Town twice let two-goal leads slip in a bizarre, topsy-turvy game at the Valley which ended 4-4 with four goals in injury time. George Edmundson and Tyreece John-Jules put the Blues 2-0 in front but the Addicks hit back through Jes Rak-Sakyi and and Albie Morgan. However, in injury time, Town restored their two-goal advantage through Freddie Ladapo and Sam Morsy but Terell Thomas and George Dobson netted in the sixth and ninth minutes of the additional time to claim a remarkable point for the home side.

Town made three changes for this afternoon’s game at Charlton with skipper Morsy returning following his suspension.

Morsy was joined by Dominic Ball in the centre of midfield with Cameron Humphreys dropping to the bench following his goalscoring full league debut at Port Vale on Tuesday.

Manager Kieran McKenna again shuffled his front three with Kayden Jackson replacing Kyle Edwards alongside Conor Chaplin behind lone striker John-Jules with Ladapo, who netted twice at Vale Park, among the subs.

Kane Vincent-Young was back in the 18 following his calf problem with Cameron Burgess and Panutche Camara dropping out having been in the matchday squad at Vale.

Thomas was handed his full league debut for the Addicks on the left of the back three, coming in for Ryan Inniss, suspended following his red card in Tuesday’s 2-0 home defeat to MK Dons.

Steven Sessegnon was back in the team having been rested against the Dons, while Corey Blackett-Taylor was on the bench having missed the previous two matches due to injury. Former Town midfielder Scott Fraser started in the home side’s midfield.

There was a scare for the Blues within the first minute, keeper Christian Walton scuffing a a pass out of the area to Edmundson. Addicks skipper Jayden Stockley seized on it but hit a first-time shot straight back to the relieved keeper.

With the game yet to establish a pattern, there was a break as the 10-minute mark approached as Addicks right-sided wideman Mandela Egbo underwent treatment.

Moments later, Ball was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Rak-Sakyi in the centre circle. On 14 Egbo succumbed to his earlier knock and was replaced by Morgan.

Three minutes later, Eoghan O’Connell joined Ball in the referee’s book for a foul on Jackson on the Town left as the match continued in a very stop-start manner.

Town won a corner from the free-kick which came to nothing, then on 19 Wes Burns struck a low shot from 25 yards across the face and wide.

Two minutes later, Sessegnon sent a low ball across from the left towards Stockley, but too close to Walton, who claimed.

On 25 Town, who were starting to get their game going after a bitty start in which they’d been forced long on too many occasions by Charlton’s high press, carved out their first serious chance.

Leif Davis exchanged passes with John-Jules on the left and cut back. Jackson left it and Chaplin struck a shot which was blocked.

Chaplin curled a 25-yard free-kick into the Charlton wall in the 32nd minute having been fouled by Thomas with the Blues now in charge and with Davis on the left increasingly influential.

On 36 Town made a promising break down the left but as Jackson received the ball, a whistle from the crowd momentarily caused the Town players to pause. However, Chaplin in any case won a corner and before it was taken referee Josh Smith indicated to the fourth official that someone in the crowd was using a whistle.

Two minutes later, Morsy played John-Jules in on goal behind the Addicks backline and as the on-loan Arsenal ran through the whistle was again heard from the crowd with the striker evidently pausing as a result, allowing O’Connell to make a challenge when he looked certain to score.

The Town players again protested to the referee and, while O’Connell underwent treatment for an injury suffered in the incident, a PA announcement called on the person with the whistle to stop or the players would be taken off the field. O’Connell was eventually stretchered off and replaced by Sam Lavelle.

After play restarted, the fourth official indicated six minutes of injury time for the treatment to the two Charlton players and a couple of minutes in John-Jules again went close to netting.

The Arsenal youngster cut into the area on the left, cleverly working himself space for a shot which looked bound for the corner of the net until a hand, which appeared to be Thomas’s rather than the keeper’s, tipped it wide of the post. The Town players protested to referee Smith that they should have been awarded a penalty but to no avail.

However, from the resultant corner, the Blues went in front. Davis’s ball into the near post was met by Edmundson, who powered a header across goal and into the corner of the net for his third goal of the season, sending the 3,000 travelling fans behind the goal at the other end - as well as Ed Sheeran watching from a box - into raptures.

