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

cat added 22:27 - Dec 7 First and foremost credit to the travelling fans but I'm telling you that performance was a fecking disgrace. As for TOTO WTF! It's one thing to give it large but when you play as pony as that you have to suck it up, not front your own fans.
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markchips added 22:27 - Dec 7 Wasn't expecting anything and therefore wasn't surprised at the result. Players totally demoralised as so often happens in these situations. I think we can safely say there is not a shed hells chance of us even reaching the play offs. Whoever the new manager is he will have to go back to basics and the yanks will have to accept there is a long old road ahead. I personally do not think the break up of the old squad was wrong, half of them were out of contract and the other half wanted out. It was always a case of starting from scratch, including the team and therefore it was always going to take at least several seasons to seriously challenge again. I can count at least ten teams in the division who are clearly better than us and to finish mid table again will be our lot.we might as well take on a rookie coach like Manning as there is no quick fix here and the sooner the owners realise it the better. I would just like us to win a few matches and play good football and not kid ourselves we are a big club. We are now struggling to compete with Accrington Stanley and Cambridge. All thoroughly depressing and after 50 years of support I am sadly resigned to it and don't expect much.

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04willr added 22:27 - Dec 7 That was my first game of the season live. Shocking. Walton kept it respectable with some cracking saves (albeit clearly has no right foot). NSIALA has no idea what to do on the ball. Donacien out of place at left back. Evans and Fraser absent. Bonne offered up nothing. Aluko and Edwards showed glimpses of hope. All in all dreadful, including my balti pie and John Smith pint.

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Henz10 added 22:30 - Dec 7 Oh dear oh dear I thought Rotherham was bad but that was much worse. I'm surprised Donacien wasn't taken off as he's clearly not suited to playing LB The season is in danger of being over before Christmas. Nothing more to add aside from this is probably the most depressed I've been supporting Town in my life. I genuinely thought with the squad we have we'd be in the top 8. Walton was excellent it could've been embarrassing I feel for the 3,000 loyal fans stood in the cold to watch that shower of s**** Hopefully we'll turn in around quickly but I can see us stagnating in mid table :(

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blue86 added 22:32 - Dec 7 Ok that was very bad, but let's have it right none of that really was McGreals fault. Janoi donacian actually used to play as a left back at accrington so that cant be used as an excuse, KVY is right footed and was used as a left back at Col U. The players collectively and Individually need a long hard look at themselves, for me it doesent matter what system we play now, what matters is running further than the other team, being aggressive, winning second balls, being brave and so on. Whoever comes in has a massive task to get this lot playing as a team, sometimes I think alot of the problem is players in the modern game have it all to easy, ridiculously over paid and if they cant be arsed to perform? Oh well, not their issue just sack the manager hey. Imagine going into work and thinking ahhh i cant be bothered I will just underperform, and if my targets arent reached who cares my boss will be sacked and not me! Pathetic really. Cook made mistakes no doubt about it, but 80% of the issue lays with the players. And Ashton saying the season is still alive?.......yeah ok.

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DerryfromBury added 22:34 - Dec 7 Can't be arsed to go into chapter and verse, others have said it all. What the f**k is Edwards doing anywhere near ITFC. We improved a little when JM finally made the sub's, but nowhere near good enough. With the exception of MoM Walton, the rest of them need to take a long hard look at themselves. Well Done to the 3000 supporters who made the effort, you all deserve a refund from the club.

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MickMillsTash added 22:35 - Dec 7 Too many players not good enough Nsiala, KVY, Donacien, Evans, maybe Bonne I know I'm stating the obvious but any new manager needs to ship out these 4/5
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Henrietta_R_Hippo added 22:35 - Dec 7 Hmmm sure beginning to repeatedly look like that Pep Cookie's HANDPICKED 20 isn't particular better than for example Hurst's much more lower-shelf selected 10 (or for that matter Lambo's rag-tag assembled but ever changing Trusted XI), doesn't it????????? In short what a "discerning" lol Deja Vu like collective waste of transfer fees & wages!!! Likely this group will probably continue to have the very very occasional FLUKE game where they bang in 3-4 , with the post-game interview giving ones of them plus the most credulous Happy Clappers think they look like Man City ...but ehmm that is probably only due to either 1) the opposing team having been out drinking all night or 2) simply didn't bother doing their homework on how EMBARRASSINGLY EASY it **usually** is to stymie any one, Walton excluded, on the field of these beyond awesome Pep Cookie's 20 Handpicked. One thing is for sure though, if McGreal and whomever follows him continue to play this blatantly obvious dysfunctional formation and/or any other other lone attacker constellation, this particular quote "Championship Caliber" squad isn't going anywhere!. Period! Alas, get that even BIGGER blanco chequebook ready for the new boss, Gamechanger!

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RobsonWark added 22:35 - Dec 7 I was never enthused when Paul Cook was employed by Marcus Evans and even less so after his run of games last season. But he brought the players in that he wanted in the summer and I said from the start that he should be judged where the team are at Christmas. Some of the games we played this season have been far more exciting and entertaining than we have played for many seasons. He has been unlucky in many games as we have hit the woodwork so many times and Bonne, in particular, has missed so many sitters! The FA.A Cup game against Barrow, we hit the woodwork 3 times. If they had all gone in the fans would have gone home happy with a 3-0 and PC would no doubt still have been manager tonight. Times have changed since the Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson days. Today it's all about the results now and promotion now. Managers are not given a time to build a team these days like these two were. There is too much money in the game now. If Robson and Ferguson were managing Ipswich and United today and had the same results when they first managed their clubs they would have been sacked too.

