue added 14:48 - Jul 30 Each to his own, of course, but I'm beginning season two of a complete boycott of Portman Road whilst MM is still in charge and I'm not regretting it so far.
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geminimustang added 15:38 - Jul 30 MM is allowed to spend £2M+,a couple of signings and a loan.Probably enough to stave off relegation.Everybody wants to drag the guy to the nearest tree and hang him!I'm sorry but unless you're spending £20M,you're lucky to stay mid-table.6-1 was a disgrace but let's accept the budget is very poor.Not criticising ME,he loses money at ITFC every year.
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happybeingblue added 15:57 - Jul 30 £25 for a ticket next sat after yday ,it oughta be a fiver, we are going to become a bloomin laughing stock! this season if we aint already
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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:09 - Jul 30 I think with Evans it's a case of stick or twist. If he sticks then the fact is he will lose approx 7 million a year for however long he owns the club for. The exact ins and outs I don't know but it was written into the contract (at Evans insistence) that he can't take money out of the club until we are in the Prem. So he either invests now and has a real tilt at the league or accepts that he loses 7million a year for how long. Surely having bought the club with the intention of gaining promotion and the selling the only course of action is to invest? We should be wary , look at Bolton when the owner decided he could no longer continue to pump money into the club (they were still in the prem) Evans could reach that point and the who knows.... he tries to sell the club, who's buying? Maybe a rich Asain or Russian businessman great but should they do so and decide to appoint Zola or say Tony Adams ......? Maybe a fans buy out? Do we collectively have deep enough pockets to lose 7 million a year just to run the club? Let alone invest the funds needed to sign the players to deliver promotion. Yes a stake would see bigger turn outs and so morr money, but enough to make a difference? Maybe no one, as there are not too many people in the market for a small (sorry but we are, look at most of the other teams in the division) provincial football club. 3 iffy options at the moment. For all we slate Evans on here we should look equally at football authorities who in trying to bring down the costs of football have some how managed to send them into overdrive, failed to enforce there own rules and are still too busy weeding out corrupt officials to get a grip on the game. We along with all fans should be at them just as much as Evans. I'm not defending or attacking him, he sore money wasted by tweedle dee and tweedle dumb and it doesn't matter how deep your pockets run 7 mil is alot to lose year in year out but equally we are rudderless top to bottom as Evans doesn't seem sure how best to get us to a stage where he gets paid and we get sold IE the top flight. We need impetus and leadership from the top down.

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oldegold added 16:13 - Jul 30 Until McCarthy is in charge then the long slow decline continues. As we have a president who is not willing to put real money into the club then we should be investing in youth. Until players like Knudsen Skuse et all who are only playing to save the face of this bone headed Yorkshire man are in the side and youth is not being given a fling then relegation will be staring us in the face. Let's be honest..the tactics will become more dreadful ( hard to imagine ) and safety first hoofball will return. The change begins with his removal..and now

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Swn98 added 16:35 - Jul 30 Oldegold until McCarthy is in charge ? i thought he was. Secondly don't pin your hopes on the yoof not much hope there after what i saw Wed night
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BlueMachines added 17:17 - Jul 30 Muck still doesn't make the best of what he does have. Until he does I want him out. The tactics and negative mentality need to change. I know we don't invest but I wouldn't trust Muck with my money. Under Muck wingers are forced to defend purely because he won't pick capable full backs. We had a good one. Johnny Parr but he couldn't get in The team ahead of Chambers. That still speaks to me much louder than Evans being tight.

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BlueMachines added 17:17 - Jul 30 Muck still doesn't make the best of what he does have. Until he does I want him out. The tactics and negative mentality need to change. I know we don't invest but I wouldn't trust Muck with my money. Under Muck wingers are forced to defend purely because he won't pick capable full backs. We had a good one. Johnny Parr but he couldn't get in The team ahead of Chambers. That still speaks to me much louder than Evans being tight.

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blueboy1981 added 17:19 - Jul 30 ....... maybe time for the Club to be left to the people who (even now) think everything is fine - and still the Great Club some of us once knew it to be. Memories will last forever - thankfully for some of us. Some haven't had that experience - obviously.
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warktheline added 18:03 - Jul 30 The mindset of some on this forum can only be described as mind boggling ! The bottom line is, Evans,when he took over believed football success would be easy! Being ruddy clueless about the game certainly didn't help him,and now he's lost interest ! He's not a saviour or a messiah! Losing money my a***! In regards to McCarthy, yes the first two seasons, style of play aside, done extremely well. Thereafter no financial backing hasn't helped his cause, but a gradual and persistent pattern in his tactics,e.g. negative, and playing players out of position, coupled with a group of 'proper blokes' continually playing regardless of form, has pushed many supporters to stop going to Portman rd. No one can honestly say the McCarthy that walked into Portman Rd 4 years ago is the same one now!!!

