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

Swn98 added 07:43 - Jul 31 Mickszzzzposts perhaps you could write your posts in a way that an unintelligent underling to those with such superior command of the English language understand.
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GiveusaWave added 08:22 - Jul 31 Personally thought we could have conceded 10, so happy with this result.
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bbg added 10:44 - Jul 31 Not a lot of inspiration to be taken from Saturday's performance or result, but unfortunately not a lot to inspire either from the above 7 pages of posts. The normal rants about a manager from those who are better tacticians, more experienced in the football world and far superior in terms of team selection. The current manager has one year left on his contract and is highly unlikely to get an extension. Interesting that the view of the majority of football pundits is that he had performed miracles on a shoestring. No one minds constructive criticism, but the continued references to favourites or players being played out of position are tedious and annoying. Professional managers, whose job is on the line on a weekly basis, have only one loyalty when it comes to players, it is to those they can rely on to keep them in a job and anyone who thinks otherwise knows nothing about the game. Chambers and Sears played CB & CF respectively on Saturday. Maybe the reason Chambers previously played RB is that MM wanted a third CB in the back 4 because he wasnt sure that Chambers & Smith are good enough to play in a two. I think he may have been right on that score. As for Sears, he is 5'7", with most teams now playing one CF, if he cannot play as an inside left or an inside right in the current era he may as well retire.

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vanmunt added 11:23 - Jul 31 @bbg Bit of a hypocritical post.. lambasting people for lack of football knowledge then enlightening us with your lack of football knowledge.
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cactusjack added 11:31 - Jul 31 hahahahahahahaha made my day 1 step closer to getting mccarthy out and as long as we keep losing it wont be long before hes gone this is gonna be a 10 year rebuild because first we need the management out then the owner then we can begin to be a force again with the right spine but saying that i will probably be dead before that happens.
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Gcon added 12:08 - Jul 31 Good to see everybody has their knickers in a twist already...
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bugledog123 added 12:52 - Jul 31 It's going to be a long season....
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BlueMachines added 12:53 - Jul 31 Most knickers haven't been untwisted sine the debacle of the last 18 months. And rightly so.
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warktheline added 13:23 - Jul 31 @bbg, oh dear! I'm assuming by your ridiculous post that a right back wasn't required because McCarthy needed his right back to cover two inadequate centre backs? ....I could go on but you've said it all yourself !!!! Sometimes you think things can't get any worse, but they do! bbg, do us all suffering fans a favour and don't offer your football knowledge to our clueless owner!!!!!!!

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bressinghamblue added 13:26 - Jul 31 @bbf - Constructive criticism is exactly what most posters give on here, especially the blindingly obvious favouritism of 'proper blokes and negative tactics and playing people out of position. It is criticism, and rightly so. Most long suffering fans have no problem with injuries, illness, loss of form or other unpreventable issues. However, that's not the problem at ITFC right now. We have had some good, positive players ruined or forced out by McCarthy e.g. Parr (200x better than Knudsen), Chambers and Freddie. His stubborn refusal to set up the midfield positively (two seasons of Skuglas) and his total blinkered view that he might actually have players who WANT to play attacking football has frustrated the he'll out of so many fans that our season ticket base has fallen nearly 5000 in just two years. So, we've every right to be critical. The flipside is 'constructive'. All those who want MM removed, of which I'm definitely one, can see we have an exciting bunch of players. Webster is a star in the making. Kenlock. Ward (when not played out of position). Iorfa looks exciting. Dozzell. Bishop. Huws. Bart. Dids when fit. Emmanuel was starting to progress nicely. The constructive criticism is simple. Use them properly, set them up to play real football. Scare the opposition, let them worry about us for once. It won't happen. We all know that because He's a stubborn, stubborn man. Cannot wait for him to go.

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Battyboy added 13:32 - Jul 31 I keep watching Sky Sports hoping that he's been fired!!! May be next Monday.
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bbg added 16:04 - Jul 31 Bressinghamblue: What do the favouritism or proper blokes references mean? Is anyone seriously suggesting that a professional manager who has taken 2 clubs to the Premier League will select a player because he likes them as "blokes" or they are good friends of his? If you think so, I am sorry but you know nothing about professional football. What do I know? Not as much as professionals with vast experience but I have at least taken all of my coaching badges and get paid to coach. I have never been a MM supporter or any other manager for that matter, but I resent the constant focus on managers when teams lose. Good managers cut their cloth to measure.The managerial merry go round only costs clubs money. Is it any coincidence that Arsenal & Man Utd (Ferguson era) were not only successful on the pitch, they were also financially successful and they kept their manager for 20+ years. This club had a reputation for doing something similar, even if it was often against "fans" advice. We set up on Saturday to play passing attacking football and got hammered, not because of lack of coaching but because most players had a bad day at the office. Many fans had been crying out for a Chambers/Smith partnership on the grounds that Berra was past it. Maybe Chambers lack of match practice can be used as an excuse, but anyone who watched Saturday might understand why MM didnt agree with them. I dont think its ever really possible for any of us to select a team when we cannot see players form when they compete against each other in training, but for what its worth with everyone fit, I would go with the following: (Where 2 players are given for a position, I would go with the player in form or showing the correct attitude). In a 532: Gerken or Bart: Spence or Iorfa, Chambers, Webster, Knudsen, Kenlock or Nydam or Rowe; Adeyemi or Dozzell, Skuse, Huws or Celina: McGoldrick, Garner. In a 433: Gerken or Bart: Spence or Iorfa, Chambers, Webster, Knudsen; Adeyemi or Dozzell, Skuse, Huws; Garner, McGoldrick, Celina. With present availability, I suspect for Saturday next MM will go with a team similar enough to Saturday last, except with McGoldrick hopefully back for Sears and Webster for Smith or Chambers .