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DerryfromBury added 22:39 - Dec 7 What manager in their own right will take on this disaster of a football club, other than a journey man. Those talking about the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney etc etc are on cloud nine. Also look at the other results this evening. League Two for 2022/23 season anyone.....
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Bazza8564 added 22:41 - Dec 7 Well I think that does for JM's chances….. Terrible selections, evans and morsy play so deep and pass sideways at best, we effectively had 6 backs, 2 wingers a CF so out of form he's not even getting himself offside so often, and Fraser, and I just don't have the adjectives for him presently. If ever a game cried out for a change in formation this one did, but 6 2 1 1 wasn't what most of us had in mind. With luck Burns will be fit , let's get pigott in alongside Norwood or Jackson, carrol into the heart of midfield and get a shape again. I cannot believe we have collapsed so badly in the last few weeks. We need a complete shake up Saturday, I'd retain Walton and edmundson, the rest have a blow…..

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Letchworth_Blue added 22:48 - Dec 7 On the train home and I cant believe what I've just watched. Utter tripe. Lost for words.
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RegencyBlue added 22:49 - Dec 7 Season over by December and a toxic Pack out PR to come. Deep joy!
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Saxonblue74 added 22:50 - Dec 7 On cloud 9 DerryfromBury? If I had to put a list of my top 100 picks for the job I'm pretty sure I'd have those 3 in the 90's somewhere!
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shakytown added 22:52 - Dec 7 These players need to sit down and have a long hard look at themselves and the top of the list is the so called captain who just does not seem to give an a..e. He should be getting the squad together for a hard honest talk about their lack of pride and laziness. the next manager has to be a strong character who will make these players work for their huge salaries and to that end i'm all for Neil Warnock as he knows how to make players a team and would not be afraid to drop anyone even the captain.

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blueboy1981 added 22:58 - Dec 7 Time to go to Europe for a Manager maybe - a tough one at that, because this squad need some ass kicking, and if necessary another clear out. Who can we see here who would be interested in the task ahead, or indeed the rollocks required to sort this bunch out, one way or another. What we don't need is a limp wrist, only looking for a contract and pay off after a few months - those kind are out there. Where was there any sign of respect from the Players for the fantastic away support tonight ?? - absolutely disgusted at such disrespect, as any decent person would be.

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dirtydingusmagee added 22:59 - Dec 7 O4willr, John Smiths ! and that Town performance , a double whammy , surely the pie was half decent ?
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VanDusen added 23:04 - Dec 7 I am pretty tolerant generally but that was such a waste of time and money when the amazing atmosphere at the beginning could have been electrifying with a good performance to harness it. I can only see Warnock til the end of the season and then start again. Only underlines what a naive mistake sacking Cook kneejerk was...
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Suffolkboy added 23:07 - Dec 7 Those who apparently lament the sacking of PC , or the timing ,should seriously ask themselves why he deserved to remain ! He, his players, his coaches and his tactics/ strategy have brought about this unholy mess ; and a mess it is ,thoroughly ! The group of players who arrived to a fanfare , a joint understanding they'd to move locally, commit to ITFC and ‘gel ‘ are proving shallow in body as well as footballing intelligence: we cannot set about singling out or victimising any one individual and should not ! To make changes however you have to start somewhere ,and in our case PC was backed to the hilt to do what he wanted and introduce who he felt he needed . I'm afraid that almost without exception his judgements have been proved at the least inadequate or plainly wrong . Sadly he has compounded all by near endless diversionary verbal diarrhoea ,which has angered many and added to the case for dismissal ! It's a total shambles of which we are rightly both ashamed and furious ! The Chairman and M/D have a basin full of trouble to flush away ,and bring new hope to the surface !Please don't start blaming John McGreal for the hotch potch of footballing non- entities currently in ITFC shirts ,many masquerading as players ! COYB

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Umros added 23:16 - Dec 7 So man of match is Walton. Not even ours. This is not a team, it's a bunch of overpaid pre Madonna's that it would seem just don't give a damn. It needs a no nonsense manager who will shake them up and not stand for this pansy pretty football, this is league one and we need to rough it up like others do I'm afraid.
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dirtydingusmagee added 23:20 - Dec 7 we are going to get hammered over this next month possibly beyond. That display proved the players were never here for the shirt. PC recruited a squad of players he new and liked ,not a team, not with any plan of where or how to play them, result is we have a collection of misfits, and no direction. Sadly whoever is appointed manager now has to start again from scratch,not just tinker about, We have been in a mess for years, throughout Evan's time, Cook came in with all the sublety of a Centurian tank, replaced a misfiring out of contract squad with this squad who seem not to give a toss .WE ARE IN A BIGGER MESS NOW.

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blueboy1981 added 23:22 - Dec 7 The action of some players at the end of the game should see them reprimanded and ideally removed from the Club. This is NOT what playing for and representing ITFC has ever been about - if, after such an unforgivably disgusting performance as per tonight, criticism cannot be taken, then they should never wear the shirt again. Any criticism levelled at the collective performance tonight was fully justified 100%.

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rfretwell added 23:23 - Dec 7 Bunch of useless bstrds. 3,000 of us there, hundreds left after the 2nd went in. Cooks saddled us with a bunch of average lge 1 players like Evans & Fraser. Wheres the ball winning tough tackling midfielder and goalscoring widemen and midfielders? Too weak. Piss poor.
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blue added 23:25 - Dec 7 Calm down guys saving our best for game against Barrow , Barrow 7 Ipswich 1 We can score and on tv . Oh my days !
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londontractorboy57 added 23:26 - Dec 7 You lot realy make me laugh as each match each season each manager comes and goes you drone on the same crap just change the names of the players the manager the owner as we slip further down the path to extinction look yourselves in the mirror and ask yourselves did you tealy know what you wished for ?
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