Before play restarted, John-Jules was yellow-carded for taking his time to get back into his own half.

That was the last action of a half which had taken a while to settle after a stop-start opening period.

Once the game had settled into a pattern, the Blues got on top and had begun to create chances regularly as the break approached.

The errant whistle almost certainly prevented John-Jules from taking his first chance, then a Charlton hand the second but Edmundson superbly headed home from the corner to give Town a deserved lead.

Soon after the break, Davis required treatment following a heavy challenge, then in the 50th minute Dobson was harshly adjudged to have fouled Ball as he broke towards the area and was booked, much to his frustration. Sean Clare joined him for refusing to get back 10 yards as Town prepared to take the kick.

And in the wake of the resultant free-kick, the Blues doubled their lead. Chaplin’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell back to the forward, who played it back to Burns on the corner of the box from where the Welshman sent a cross to the near post and John-Jules beat home keeper Joe Wollacott to the ball to head into the net right in front of the Town fans.

Charlton were furious that Town had scored as a result of the incorrectly awarded free-kick with manager Ben Garner taking his protests too far and being shown the red card. As he made his way to the tunnel, the former Swindon boss tried to encourage home fans to make more noise to get behind their team.

Once play had got back under way, the Blues weren’t too far away from a third goal, Davis sliding in and sending the ball wide at the far post from Ball’s cross from the right. On 57, Morsy was booked for a foul on former teammate Fraser.

Five minutes later, Charlton made a double change, swapping Stockley and Charlie Kirk for Chuks Aneke and Blackett-Taylor.

And a minute later, the Addicks, who had looked little threat since the break, pulled a goal back with both subs involved.

Aneke beat Edmundson and crossed from the right for Blackett-Taylor, whose first-time shot as he broke in from the left was blocked brilliantly by Walton, but Rak-Sakyi was on hand to slam the loose ball into the net. Walton was booked in the aftermath, presumably for protesting that Edmundson had been fouled in the build-up.

Town immediately went about looking to restore their two-goal advantage, John-Jules coming very close within a minute. Davis crossed from the left and the England U21 international headed down but at Wollacott’s feet with the keeper not knowing too much about it. Either side of the Charlton number one and it would have been a goal.

Jackson well shot over on 65 with Town quickly regaining control, then four minutes later Burns also hit an effort which was high and wide.

Town made a triple change in the 71st minute, Chaplin, Jackson and John-Jules making way for Marcus Harness, Edwards and Ladapo.

Five minutes later, the Addicks equalised. After Harness had lost possession midway inside the Town half, Aneke brought the ball into the area from the left and hit a shot which Walton stopped but couldn’t hold onto and Morgan following up found the net from close range. The Town keeper evidently felt he should have done better.

Burns was booked in the 83rd minute for pulling back Sessegnon with the Blues looking somewhat disjointed with the home side buoyed by their fans, who had started to make themselves heard since the second goal.

On 83, the Blues had a brilliant chance to win it. Davis’s shot from the left fell to Edwards unmarked in the area but somehow the winger scuffed well wide.

Town looked to have thrown away their chance of a seventh win on the road this season but a minute into six minutes of injury time, sub Ladapo grabbed Town’s third.

The striker received the ball from Morsy 25 yards out with his back to goal, turned and and a low shot which fizzed across the turf and beat Wollacott to his right and nestled in the corner of the net, sending the fans behind the goal wild.

Three minutes later, it was 4-2. Morsy received a pass from Ball and struck a low shot which flew past Woollacott to his left.

Town looked home and hosed but in the sixth minute of injury time Charlton pulled a goal back. A free-kick from the right was squared from the far post by Blackett-Taylor and Thomas tapped in.

Keogh replaced Burns as the Blues sought to see out the final moments but nine minutes into added-on time the Addicks scored again.

A deep Morgan cross from the left found Dobson at the far post from where he looped a header over Walton and into the net to level to the delight and amazement of the home fans.

Town looked for a fifth in the remaining seconds but the referee’s whistle confirmed a 4-4 draw - the same as the U21s at QPR yesterday - from a game which the Blues twice had won.

The Blues were almost made to pay for giving away poor goals at Port Vale having been two goals in front on Tuesday but rescued the win and the same appeared to have happened when Ladapo and Morsy made it 4-2.

