Wes Burns scored twice and Tyreeq Bakinson and James Norwood once each as Town ended their season with a 4-0 home thrashing of Charlton Athletic. Bakinson gave the Blues the lead with a superb strike on seven, Burns added the second four minutes later, then scored the third five minutes into the second half, before the departing Norwood signed off with the fourth with two minutes remaining.

Elkan Baggott made his home league debut on the left of the back three for Cameron Burgess, who missed out having suffered an ankle injury in training.

Burns was back at right wing-back having missed last week’s trip to Crewe, also due to an ankle, problem, while Matt Penney was on the left with Dominic Thompson, whose loan from Brentford is up after today, absent from the 18.

Bonne, playing the final game of his loan spell with his hometown club having been with the Blues all season from QPR, was the central striker.

Bersant Celina was also playing the final game of his loan spell as one of the number 10s alongside Conor Chaplin behind Bonne. Sone Aluko was back on the bench after a knee problem.

Norwood, who has been told he will be leaving the club at the end of the season, was on the bench but there was no place for Tom Carroll, who has also been released.

Midfielder Cameron Humphreys, 18, was among the subs, as were Kane Vincent-Young and Idris El Mizouni.

For Charlton, Nathan Harness, who was with the Blues' academy as a schoolboy but was released at 16, made his league debut in goal, one of three changes with Ryan Inniss and Corey Blackett-Taylor returning to the XI.

Former Town loanee Stephen Henderson was on the bench, while ex-midfielder Scott Fraser was absent due to a knee injury.

Burns went looking for his 12th goal of the season in the third minute, smashing over the bar from distance as the game started in an open end-to-end manner but with the Blues presenting the greater threat.

And in the seventh minute they went in front via a brilliant Bakinson goal. The midfielder, another playing the last game of his loan spell, was played the ball 20 yards out by Celina and superbly found the top corner of Harness’s net to the keeper’s left.

It was the midfielder’s second goal of his stint with the Blues and somewhat more spectacular than his first, a one-yard tap-in at Doncaster.

Celina wasn’t far away from the Blues’ second only two minutes later, the Kosovan international curling a shot not too far past Harness’s left post.

Burns didn’t have to wait too much longer for his 12th goal of the campaign, equalling top scorer Bonne’s total for the campaign. The Welshman was sent through one-one-one with Harness by Chaplin’s perfectly-weighted pass in the 11th minute and confidently beat the advancing Addicks’ rookie keeper.

Town kept up the pressure but on 15 there was a moment of danger at the other end when a free-kick ran loose in the box but Christian Walton was quick to pounce on it.

Former Addicks striker Bonne had the ball in the net in the 17th minute but had strayed offside from Janoi Donacien’s pass which actually looked like it had been intended for Celina but had been played behind the on-loan Dijon forward.

The Blues continued to dominate, looking as comfortable as at any stage of any game this season against the team against whom they put in probably their worst 90 minutes of the campaign as they lost 2-0 at the Valley in December.

On 27 Bonne turned a shot against a defender from the left of the box, then three minutes later skipper Sam Morsy struck a low effort wide from 25 yards.

Town continued to keep hold of the ball and pass it around confidently at a high tempo and the Charlton fans began to sarcastically chant ‘we’ve got the ball’ on the rare occasions their team was in possession and ‘we’ve lost the ball’ whenever Town won it back.

Perhaps spurred by their fans’ singing, Charlton seriously threatened for the first time. Adam Matthews crossed from the left and Jayden Stockley rose high and headed goalwards, however, Walton did brilliantly to get across to his right to paw it wide.

From the resultant corner, Baggott suffered a head injury but after treatment was OK to continue.

Chaplin wasn’t too far away from his 12th goal of the season in the 42nd minute when he looped a header over Harness from the left of the box from a deft Bakinson chipped pass but it landed on the roof of the net.

Town were well worth their 2-0 lead at the break having dominated from virtually start to finish with Bakinson and Burns having taken their chances with great confidence.

The Blues might have added to their lead as they continued to prod and probe throughout the rest of the half with Chaplin going closest with his looped header.

