A goal in either half from Albie Morgan and Omar Bogle saw Charlton to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Town at Portman Road. Morgan put his side ahead with a low shot on 21 in an evenly-balanced first half, while sub Bogle scored with his first touch in the 68th minute to seal the three points for the visitors with the Blues, who are down to sixth, never looking like staging a comeback.

Liam Gibbs and David Cornell were handed their league debuts as manager Paul Lambert made four changes from the team which lost 3-0 at home to Hull City on Tuesday.

Gibbs, 17, came into the midfield three with Andre Dozzell, who was back after his three-match ban and Brett McGavin.

Bury St Edmunds-based academy product Gibbs, who had previously made two starts and one sub appearance in the EFL Trophy, started in a role ahead of the deeper Dozzell with McGavin completing one of the youngest midfields the Blues have ever fielded in a league game.

Emyr Huws is missing from the squad, presumably having joined Jon Nolan, Teddy Bishop, Flynn Downes, Cole Skuse and Tristan Nydam on a long midfield injured list.

Cornell took over in goal from Tomas Holy, who dropped to the bench. The Welshman had previously made five starts in cup games for the Blues since his summer move from Northampton.

At the centre of the defence, Toto Nsiala returned to the right of Luke Woolfenden with Mark McGuinness among the subs. Skipper Luke Chambers and Stephen Ward continued as the full-backs.

Up front, Keanan Bennetts was on the left and Alan Judge the right with James Norwood again the central striker.

For Charlton, manager Lee Bowyer, a former Blues midfielder, brought Chuks Aneke, Albie Morgan and ex-Blues loanee Jonny Williams into his XI for Omar Bogle, Alex Gilbey and Marcus Maddison, who were among the subs.

The Addicks were again forced to field a makeshift centre-half pairing of right-back Chris Gunter and midfielder Darren Pratley.

Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s applause in memory of football legend Diego Maradona, who died earlier in the week.

The game started scruffily but in the fifth minute McGavin won the ball midway inside the Charlton half and fed Bennetts, who took it on and hit a shot from the edge of the box which struck and Addicks defender. On the arm, according to Bennetts, but referee Craig Hicks showed no interest.

On 13 Judge found Chambers in space on the right. The Blues captain cut in and hit a shot with the outside of his boot which caught a defender on its way wide. From the resultant corner on the left, Nsiala rose highest but nodded beyond the far post.

A minute later, with Town looking the more dangerous side, Bennetts appeared to try to catch Addicks keeper Ben Amos unawares with a shot from wide on the left when a cross looked the more obvious option.

As the game approached the quarter-hour mark, the Blues came close to going in front when Dozzell played a ball through for Norwood, who held off Gunter but a heavy touch took it away from him and the striker was unable to avoid hooking his effort at goal from eight yards over the bar as well as Amos.

Two minutes later, Charlton felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Aneke’s flick sent Williams in on goal but Nsiala somehow got back to outmuscle the Welsh international and stab away and Cornell saved down to his right. A spot-kick would have been harsh but as Town know to their cost that penalties can be awarded in such situations.

The Addicks were starting to look more threatening and on 20 Aneke shot well over from a tight angle on the right.

And the South Londoners only had to wait another minute to go in front. Aneke won the ball from Woolfenden as he sought to play out on the edge of the area to the left and fed Andrew Shinnie. The Scot took it into the area before his low ball deflected off a Town defender to Morgan and the 20-year-old fired his first league goal for the Addicks past Cornell from 12 yards. Once again, Town’s defending had contributed much to an opposition goal.

In the 28th minute the Blues wasted a free-kick in a promising position not far outside the box. Dozzell played it wide to Judge on the left but the Irishman’s cross looped beyond Nsiala at the far post and out for a goal-kick.

Town lost striker Norwood to what looked to be another hamstring injury in the 35th minute. Aaron Drinan replaced the former Tranmere man a minute later, while Ward was receiving treatment for a knock of his own. Norwood’s exit was the third time in three games the Blues had lost a player to injury in the first half.

Drinan was making his first appearance since the opening day of the league season when he suffered a thigh injury in the 2-0 victory over Wigan.

The visitors had keeper Amos to thank for maintaining their 1-0 lead in the 38th minute, the keeper flying away to his right to palm Judge’s flicked header from Dozzell’s free-kick on the right past his post.

A minute later, Drinan won the ball on the byline from the hesitant Pratley and cut it back to Judge, whose shot was somehow deflected over by Ian Maatsen. As has been the case too often of late, Town’s corner came to nothing.

