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Charlton Athletic 2-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Tuesday, 7th Dec 2021 21:47

Interim manager John McGreal’s first game in charge of the Blues ended in a dismal 2-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic. The Addicks went in front on 26 via Jayden Stockley before Alex Gilbey sealed the points late on, however, but for goalkeeping heroics from Christian Walton the margin of defeat might have been more comfortable.

George Edmundson, Kane Vincent-Young, Lee Evans, Sone Aluko and Kyle Edwards returned to the Town side.

Edmundson, who missed out at the weekend with an achilles problem, joined Toto Nsiala at centre-half with Vincent-Young at right-back, Janoi Donacien moving to left-back for the first time for the Blues and Walton in goal.

In midfield, Evans rejoined skipper Sam Morsy in the centre of midfield with Aluko on the right and Edwards on the left and Scott Fraser the number 10 behind former Charlton striker Macauley Bonne.

From the side which drew 0-0 with Barrow on Saturday, Conor Chaplin, Idris El Mizouni and Cameron Burgess were on the bench, while Bailey Clements and Kayden Jackson were left out of the 18.

Bersant Celina was again absent having suffered a knock in training at the end of last week, while young midfielder Cameron Humphreys kept his place on the bench having impressed as a sub on Saturday.

For Charlton, skipper Jason Pearce returned to their back three after a knee problem, while keeper Craig MacGillivray also came into the side for former Blues loanee Stephen Henderson, who started Friday’s 2-0 FA Cup victory at Gateshead.

Among those watching from the stands was former Waterford manager and one-time QPR midfielder Marc Bircham, who has been linked with the Blues’ management vacancy having worked as assistant boss at Arizona United five years ago, the club now known as Phoenix Rising, the club in which Town’s Three Lions are co-owners.

It’s believed he was at the game under his own steam rather than having been invited by the Blues.

Town, in their white and black away kit, started strongly with Aluko missing his kick when well placed after a ball from the left came in in the third minute.

The Addicks’ first chance came a minute later when one-time Blues target Conor Washington tried to catch Walton off his line but sent the ball into the 3,000-plus Town fans behind the goal.

On six, applause rippled around the ground in tribute to six-year-old Birmingham supporter Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who was killed by his father and step-mother, with a number of players joining in ahead of a throw-in.

Keeper Walton confidently caught balls into the box from a corner and a free-kick and looked to throw out as quickly as he could - something he hadn’t done in previous games - but with Aluko and then Bonne unable to profit from it.

After Town’s bright start, Charlton had begun to gain the upper hand and on the quarter hour Ben Purrington’s free-kick from the left flashed across the Blues box but with Gilbey unable to get a touch.

In the 24th minute, Diallang Jaiyesimi headed over the bar at the far post from Purrington’s cross.

And a minute later, the Addicks went in front. Washington burst into the box on the left - with Town arms raised for offside -cut in and hit a shot which Walton did well to save. However, the loose ball fell to Stockley, who slammed home.


Town protests continued and they looked to have a case but neither referee Christopher Sarginson nor his linesman showed any interest.

Donacien was shown the first yellow card of the game in the 29th minute for a foul on Gilbey.

Having gone behind, the Blues found themselves somewhat under the cosh with the home side visibly more confident having gone in front.

On the half hour, Stockley shot across the face of goal, Walton saved and the loose ball ran agonisingly behind Washington before being cleared.

Five minutes later, Elliot Lee sent Washington way but the Northern Ireland international found Nsiala in his way.

Town were showing little threat going forward. Aluko took too heavy a touch when breaking away down the right and the ball was put out for a throw.

On 41 Evans headed over from the Blues’ first corner of the game, taken by Aluko on the right, when he will feel he might have done better.

As the break approached Town began to get on top and in the final scheduled minute Fraser played a superb ball in from the left but which was just too far in front of Bonne for the striker to get in a shot.