Charlton had spend the half chasing shadows with their only real opportunity Stockley’s header from which Walton made the sort of excellent save which has been commonplace in his hugely impressive first season with the club.

Three minutes after the restart Addicks midfielder George Dobson was shown the game’s first yellow card for clattering into Chaplin inside the centre circle.

Within a minute, it was 3-0. Bonne was sent away on the left of the area by Chaplin and crossed low for Burns, who turned home from close range to take his tally to 13 for the season and to the top of the Town goal charts.

The Addicks swapped Alex Gilbey for Chuks Aneke on 54, then two minutes later Town were forced into a change when Donacien was forced off having suffered a knock with Vincent-Young taking over on the right of the back three.

Donacien was applauded as he made his way to the tunnel having been one of the Blues’ top performers throughout the season.

Charlton ought to have pulled a goal back in the 59th minute when Conor Washington outmuscled Baggott inside the area from an Aneke header but looped his shot over when the Northern Irish international will feel he should have scored.

In the 62nd minute Burns dispossessed Matthews on the Town right and burst into the area but a combination of keeper Harness and a defender blocked what was either a shot or a cross for Bonne.

Following the resultant corner, the Blues almost scored again. Luke Woolfenden exchanged passes with Chaplin on the left of the box before slipping the ball past Harness to his left but Charlton skipper Jason Pearce cleared off the line with the keeper beaten and the Blues’ defender’s rebound from a tight angle was too high.

Town should have made it 4-0 in the 68th minute when Burns and Vincent-Young exchanged passes on the right before the sub sent a low ball across the area which Morsy steered just wide rather than into the corner of the gaping net.

In the 74th minute, following yet another long spell of Town possession, Bakinson looped a cross to the far post where Bonne’s goal-bound header was blocked by Inniss.

As Town prepared to take the corner, the Blues swapped Chaplin for youngster Humphreys, making only his second sub appearance in the league, both against Charlton, the forward receiving a warm ovation as he left the field after a very decent first season at Portman Road.

Charlton came close to pulling one back in the 78th minute when Stockley headed against the bar from close range from Blackett-Taylor’s right-wing cross, the ball bouncing down on the line and out before being cleared.

The Addicks weren’t far away again on 83 when a corner from the right ran loose in the box and Aneke hooked goalwards but Walton somehow kept it out at his right post.

Moments later, Town swapped Bonne, who was given a standing ovation as he made his way off. Norwood, making his final appearance in a Blues shirt, took over and was given a warm reception as he made his way onto the field.

Celina ought to have scored the Blues' fourth in the 85th minute when the ball ran to him on the left of the area after a Morsy shot was blocked but the forward scraped wide when he will have expected to have scored.

But Town’s fourth of the afternoon finally came only three minutes later, Norwood signing off at Portman Road with his seventh goal of the season.

Humphreys played a clever pass for the striker on the right of the area and the former Tranmere man squeezed the ball between Harness, who had endured a tough league debut, and the post from a very tight angle before celebrating in front of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Town might have scored even more in the closing stages as they continued to create opportunities before referee Charles Breakspear’s whistle ended the afternoon’s proceedings and the Blues’ 2021/22 campaign.

Manager Kieran McKenna will be delighted that his side ended the season on a high note with a 4-0 home win which in truth probably ought to have been even more comfortable The Blues were on top from virtually start to finish with Charlton very much second best.

Ten minutes after the end, the players made their way back onto the field for the traditional lap of appreciation along with McKenna, other members of staff and children.

Burns ends the season as Town’s top scorer on 13 as well as carrying off the Player of the Year awards, with Bonne and Chaplin behind him on 12 and 11 respectively.

The Blues end the season 11th in League One, two places below last year’s ninth having picked up a single point more, a big disappointment given the pre-season expectations but the latter period of the campaign has given fans confidence that next season will be the one in which their team finally escapes League One with almost 15,000 season tickets already sold.

Town: Walton, Donacien (Vincent-Young 56), Woolfenden, Baggott, Burns, Bakinson, Morsy (c), Penney, Chaplin (Humphreys 75), Celina, Bonne (Norwood 85). Unused: Hladky, El Mizouni, Aluko, Pigott.