But Town were guilty of gifting Charlton goals to allow two points - and top spot in the table with Plymouth in action on Monday - which they'd all but won twice slip through their fingers.

The Blues now nine days on the training field before their FA Cup tie at Bracknell Town a week on Monday.

Charlton: Wollacott, Clare, Thomas, O’Connell (Lavelle 43), Sessegnon, Egbo (Morgan 14), Dobson, Fraser, Kirk (Blackett-Taylor 62), Rak-Sakyi, Stockley (c) (Aneke 62). Unused: MacGillivray, McGrandles, Payne.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Burns (Keogh 90), Ball, Morsy (c), Davis, Jackson (Edwards 71), Chaplin (Harness 71), John-Jules (Ladapo 71). Unused: Hladky, Vincent-Young, Humphreys. Referee: Josh Smith (Bedfordshire). Att: 16,625 (Town: 3,139).

Photo: Matchday Images

bernie added 10:16 - Oct 30 Sorry to say I know we won't win every game but when you lead twice in a game by two goals surely you must win that game ,we have been giving to many leads away and let's not forget Mk dons went there in midweek and beat them 2-0 are we to open when taking leads
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Paulc added 10:28 - Oct 30 Yes, this is hugely frustrating and disappointing, lessons need to be learned. But once again my anger turns to the fact that we get 2-3 times more posts on here than when we win. People are literally waiting for a moment to start whinging! We are 2nd not 22nd. If we carry on the rest of the season based on the total games we've played this season, we'll go up! I am gobsmacked at the comments that we've conceded 6 goals from "2 average mid table Lg3 teams" - whilst factually correct, where TF do you think we were the last 3 years! I have no doubt we'll be right in the mix at the end of the season, for the first time in ages, but there will be bumps on the way. My biggest concern however, is that reading these comments on here there are many who are showing the same characteristics of entitled Manchester Utd Fans! Come on people, we can be better than this. By all means voice your displeasure in times of adversity, but how about log on and praise the good stuff when it happens too?

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USA added 10:48 - Oct 30 We blamed 2 worldies for the Plymouth goals. A freak goal for Lincoln. But these goals are becoming commonplace. Fragility is creeping into this team. Just not good enough yet and we need improvement throughout.
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Linkboy13 added 11:11 - Oct 30 This is undoubtedly the most talented squad in the league and would be a big under achievement if we did not get promotion. But talent doesn't always get you success you also require discipline ,application and hard work that is not always the case in some of our games. Questions have to be raised why when we are two goals in the lead with minutes left are we chasing the game. Are the players listening to instructions from the coaching staff. Kerion McKenna seems a very likeable laid back guy who i can't imagine getting angry with the players is this mirrored by the players personality's on the pitch.

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fizzyblue added 11:16 - Oct 30 I actually thought we played reasonably well. We're a constant threat in attack and harassed and closed down with a high press. If it wasn't for Walton having an uncharacteristically off game we would have won. We will be right up there at the end of the season. Up the town 💙💙
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Wooly74 added 11:27 - Oct 30 Martin587 you'd think them after supporting Ipswich for that long you would get why I'm berating the muppets and I stand 100% behind that comment. FFS we are second and if this is how you turn on your team as I said before what's it going to be like when we go through a bad patch. In my consistent 48 years of supporting my beloved team, home and away there's not a single time you will see be posting such drivel and as you as so quick to point out, we are all entitled to our opinions, hence my term Muppets!

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sospier added 12:46 - Oct 30 Wooly 74 Your comments about martin587 were totally unjust.You seem to have lost the plot about his comments.He was stating how bad the defense was regarding the four goals.It was a statement and certainly was not critical of any individual or the team as a whole.Almost every post on here has mentioned the poor defending which it was as I was there as always.I feel you should apologize for your harsh comments or in future keep your thoughts quiet or maybe your just happy to see poor errors and accept them as normal.I won't and nor will the rest of us and that is not a criticism either.

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Dissboyitfc added 13:46 - Oct 30 great post soppier, perfect!!!!
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sospier added 14:03 - Oct 30 Dissboyitfc.. Thanks for that.It's about time somebody spoke up about comments made by so called posters berating others factual comments and using unsavory names such as “muppet” which according to the English dictionary means “a stupid person” I'm sure martin587 is a level headed person and I see he has over 11100 likes so he is obviously sensible and constructive in his comments.Enough said don't you think.