Moments later, an Evans shot from the edge of the box was deflected out for a corner from which Nsiala nodded wide at the back post.

Soon after, the whistle confirmed the end of a half in which the Blues had started strongly before Charlton got on top and scored their goal with Town looking to have a strong case that it was offside.

The Addicks might have added to their lead having been well on top following the goal but the Blues came back into it in the minutes before the break.

Charlton were first to go close in the second half, Washington took too long over his cross and Donacien blocked but the ball looped into the area to Purrington at the back post but Walton did superbly to save his header at point-blank.

Town’s start to the second half was summed up when Edwards stopped his 55th-minute ran as Fraser played it into the space he had been breaking towards.

Charlton continued to press at the other end and went close on 58 when Jaiyesimi crossed from the right to the far post from where Purrington nodded back across to Lee, who headed over from close range when he will feel he should have done better.

Town’s first chance of the half came on the hour when a free-kick from deep on the left reached Nsiala at the far post but the centre-half’s header bounced harmlessly wide.

Fraser saw a shot blocked on the edge of the box following a rare well-constructed Town move in the 62nd minute.

The former MK Dons man was swapped for ex-Charlton striker Joe Pigott, who joined Bonne up front.

Soon after the change, Walton did well to bat away Lee’s shot from the edge of the area, then on 67 the keeper saved from Sean Clare.

Two minutes later, Aluko reacted angrily to a Pearce challenge on halfway, the Charlton man receiving a yellow card… As the Blues prepared to take the free-kick, the Nigerian international was switched for Chaplin and Charlton replaced Jaiyesimi with Jonathan Leko.

Charlton continued to look the more likely scorers of the second goal and on 71 Gilbey somehow shook off a number of Town defenders before his shot was blocked by Nsiala.

In the 79th minute, after Evans had been dispossessed in a promising area on the edge of the Charlton box, the Addicks broke quickly and Washington took the ball into the area on the left before hitting a shot which Walton, the Blues’ man of the match, saved brilliantly with his left foot.

Walton made another stop, this time diving away to his left to paw Washington’s hook goalwards wide following a free-kick on the left.

Humphreys was handed his league debut on 81, replacing Edwards on the left of midfield. Moments later, Purrington shot over for the Addicks, who really should have had the game well won.

Leko was next to force Walton into a save, cutting in from the right and stabbing a shot which the keeper did well to block.

A second Charlton goal had long been coming and it finally came in two minutes from the end. Gilbey broke into the area on the left before beating Walton.

The referee’s whistle confirmed that the three points would go to the home side, who had been the better team from the early minutes onwards.

A thoroughly poor night from Town who deserved to take nothing from the match and Charlton should have sealed their victory well before the 88th minute, only poor finishing and Walton’s heroics in goal having prevented them from doing so.

The Blues started the game in a positive manner but once the home side, backed by a large and noisy crowd, got on top and had gone in front, Town never looked like taking anything from the match.

The visitors looked a shapless side thoroughly lacking in confidence and direction after recent results - they are now won one in six in all competitions - and former manager Paul Cook’s sacking at the weekend.

At the whistle, the Blues support made their feelings clear with Nsiala similarly making his thoughts known to a fan before being joined by Walton, who then was physically confronted by another supporter, who was dragged away by stewards as the Town defender was ushered away from the area.

Interim manager McGreal has a lot of work on his hands ahead of Saturday’s trip to fourth-placed Wigan Athletic.

Charlton: MacGillivray, Clare, Pearce (c), Famewo, Jaiyesimi, Gilbey, Dobson, Lee, Purrington, Stockley, Washington. Unused: Henderson, Elerewe, Souaré, Watson, Kirk, Leko, Davison.

Town: Walton, Vincent-Young, Nsiala, Edmundson, Donacien, Evans, Morsy (c), Aluko, Fraser (Pigott 64), Edwards, Bonne. Unused: Hladky, Burgess, Penney, El Mizouni, Humphreys, Chaplin. Referee: Christopher Sarginson (Staffordshire). Att: 26,376 (Town: 3,159).