Charlton: Harness, Inniss, Pearce (c), Famewo, Matthews, Gilbey (Aneke 54), Dobson, Morgan (Forster-Caskey 68), Blackett-Taylor, Stockley, Washington (Lee 75). Unused: Henderson, Elerewe, Jaiyesimi, Burstow. Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey). Att: 26,002 (Charlton: 1,972).

Photo: Matchday Images

Linkboy13 added 17:47 - Apr 30 With the shackles off and no pressure on the players we were served up with an entertaining spectacle . Charlton had their chances and created danger with their physical presence in the penalty area. Having said that we could have easily won the game 8 2 with some good chances missed. Baggott gave another assured performance which might leave McKenna with a difficult decision does he send him out on loan next season or feel that he is ready for a full season in the first team squad. Dispite Baggott having a good game we definitely missed Edmundson physical presence in the penalty box when Charlton got the ball into our penalty box. Bakinson is a very frustrating player i was cursing him when he gave the ball away three times early in the first half and then he scores a cracker. I think we will probably sign him but might be used as a back up option. Although missing out on promotion the entertainment value has been the best for many a season.

5

KernewekBlue added 17:59 - Apr 30 Christ on a bike! Monkey_Blue is one opinionated, argumentative, self-important, self-centric, jumped-up, preachy, needy, sad, sorry little individual. Being contrary is his trademark. Calling out folks who don't agree with his take on any given subject shows that his posts are purely designed to annoy, anger and stir up the true ITFC fans here who enjoy a dedicated site where we can catch up and keep up to date with news and reports of our beloved club. I find most of his posts and poorly-written, back-biting commentary detrimental to the enjoyment of TWTD website. I'm 100% sure that no-one here supports drunk drivers... to brand anyone who disagrees with him as advocates of drink driving is quite simply personal abuse and should not be tolerated. Whilst freedom of speech is a right that most fair-minded people should be able to enjoy for the right reasons, it is apparent that Monkey_Blue is a hateful, spiteful little TROLL, whose blatherings and mindless rhetoric serve only to bolster his own self-image and stir the pot for others. I find it very sad that people like him still exist and feed on the upset he causes due to his ability to spout his drivel on this platform. I openly ask the moderators of this site... is a person of his character and disposition any sort of asset to this fan forum or is he merely, as I suspect is felt by the VAST majority of users here, simply a huge, unwarranted, pain in the proverbial? The prosecution rests! Anyway... On this, the last day of another season which, for the most part, has been underwhelming and hasn't seen us promoted as we had hoped at the start of August, we have at least seen our club gain an impressive 4 - 0 home victory over Charlton to round off the campaign. With KMcK now free to concentrate on the ins & outs of a full pre-season transfer window, allied to the continued backing and support of the ownership, next season should see us become real contenders for promotion to The Championship, although as always, there are no guarantees in this game. It will be interesting to watch over the summer months what rumours start flying around and what business McKenna can accomplish before the 2022/23 term kicks off. I am always optimistic about our chances in every pre-season but this time around it feels even more palpable and more reasonable to expect good acquisitions and an overall improvement in our fortunes going forward, given that the club now appears to be run with a clearer structure on a much more professional footing. Personally, I'd like to see us make Celina's loan move a permanent deal, tie Wes Burns down to an improved, longer term contract and grab Cole Stockton from Morecambe (maybe a difficult ask). Other than that, I'd like to see a proven left-back and a 20+ goals-a-season striker or two brought in to provide some serious firepower up front, but then, who wouldn't? Onwards and most hopefully upwards. ITID

22

Marinersnose added 18:32 - Apr 30 A great win but more like a friendly game. Some really well worked goals. Excellent contribution from Humphries whose pass for Norwood was sublime. Happy for Norwood to sign off with a good goal. Walton excellent today and special mention to Baggott and the Wolf who were outstanding. Penny demonstrated that he is not anywhere near first team standard as yet. Looking forward to next season already

2

LegendofthePhoenix added 18:43 - Apr 30 To put the McKenna revolution into perspective, he had exactly half a season in charge - 23 games. And the form table says that over the last 23 games we were 4th - above Wigan. Considering that he inherited the entire squad, only adding a couple of loans available during January, and that we suffered some unfortunate late equalizers, the future looks very bright. A good transfer window and we will be right up there next season.