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Lightningboy added 18:39 - Jul 30 The fact that Skuse is probably always first on Mick's team sheet sums up where we are at the moment (and have been for a good few seasons)...a nothing player with nothing to offer..that's why we're going nowhere but downwards. Things won't improve until both have gone....I was willing to give McCarthy one final chance but 3 or 4 performances and results like yesterday in the opening few weeks and he'll be gone by October.

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cat added 19:58 - Jul 30 It might be the case of me eating a wee piece of humble pie here! I was one of the ones that was saying Berra was past it and should be on his way, and that's putting it a tad mildly! DOH!!. Reflecting on the horror show that was in main, our defensive frailties yesterday, I reckon we are now gonna miss that 'teeth out & 'lets have it' approach, (not Delia style obviously) as yesterday 'star' centre halves looked more pruned & ready for a cat walk performance than a blood and guts hoof fest!! On a more serious note, I'm actually looking forward to the new season, passion, bravery, hearts on sleeve, aggression, insults, posts being hit left, right and centre and above all ENTERTAINMENT, thank god for this forum then!! (lol) BTW Big thanks to Phil & Co for keeping things interesting and up to date throughout a football starved summer. SIDEWARDS & DOWNWARDS!!

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warktheline added 20:26 - Jul 30 @cat, Berra isn't the answer, bloody Groundhog Day at Hearts! Talk a good game, and all that!
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cat added 21:12 - Jul 30 @walktheline, agree 'pal', but yesterday showed we are missing quality. Webster & Iorfa first choices for me!
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MicksZzzTactics added 21:24 - Jul 30 Hmmmm my dear @Swn98 what exactly are you saying "NO" to in your rather futile attempt at explaining/defending why you donwoted @warktheline's quite personal 'Welcome Back' post??? Aye we all get 200% that by downvoting said post your thereby emphatically implied (already back then!) that me returning to posting on TWTD makes you seriously unhappy ...almost to the brink of you developing a clinical depression I suspect! :-) , so A) there is absolutely no point whatsoever in stating so in writing, afterwards! and B) It doesn't change one iota the imho utter distastefulness of ANYONE unsarcastically disapproving and/or downvoting such a type of post -- whether it's addressed to me or somebody else -- in my (and most *decent* people's) 'Biiiig Book Of Chat & other social ETIQUETTE', a distastefulness in the display of an "ill-mannered & infantile audacity" as I opted to describe it like earlier. Secondly PLEASE don't start to succumb to picking on other people's blatantly *obvious* typos (i.e. @oldegold's "until") will you??? , as that is imho inherently ill-mannered & infantile in and of itself too!!! (With the possible humorous exception if the typo ranks right up there with the undisputed master of made-up words The Twitter King Donald "My next week in The Oval Office is gonna be more disastrous than the last" Trump's mind-blowingly cryptic & gone viral "COVFEFE" one of course!) Alas my message here is quite simple: Keeping in mind that all of us here are human -- hopefully :-) -- and thus fallible (myself include obviously), from an pure etiquette perspective certain observations, things & thoughts are generally speaking quite simply best kept to oneself! ...when in public ....which obviously includes a public forum like this ganZzz wunderschön ITFC related one here :-) (PS: And just for the record, and also to stop you or other "MZT haters" :-) from perhaps now considering trying to make an outright silly misguided analogy to some of the "less than nice" things I occasionally have posted or image-uploaded about Manic Mick: I neither condone of *ALL* the derogatory labels -- especially if they are either clearly UNSARCASTIC and/or not backuped by hard facts & stats -- nor vehemently of the real nasty obscene cusswords being applied to the beleaguered Dino ..... But it has to be said that in the case of the latter *sadly* the Dino has truly brought that particular aspect of it 'The IDebate' entirely upon himself! by his recurrent fandisrespect and trademark-like foulmouthedness, topped off of course by on the eve of the great 'SBR Day', Mick quite unfathomably publicly referring to us fans as "The F@ckers"!!!).

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warktheline added 21:48 - Jul 30 @cat, yes pal I guess for me too.....considering we haven't seen much of lorfa it sums up the mess we are in! Chambers should be put out to graze! Can't understand how a once 'very good championship cb' allowed a manager to play him out of position for so long! Unfortunately like his manager happy to continue picking up his wages! Personally would have drove him to Forest, tail end of last season! First out the door for me! It's all too comfortable !!!!

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runningout added 03:19 - Jul 31 agree, and a shame but Chambers is giving off weak signals right now, and needs to think about his near future
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harlingblue added 03:35 - Jul 31 This was a McCarthy Cup team? just a team to play a game? Too many main players were missing, but a 6-1 defeat is hard to bear. Such a shame after a great fun day that lifted morale, a rude awakening that could be our death knoll? Let's hope that it is the the result to changes our course, to a brighter future with more resource?
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