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happybeingblue added 17:31 - Jul 31 i remember chambers and smith getting roasted at home v brighton last season in first 45 mins, you do not need coaching badges to see that they are not good enough at this level, you go out and recruit better players. and i think you will find the proper blokes P..SSTAKE, is the ref to his after match comments telling us how good dougie chambo is etc even though they cant pass the ball on the ground 10 yards to a team mate,but hey what do we know, we dont get paid the vast sums mick does to serve up that dross every week.

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Swn98 added 18:00 - Jul 31 Thanks spanishblueblood for clarifying the situation in such an eloquent fashion that mickszzzz is so critical of!.
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bbg added 21:05 - Jul 31 Happybeingblue: The vast sums that you refer to that MM & other managers get is largely because of the insecurity of tenure. Pressure from fans is a major cause of that job insecurity. What is the average term now for a championship manager? Lagerback the former Swedish & Iceland manager was paid a pittance and we should know his record. Why? Because there is security of tenure in that part of the world (20 years as manager of Swedish international teams).

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cat added 11:12 - Aug 1 bbg - I'm not sure where all these comparisons with Barca, Arsenal, Man U & Scandinavian football is going??, (bolloxs me thinks) but the fact of the matter is the football is dire, players (favourites) are being played well beyond what their form suggests they should be, negative tactics & hoofball to name but a few! Surely a man with your 'credentials' must be able to see all this, well I would hope so at any rate. Like you say though, none of us can see behind closed door, so we judge on what we see & hear. I completely get that our chances of staying up this season improves with the Dino in charge, but it's going to be ugly. Personally, I rather take a chance on a younger more forward thinking manager who's more in keeping with our proud traditions (remember them??) and deal with the consequences should they happen.

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bbg added 19:26 - Aug 1 cat:Fan induced managerial blame games costs clubs money and takes pressure of well paid players. Qualified, experienced championship coaches/managers shouldnt cost millions but they do. Lagerback was paid £100k per annum by Sweden (6 matches unbeaten v English managers who were paid millions). If I watch a game as a neutral I like to see an attacking passing game. Is that realistic here with present resources? MM took over a poor squad with no funds to rebuild (as will the next manager). He has done well in my view with the resources available and there was a clear effort as well during pre season (including Saturday) to play out from the back.

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cat added 11:21 - Aug 2 bbg - The butt stops with the manager, MM did indeed save us in his first season, although it was hardly the Great Escape as some on here have mentioned, and well overachieved in his second one, The last 2.5 seasons however have been woeful, 70% of fans want a change, and attendances are falling rapidly, not because we are struggling imo, but more to do with the boring entertainment starved brand of dire football the Dino is churning out. We should not underestimate the quality of the championship, for a second tier league it could rival many countries top leagues, including the Allsvenskan. Interesting point you make about obscene wage structures for managers in the championship, and I agree, like I said on my previous post though, I would be happy if ITFC were to give a lesser manager a chance (like Sweden did) if the right kind of football was promoted. Do I think that with the current resources we can employ a pass and move system! Definitely not, but with a change of manager and the old guard of cloggers (Chambo, Smith, Skuse & Knudsen) moved on, a fresh manager and the right kind of players brought in, either from academy or cheap signings then I think it is possible. Playing the game the 'right way' does not cost millions, it's more down with the managers/coaches philosophy's, as you would know.

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bbg added 16:46 - Aug 2 I dont think many of the Brighton, Leicester, Burnley, etc defenders who recently got promoted were any better as footballers than the ones you have listed, though they might be better defenders eg Duff, Mee, Morgan, Huth, Duffy, Dunk, etc. With present resources It will be extremely difficult if not impossible to get promoted trying to outplay teams. The more likely route would appear to be direct or counter-attacking football and unfortunately at the moment, from that point of view, we have no Murphy type and not many pacy attackers either.

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