11

Nobbysnuts added 18:45 - Apr 30 Monkey blue....I find your comment about everyone go f##k their selves if they don't agree with you quite funny....even child like....did you stamp your feet and throw your rattle out of your pram whilst writing your rubbish? Let's hope you mature when you get to secondary school....
7

Gilesy added 18:50 - Apr 30 It's been a fun season. Ultimately, that's what matters!
1

therein61 added 19:22 - Apr 30 A season of great expectation fell flat(thanks cookie and clueless coaching staff) then we changed managers optimism was running through the club but Kieran had one hell of a job to do to right the wrongs so sadly left far too long, So we look forward to next season(an interesting summer awaits) and Kieran has his plans to take us up one thing for sure is this is now a professional club again instead of a holiday camp laughing stock!!

4

WhoisJimmyJuan added 19:41 - Apr 30 Spot on both Linkboy and Marinersnose. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon in the sun. Re Baggott, once he builds his physical strength he is going to be awesome. Got out muscled a couple of tomes which you would expect for his age and will only improve over time. So classy and composed in possession. Thought Woolfy was class too. No more superlatives left for Burns. Celina was influential although a bit hit and miss like Tyreeq who overall had a good game. The Penney has dropped though sadly. Bonne ran and ran and I feel so sorry for him after he fulfilled his dream at the start of the season. But the only bad performance was from the Charlton fans who saw fit to light flares and throw bottles. They got what they deserved today.

3

BeattiesBackPocket added 20:08 - Apr 30 Nobbysnuts natural goal scorer in league two and non league maybe but he's never a 20 plus goal scorer in this league we don't have one! As much as I liked his tenacity read his statement even he knows he has limits to his capabilities. For those banging on about needing loads of players on we don't we do need instinctive strikers who will finish chances off who get in the box and read the passes which we haven't had for a long while possibly since waghorn. A top striker is the difference for me. We need someone on the left and maybe a midfield player who gets beyond the striker in the ilk of Holland, wark or even Norris but that's all we need. Any team will struggle when they don't have a clinical striker how many opportunities have Jackson, piggot, norwood and even Bonne second half of the season just not been busting a gut to get into the box or read the balls. The football we have been playing is a joy to watch for the most part and I'd suggest most idiots on here moaning about McKenna don't go to games and listen to it on the radio because it's chalk and cheese to last few years and first half of this season, yes we've given some points away but with a out and out striker we may be in the play offs so judge him when he's had a pre season and brought in his own players not when he's got to make do. Some ‘fans' on here are never happy. Look at the form table from when he started to now it's a top 6 side!

6

RobsonWark added 20:33 - Apr 30 Great weather today. Great crowd. Great atmosphere. Great football. Great goals. Great win. Can't wait for the new season to start.
14

Eeyore added 20:42 - Apr 30 I do think there is no evidence that Norwood is a 'natural goal scorer'.
2

gosblue added 21:46 - Apr 30 Norwood is frustrating. He will bang them in for someone next season . For me, he gives too many free kicks away. He's also too keen to get involved in a scrap. How many times this season has he had a yellow card and then we've been nervous about him seeing red (in more ways than one). Good luck Nors. Never boring.
4

Bert added 22:18 - Apr 30 Anyone coming on here would be right to think that there are one or two posters who don't subscribe to any form of decent conduct. Free speech is one thing but to slag off supporters for not subscribing to their views suggests they have a lot to learn about treating people with respect.
5

runningout added 23:36 - Apr 30 We haven't got one six foot plus unit of a forward YET (that I know of) to give our young defenders some decent aerial training
0