In the 43rd minute Judge was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Shinnie as Charlton broke.

In the final scheduled minute of the half, Paul Smyth got away behind Nsiala but threw himself to the ground just outside the area as the defender looked to get back in front of him. Referee Hicks was unimpressed with his dive but showed no card.

As half-time approached, most of the game was being played in the visitors’ half of the field but with Blues passes going astray at vital moments.

Again Town were left rueing having not taken chances at one end while being the architects of their own downfall at the other with there having been little between the sides during what had been a scruffy half overall.

Norwood will feel he should have taken his chance, while Judge’s header was kept out by an excellent Amos save, although the Irishman may believe he should have scored his other opportunity after Drinan had done well to win the ball back on the byline.

Keeper Cornell had had a relatively quiet half but the Blues still found themselves behind at the break from another very preventable goal.

Charlton were first the threaten after the restart. Morgan broke down the right and sent over a deep cross which Smyth looked to volley but the ball scuffed off his foot and out of play.

On 51 Aneke broke away from Woolfenden and hit a shot across Cornell which the keeper saved down to his right. Three minutes later, the Addicks swapped Williams for Gilbey.

As the hour mark approached, the Addicks were presenting the greatest threat, counter-attacking after Blues moves forward broke down. But fortunately up to now without seriously testing Cornell.

Town swapped Gibbs, who will have learned a lot from his first senior game and had shown one or two moments of his promise, for Jackson in the 64th minute as Charlton’s Smyth underwent treatment on the pitch having injured himself trying to bring down the Town youngster moments before his substitution.

Smyth was eventually helped to the stretcher cart, taken straight down the tunnel and replaced by Bogle, while Jackson joined Drinan in a front two.

Less than two minutes after being introduced, Bogle doubled his side’s lead with his first touch. Woolfenden failed to clear a long throw from the right, Pratley crossed and the former Wigan and Grimsby man slammed into the net at the far post having escaped Chambers’s attention. Yet another very soft goal from a Town perspective.

In the 71st minute Town were forced into another change with Nsiala suffering a knock and McGuinness taking over. The Blues also switched McGavin for Jack Lankester. Charlton replaced Aneke, a thorn in the Town backline’s side all afternoon, with Ben Purrington.

The Blues had a mountain to climb having gone two goals down, particularly as they had only scored more than once in one of their last six league games.

Their performance became more disjointed as the visitors grew in confidence having established their two-goal lead.

On 81 Judge hit a powerful shot against a defender, then took the rebound into the box before hitting another effort which was easy for Amos, whose only serious save all afternoon had been the Irish international’s header in the first half.

After seven minutes of injury time, referee Hicks’s whistle confirmed another Blues defeat to a side in the upper reaches of the division with Town still to win against anyone in the top eight and having taken only three points from their three back-to-back home games, and those via a very fortunate victory over Shrewsbury.

The Blues never really looked like getting back on terms in the early stages of the second period and once Charlton had gone two in front the destination of the three points never looked in any doubt.

Another defeat will see manager Lambert’s position come under further scrutiny with fans having made their frustrations known after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to leaders Hull City.

The Blues have now lost three of their last four in the league and seven of their last 10 in all competitions.

Whether owner Marcus Evans heeds fans’ calls for a change of manager remains to be seen but something certainly needs to change to prevent the season going in the same direction as the last campaign in which the Blues started brightly before drifting to a dismal mid-table finish.

Town are now down to sixth, with their game the only fixture involving the teams at the top being played today, ahead of tricky away trips to Oxford on Tuesday and Plymouth next Saturday.

Town: Cornell, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, Nsiala (McGuinness 71), Ward, Dozzell, McGavin (Lankester 71), Gibbs (Jackson 64), Bennetts, Judge, Norwood (Drinan 36). Unused: Holy, Kenlock, Hawkins.

Charlton: Amos, Gunter, Williams (Gilbey 54), Aneke (Purrington 71), Shinnie, Pratley (c), Matthews, Morgan, Maatsen, Watson, Smyth (Bogle 66). Unused: Maynard-Brewer, Pearce, Maddison. Referee: Craig Hicks (Surrey).