Photo: Steve Waller



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bixleyboy added 21:55 - Dec 7
Worst performance of the season, didn't get to any second ball. We made charlton look like something special. Our players are nowhere near as good as we thought they where, 3000 loyal fans have been let down tonight, another season in league 1 I'm afraid.
17

Pezzer added 21:55 - Dec 7
Why play a formation that clearly isn't working? With the squad we have surely 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 is possible. The caretaker manager took the easy way out. The players are not performing, any true competitor hates losing, these seem indifferent.
10

midastouch added 21:55 - Dec 7
We walked through the valley of death and virtually vanished without a trace! Walton more than earned his wages tonight, the rest however barely deserved to earn a crumb between them! Lose to Wigan in our next game and the chances of making top 6 are looking less and less likely.
10

BlueRuin69 added 21:55 - Dec 7
Im speechless as to how poor that was, we are in trouble, deep trouble. Its going to take years to rebuild this club if it can be done at all.
11

bringmeaKuqi added 21:56 - Dec 7
In fairness to JM, he has had a couple of training sessions with the group and probably no time at all to study Charlton and have a team meeting to impart tactics. Probably went with the 4-2-3-1 because that was how they were expecting to set up. BUT, there is no excuse for a lack of desire, will and hunger. They could be tactically unprepared, but how could they be mentally unprepared?
7

Saxonblue74 added 21:56 - Dec 7
Bobbypetta….John Terry? Chelsea loan signings? Have a word with yourself!!!
-6

surgery added 21:56 - Dec 7
The ITFC rot has set in once again. Just go through the motion's and you'll still play next game.

And get shot of Morsy asap. Can't help thinking he calls the shots and is a bad influence. Not a great player anyway although he thinks he is
5

Nobbysnuts added 21:57 - Dec 7
The stats say it all......pathetic
4

DifferentGravy added 21:58 - Dec 7
Needed to win the battle.....and didnt even compete. Away from home in particular you really need to be compact and we simply werent. Aluko and Edwards are flair players and if they arent contributing going forward then we are already playing with 9 men. No service to Bonne who looked frustrated. Evans was poor. Fraser was utterly useless and apart from a cup game I havent seen anything to suggest otherwise. Donacien out of position....stupidity. The normally realiable Edmundson got beaten in the air to often and Nsiala has no comprehension of reading the flick on. Only player to come out with credit was Walton who was superb. Hang your heads in shame, pathetic.

Season over and will get mauled by Wigan.....fed up

16

dukey44 added 21:58 - Dec 7
Horrendous, gutless, shameful, ashamed... Nothing to add
12

Elizabeth added 21:59 - Dec 7
Why the sudden interest in Warnock ? He is seventy three years old . We need a dynamic young manager who can motivate these lazy individuals .. no commitment or fight in any of them .. feel sorry for Walton having this lot in front of him .. just don't know where we go from here .. the away support today was fantastic .. too bad the players didn't respond to their efforts !!
15

chopra777 added 22:00 - Dec 7
Cannot blame JM he had no time to change our misfiring team. No real intent tonight from the players. Walton was brilliant and allowed us to hope. Have to blame PC's coaches for making this team unbalanced. We need a miracle to beat Wigan at the weekend. JM you need a magic spell please.
7

Lathers added 22:01 - Dec 7
This is what happens when you sack Cook and replace him with a guy who's only been back in the building for 3 days and said on Monday he was ‘still putting names to faces'. Why the f*** didn't Ashton and Leary have a manager ready to take over???? What was the point of sacking Cook? The players clearly looked affected by it tonight and were awful, the new manager played the same sh8t formation that Cook played so WTF was that all about? And actually is our new team any better than our old team? Starting to wonder if our amazing new CEO, Chairman and the Yanks have got a f*88ing clue what they are doing. Seriously pissed off tonight as you can probably tell… FFS!
7

runningout added 22:01 - Dec 7
Hard not to be critical. There was no real desire to show up for John McGreal.
9