blueboy1981 added 23:40 - Apr 30 One thing about some ITFC Supporters is that they are never more than a Win from Euphoria. But reality is that we find ourselves in the LOWEST League position for 69 years - therefore, anyone taking a look at the Clubs in this Division 3 next season … !!! and talking about the Automatic P Word, or even the Play Off's for us, in my opinion is being somewhat over optimistic. Talking about these Players ‘coming in' is always the easy part, actually getting them in is quite another. With another potential ‘clear out' which seems likely, and required maybe, are we going to be faced with yet another half season of waiting for the Team to actually Gell. We seem to have heard that one all too often before - don't we ?? Let's hope for MUCH better - but it won't be easy, and don't discount a very tough season ahead come August. The Club this season with the amazing support it has had home and away - deserves more than the Lowest League position for 69 years, whoever is Manager - or Owners. We wait with baited breath, and no time for the Club or Manager to lose, any rebuild should have, and needs to have already started …… !!! Let's just hope it has Hey ?

2

Europablue added 09:43 - May 1 Monkey_Blue If he's learnt from his lesson and he didn't actually hurt anyone from the times he got caught over the limit, and he's trying to be a better role model, then I think there is room for forgiveness. Any player who gets caught drunk driving should have to make a public apology and do an education course on the damage done by drunk driving and perhaps meet a family who suffered due to drunk driving. Certainly, there should be an automatic three-match ban and loss of wages during that period. Don't you want to direct a reasonable amount of criticism towards the club for the way they handle this kind of thing. If the club is supposed to be a community club, then shouldn't they be role models for local kids and have basic moral requirements?

1

RobsonWark added 11:01 - May 1 Monkey_Blue sounds like a left wing Angela Raynor supporter who gets angry with people who don't agree with them. Left wingers - always looking for something to moan and get angry about. It's probably Boris's fault that the sun is not shinning today.
-1

Linkboy13 added 11:14 - May 1 Wouldn't want to be at a party with Monkey blue and Nobby nuts sound like a couple of lager drinkers to me.
3

Monkey_Blue added 12:10 - May 1 Have zero good wishes for Norwood. Someone who's been caught well over the limit Twice over an extended period is either the unluckiest scumbag or he only got caught twice. Love my club and love we won but I can't celebrate a big time Charlie who is nowhere near what he thinks he is that can't even accept putting other peoples at lives at risk deserves “inconvenience”. Anyone who has marked down my comments is advocating drunk driving being a minor thing and yet it kills people everyday and destroys lives… and it's not as though the people doing it don't know this.

0

brassy added 12:13 - May 1 the prof,loved watching billy baxter great defender for town.
0

Monkey_Blue added 12:25 - May 1 Anyone who thinks I have an “issue” with drink drivers… yes I do. Not had a personal tragedy because of them, but I'm a decent human being and doing it but then appealing against The ban, not the verdict, having been told by the judge he thinks he lied… scumbag. If you disagree you are one as well.
1

blueboy1981 added 13:28 - May 1 Plenty of Norwood knockers around it seems, but I do wonder if their own past history would stand scrutiny and prove ‘squeaky clean' … ??? Of course, Drinking and Driving is a serious offence with due punishment for such - but unfortunately unless you are in the public eye, it goes largely unnoticed in terms of publicity. It is far from a perfect world, least of all the Country - even Prime Ministers are proven Liars … !!! So who sets the standards for ‘others' to follow ?? Norwood has paid for his misdemeanour, and gave his best for our Club. Personally, I wish him well - and his critics can have pleasure in seeing him scoring Goals elsehere next season - as he will do. There will be no shortage of takers, and he will be difficult to replace - as one will see … !!!

-3

Texastom added 17:27 - May 1 Another fantastic crowd, great ITFC fans! New breed of them. Norwood: Wish him all the best. He has been mis-managed the day he arrived. How can a player go from 30 goals a season and then struggle at Ipswich. Chop and change and we did not play to his strengths…poor
2

RobsonWark added 22:17 - May 1 Monkey_Blue I imagine that is why the club are not offering Norwood a new contract - because the owners are family focussed. You don't have to swear at fellow supporters for down voting your drunken posts.
3

Ipswichbusiness added 10:11 - May 2 Europablue; when a drink driver is sentenced in Court they are (almost always) offered a course about the dangers of drink driving. They don't have to take it, but if they do then they get time knocked off their disqualification (usually 25%).
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