Photo: Matchday Images

dirtydingusmagee added 19:05 - Nov 28 Dolphin [ who is in hiding ] labled others and myself as being the Ncrew ,thinks he's funny. Well weeks ago i said we are going the same way as last season , weeks ago when the Dcrew were saying we will be flying when we get our injured players back ,well we are not , weeks ago i said those injured players wont last long when they return and they havnt,! come on Dolphin of the D crew, take that carrier bag off your head and face it we are a p#ss poor club ,with no hope under present regime, with a squad of sick,lame and lazy players and a clueless manager , and it comes down to an owner who is clearly bereft of ambition with no genuine interest in the game. We are on the slide ,as we have been for a number of years under Evans .

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LWNR2013 added 19:06 - Nov 28 The number of poor passes was unbelievable. 18 screams for the ball then blasts it, or loses it. So called leaders.... can't wait for the ballot next week. Jackson and Norwood together scored a lot of goals last season until injuries. But we can't do 2 up front? Not happy!!,
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juniorblue added 19:07 - Nov 28 I think PL has reached the end of the road. There seems to be something fundamentally wrong at the club and I cannot see anything improving under PL. Regardless of the injuries we have no shape, organisation, desire, creativity, goalscoring or any clue on tactics. It is sad to watch. Evans needs to sell up and/or bring in someone to prevent an inevitable (on current form) slide down the table. Burley with a younger sidekick maybe? I wonder what player will be sent out on Monday to give the usual "we are gutted, hurting, but we were brilliant" interview......

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Michael101 added 19:07 - Nov 28 Sorry cobbold bros,
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BeattiesBackPocket added 19:08 - Nov 28 What is wrong with some of our fans banging on constantly about Howe I'd love that guy but he turned down Derby who are extremely ambitious and just left a premier league club why on earth would he come to a league one side who finished 11th with no ambition from the owner since being here 5th lowest wages in the championship!? Get real guys we'll continue to get has been managers as no one and I repeat NOONE decent will risk their cv on a league one team who's players are average at best!

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RobsonWark added 19:11 - Nov 28 I said it 3 or more years ago that our captain fantastic (he who must not be dropped - or he'll have a rant at the manager and maybe kick a door in the changing rooms ) we'll take us down to non-league football while he is in the team. How many managers have lost their jobs because they continue to pick him for every game?
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JCBLUE added 19:14 - Nov 28 Unfortunate with injuries (needs investigating), but enough is enough, time to go Paul.
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TWBlue added 19:30 - Nov 28 I was happy to give Lambert a chance. Season one taking over from Hurst we can probably accept, last years total dip in form we can't and it's now repeating itself. The thing for me is the post match comments especially this season, they appear to be a little desperate. Injury status is an issue but overall we are going nowhere. Good squad (in theory) but they are not delivering so Lambert has to go. Cook, Cowley, Johnson, me...😆

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 19:30 - Nov 28 Dirtydingusmagee: spot on sir! Where are the sanctimonious softies who say that by wanting Shambert out, we are not real supporters??We ARE real supporters because we are angry and frustrated. In fact I would question the passion of fans who think everything is ok if we just give it a little longer. No, that is what Evans relies on. We need an owner-chairman who cares. Who shows his/her face. I agree with those who say mid table League One is our level now. But let's start by getting a manager in that can actually inspire, motivate and organise. Please.

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RobsonWark added 19:36 - Nov 28 I honestly can't see how we have so many injured players - they never put any effort in on the pitch on a match day so I can only assume they must have tripped over something (maybe a badly placed cone) on the walk from the changing room to the training pitch at Playford Road!
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Phil1969 added 19:37 - Nov 28 I'm pi@@ing myself laughing having read most comments on here. Evans out lol he owns the club it's like saying I think I will sack my mortgage company and waive the debt. We're in Div 3 salary capped lucky to have anyone with Premier experience in the managers seat. We simply don't have enough quality once a few injuries kick in, that's life. Be interested how we attract a new manager, to make a silk purse, from the upper echelons.

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Blue_Meanie added 19:38 - Nov 28 For those not old enough to know, this is the old division 3; and we appear to be struggling. I used to look at division 3 as a kid and think imagine supporting a team that far down from the top. That team is us now. Again the question has to be, who advises Evans on his managerial appointments? If it's an agent we need to know as we've had 5 managers under Evans reign and apart from McCarthys anti football threading water, they've all been sh*t.