BlueRuin69 added 22:02 - Dec 7
Think there is a few players out there who wish they had never come to itfc. We are a shambles.
8

dirtydingusmagee added 22:02 - Dec 7
that was a dreadful performance , i would have felt sorry for Paul Cook after that BUT THOSE ARE THE PLAYERS HE BROUGHT IN,he swapped a squad of players that were not playing for another . Walton was the only player that can hold his head up even though we lost by two goals .John McGreal will not enjoy his time as caretaker with these players . For me now the season is a dead duck, not a hope in hell of getting promotion .Just another dreadful season in lge 1 to play out . BAD TIMES .
10

Cloddyseedbed added 22:03 - Dec 7
What another awful display by players who have no confidence and look totally bewildered all over the pitch. Donacian can't play left back, never got forward and always looked out of place, no partnership with Edwards who to my mind is a waste of a player on the pitch. Either runs into dead ends or just gives the ball away. Nsiala switches off sometimes and just watches. KVY couldn't get forward all night and no partnership down the right either. Frazier can't run and decision making too slow as is Morsy and Evans. Midfield is terrible and can't see we have the personnel to improve it. Morsy looks a poor captain, struggling with his own game and not motivating or encouraging others. Feel sorry for Bonne but he's really gone off the boil since Burns has been missing. he should know the offside rule by now. Bonne had no service all night though once again.
No confidence, no partnerships and no creation all over the pitch. A bunch of poor players tonight and no different to when Lambert was in charge. No shots on target, their goalie could have sat in a chair for most of the night. Huge task for the next manager and I foresee another clearout and another season looks wasted. Just shows money can't guarantee success. We need one hell of a good management appointment to get us going again.
15

Bert added 22:04 - Dec 7
Outplayed and outclassed. The only player with any credit tonight is Walton. I am indifferent about the manager's position because I have always believed that it's down to the players on the pitch. Morsy is no better than Skuse in my eyes and his words lack as much conviction as his play. We are not just at a crossroads we are firmly stuck in a cul de sac.
17

TimmyH added 22:04 - Dec 7
Why play KVY as a full back in a back 4!?!...it's obvious he's far better as a wingback or right sided midfielder though he wasn't the worst tonight but that's McGreal as a defender managing us tonight - should have gone 3-5-2, obvious Bonne is far to isolated.

I should say many other problems appearing as well now - Morsy and particularly Evans adding very little. and Celina should have been playing down the left rather than Edwards!
-2

Saxonblue74 added 22:04 - Dec 7
Well, if we put on another show like that next week we'd better steel ourselves for humiliation on live terrestrial tv. Barrow will be very excited indeed by that “performance”
3

RobsonWark added 22:04 - Dec 7
Mariner1974 - I agree with everything you say apart from playing Penny. No! Him and Fraser are easily the worst two signings of the summer!
0

19781981twtd added 22:05 - Dec 7
Cook hand picked this bunch of posers they are to a man a disgrace to the badge nothing changes for us supporters a season promising so much and delivering utter tosh what manager is going to want to take on this rabble ,3000 amazing away fans at midweek match did not deserve this if things dont change in the next 3 games we will be in a relegation battle let alone a promotion push absolutely gutted and fed up 70000 tickets sold over xmas these players should look at these figures and hold their heads in shame "rant over"
14

happybeingblue added 22:05 - Dec 7
All the players came for Cook Ashton sacks Cook at an awful time in the season with no plan for a replacement,that was the reaction i sadly expected so what does that tell you about what they think of ashtons decision, season is over i feel.
10

Nobbysnuts added 22:05 - Dec 7
Oh well looks like another clear out in January.....
3

inghamspur added 22:05 - Dec 7
Well, that went well!!
2


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