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budgieplucker added 19:41 - Nov 28 Look Evans has made it clear he wants to see his investment in the academy show fruition. I think the likes of Bish, Dozzell and Downes are as good a midfield trio you will find in this league. We had Dozzell, McGavin and Gibbs, Woolfenden on th pitch today followed by Lankester coming on as sub, and I want to see the young players get their Opportunities. Gibbs did OK and none of the other lads let us down. You might even stretch to say Drinan has come through the ranks albeit we paid a small fee to his Irish club to bring him into the under 23 squad. We have the likes of Nydam to return. Dobra isn't ready to start regularly at this level - Lambert is right. El Miz needs games although I am not sure if he is getting them at Cambridge but if he is good enough to regularly start in Division 2 then he will progress - he has to do thE business. I like both El Miz and Dobs and up until this season watched the U23s regularly and enjoy it, these lads are bright talents but Lambert is dead right. I like Woolfie but again he does need to sharpen up parts of his game. Indeed all our youngsters are not going to do it week in week out but the club is growing its talent. Bish had studs down the back of his heel last week you can't blame anybody for that apart from the player who caused the injury. That's not bad luck that's just the result of skilful players not being protected by the referee and getting more lumps and bumps than others. I have been sitting on the fence with the Lambert situation, but not going to blame the injuries on him. Today we played at a higher tempo and changed our formation on the second half so I think fans concerns are gradually being absorbed by him without him appearing to admit that some of the observations are right. By and large he ditched the rotation policy under pressure. Sharpen the possession play and keep at it and we will get better, although we have to do better in both boxes. The senior players aren't doing it, Chambers should have blocked Bogle at the far post for the second goal. I am afraid I don't rate either of our goalkeepers!!! Nsiala after a good start to the season is beginning to look shaky again. Nolan isn't showing consistency and again has become prone to knocks. Huws is the shadow of the player we have seen in the past. Skuse has become a sick note in the last couple of seasons. And Judge should be no where near the first eleven, he isn't a winger, he isn't a central midfielder and needs to convince that he is remotely a number 10. His shooting is on par with Skuse, his crossing is diabolical and his mindset to follow the ball everywhere like a headless chicken getting in everyone's way makes him a liability, and oh his passing.....not even going to go there. Whilst, Hawkins hasn't really done anything wrong and I for one have been calling for a big lump up front for a long while, he really is a cart horse and lacks sharpness, energy and pace, Drinan causes more problems for defenders with his energetic running into the channels a real Shefki type of player. Ward looks good in parts but his legs will catch up with him. We can't field a complete team of youngsters but our experienced players are yet again letting us down. If we don't get promoted this year and I do think it is likely that we will spend another year in Division 3, then we have the oppprtunity to clear the decks of all these older underperforming players who are becoming dead wood and then rework the right level of experience to compete at this level. My jury is out on Lambert and I am prepared to give him more time, perhaps the reports of unease in the dressing room might just be that he too is loosing his patience with so called senior players but not letting on - however, keep selecting Judge doesn't seem to suggest that. If we can pick up and get a few of important players like Edwards, Norwood and Downes back I think we can turn the tides.

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MickMillsTash added 19:46 - Nov 28 Cant see any of the injured players rushing themselves back into the team - get fit, keep out of the team and ask your agent to get you a move in January - Downes, Edwards, Jackson - This means playing the kids and they are not yet good enough People are talking about mid table I am worried about worse. All the opposition need to do is sit in and wait for us to give them a goal. we haven't got close to Hull or Charlton both of whom will not be going up. Whatever the situation is behind the scenes - its time for a change at the top.

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Nobbysnuts added 19:47 - Nov 28 Bert- you say burley is not the answer because he is emotionally attached to the club??? Well I'm sorry but that's exactly what we need!!!!! Someone who bloody cares about ipswich....
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BeattiesBackPocket added 19:51 - Nov 28 Phil1969 I don't think anyone has said Evans out but what he does need to know is how Poorly he has run the club into the ground, how unhappy fans are with his input since day one? Your analogy isn't far wrong however if no fans go or people protest he will need to put up and own up or he could sell and maybe sell to someone with some ambition. All those supporting evans have said there's no buyers but no one knows until it's up for sale plus he admitted last year he turned down two offers. As my comment earlier look at the team, the manager, the style of play, we had a 30 million debt and around the playoffs before he came in and with the 6th richest owner outside the premier league we have since then no investment In the team or at the very least in wages in the championship (we had the 5th lowest wages last two seasons), constant sales, constant injuries NO OTHER club has, poor very very average side, lowest place finish in over 60 years and it will get worse. When do you think you are people like rabbit and dolphin will take notice and think YOU need to act? In league two in the national league when?? Think back to 2007 before he came in check online the side and quality we had and try compare it to what we have as a club now. Get real and get behind the fact this is not good enough and he needs to know that whether he sells or not!

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groundhog added 19:53 - Nov 28 You just know some of these bang average players will move on next year and do so much better and stay injury free.
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Skip73 added 19:54 - Nov 28 Bluearmy. I'm so very sorry for forgetting the owner. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me because what you say means so much to me. TW&T!
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Lower_North added 20:07 - Nov 28 When a fish rots it starts at the head. RIP my beloved club.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 20:10 - Nov 28 Budgieplucker it's not that easy anymore though mate. We have sold something like 6 of our kids the premier league clubs past 4 seasons so the ones with any quality are picked off before even entering the under 23's. This is due to the fact we are not category one and can't be and this is another flaw in evans' regurgitated every season five point plan as well. We get a couple come through but then are and have struggled.

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shakytown added 20:29 - Nov 28 Lambert has clearly lost the dressing room and sadly once again Chambers is probably one of the main causes( Has far to much influence in the club behind the scenes). Both need to go for the club and team to move forward. This needs to happen right now!!!!!!!
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moggasnotebook added 20:32 - Nov 28 I think 95% of us were happy with the ME appointment of Lambert (NCFC links aside) to manage our first team and also 95% of us were happy with the previous appointment of Hurst (after the way MM finished). Can't see how ME gets the blame for 7 defeats in 10 games? Equally I think we were all happy at the time with the appointment of RK. Us supporters are p*ssed off and disappointed (rightly so) but can you imagine how ME feels paying wages for the players / manager / coaches (physios?) and watching what has happened the last three seasons - he must be as p*ssed off as us supporters..... maybe in a different way but he can't be happy bankrolling what he is watching? Any successful businessman is a winner and doesn't like losing (this tax loss / offset rubbish is ridiculous if anyone with half a brain thinks about it) - ME doesn't want to throw another £10m into the ITFC pot (do you blame him?) but he won't want to stay in L1 losing money every week either. I can take or leave PL as manager and he doesn't help himself with a microphone in front of him but what the f*ck is he supposed to say....... ‘the players are not good enough, I have no idea how to teach them how to concentrate for 95 mins, you would think for £5k per week even if they are not very skilful at least they can focus / concentrate / not lose opponent player in the box and at the very least crawl off the pitch at the end because they've given it everything'. In the days of SBR (I know things have changed) they received a win bonus for winning a game but a bigger bonus for winning two on a trot and better again for three on a trot and so on and so on. That built a togetherness and team spirit / desire......... 2020 - nice little place to play football / nice area to bring up kids / not far from coast / 60 mins from London / no pressure from the stands / good training facilities / decent wage If it was possible (it's not) I think closing the club for a season and starting from scratch in L2 would bring success quicker than looks likely this evening.

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blues1 added 20:37 - Nov 28 Bluearmy81. Same old rubbish from the game. And same old bull from you. Yes, Evan's is responsible in part for where we are, absolutely. But hes not responsible for whats happening right now. He doesnt pick the team or the tactics. He doesnt make the substitutions or play players out of position. That's all down to Lambert. The squad we have should be more than capable of getting us up. Couldxevans have bought more players this season? The answer is no. He ouldnt. Because the salary cap wouldnt allow us to due to our large wage bill last season. As for joining the fb marcus evans out of itfc group? One of the most pointless groups ever. Simply a platform for people who want to moan and slag him off, but do absolutely nothing to acymtualky achieve what the title of the group suggests theyre there for. Arranged a protest prior to a match last season. Not 1 person turned up. So about as pointless as ur comments on here.

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bobble added 20:47 - Nov 28 burley..burley..burley anyone else is just prolonging the slide..
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blues1 added 20:49 - Nov 28 Beattiesbackpocket. Apart from the fact that the link you've put on here doesnt exist, even if its true that he has turned down 2 offers. Do u think he should just accept any offer that comes in? He has said that he will only accept an offer that he feels is right for the club. So I guess these offers dont fill that premise. And maybe also didnt meet his valuation. For all his faults, we could have a lot worse owners than him. The likes of the corners of coventry, blackpool, charlton, bury have all had. Yes, a new owner would be welcome, despite the fact that, at this moment, they certainly couldnt spend any money to sign players. So our fans would soon be sure to slag them off too. But whatever, when he does sell, it has to be to the right person. Not just the 1st offer that comes along.

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