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Northstandveteran added 14:12 - Oct 30 Enough of the names please. We are all Kermit-ed to the town.
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blueboy1981 added 14:33 - Oct 30 It's all well, good, and factual when people off set criticism by saying ‘we are still 2nd' - but such people should realise that we have serious frailties in the Team that are being found out by opposition and duly punished, and if not corrected we won't stay where we currently are. The obvious one is we do not defend high Balls into the Box, equally so we are incapable at set pieces in defending or attacking. There are some seriously good players in our Squad, i.e Ladapo who this week has proved to all what a clinical Striker he is. But there are equally game management issues, and concentration issues that are basic essentials of the game - that must be sorted. Not difficult currently for the opposition to identify, and duly capitalise on. Six Goals conceded in two games against very ordinary Div' 3 Teams this week doesn't bode well - but scoring Seven does. Self explanatory where the problems are - and doesn't take Einstein to spot, and PUNISH !! Must be sorted - or we will slip away !!

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oldblue added 18:43 - Oct 30 Could the person /persons who throws blue flares among his fellow supporters please refrain from doing so...our reputation will be tarnished and there will be some serious injuries sustained by someone if this continues ..it ain't clever ....stop it Muppet.
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dubblue added 20:27 - Oct 30 My concern is that McKenna's team is beginning to resemble Joe Royle's teams exciting attacking football but always likely to concede. Joe Royle's Town never got promoted we did get to the playoffs but this is a lottery which we lose more often than we win!! Why can't the team stop conceding like they did in the early McKenna days?
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gosblue added 20:40 - Oct 30 On a positivé note. I totally trust K-Mac to sort it out. If it can't be sorted we're eight games from the transfer window. It would be great to see a friendly in November. Maybe Wet Spam, Fulham or Brentford. It would also be great to have an FA Cup run and give a championship side a real seeing to in the third round. Thanks Santa
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bobble added 05:31 - Oct 31 out 20 bucks on a 5-5 draw with bracknell to pay off your mortgage
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 08:30 - Oct 31 While very frustrating to loose the lead twice we have taken 7from 9 points, we are scoring freely but defending poorly in bursts. Last year we defended well but struggled for goals, we will find the balance point, we are still on target for automatic.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 08:49 - Oct 31 Sospier, point of interest, how where do you find how many likes someone has?
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tempzzzz added 13:54 - Oct 31 Well all you can say really is that it was a lot more exciting than the last time we played at The Valley!
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Wooly74 added 14:19 - Oct 31 Sospier my comments are not unjust at all if you read the actual list of comments, Martin587 had a go for me using the term muppets at fellow Town fans and I was merely pointing out my reason for using the term. They are muppets for slating a team that has so far seen 10 wins and four draws from 16 games. Town will have bad patches, if this is how the so called fans turn against their supposed side then we don't need them. Let them go back to supporting Man Utd or who ever they went and supported during the last few barren years

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sospier added 17:26 - Oct 31 Wooly74 That's your tunnel vision opinion which of course your entitled to have so here is mine.Surely supporters can voice there opinions when things go wrong and there's nothing wrong with that. What is the point in saying they are not true supporters we all want the best and are all desperate to get out of this dire league.My worry is you seem to be happy when we are at present dropping points when in a winning position. Let's just draw a line under this as we are never going to agree.

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ImAbeliever added 18:54 - Oct 31 Just watched the goals again. We was robbed!!!
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blueboy1981 added 22:04 - Oct 31 Sospier …. you'll find most of the people who comment like Wooly74 haven't a clue about the game, but following ITFC is just a Cult thing with them - Win or Lose doesn't really bother them ! If anyone wants an example of near perfection of a Squad and Team, and how the game needs to be played - then just watch Plymouth this season. We ourselves can learn from them, they've got it all SPOT ON !!

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Bert added 23:06 - Oct 31 Had I not been at the game I may have not have had a roller coaster of emotions and simply put the final 9 minutes down to just one of those things. However, I was there with 3.000 plus others and witnessed every second of time added on. Given that moment in time experience,I think it is reasonable for any committed supporter of Town to question what went wrong and why. We were easily the better team yet we turned off and allowed victory to be taken away. That hurt and therefore emotions are real and not, as some suggest just an opportunity to criticise a team that has given us so much pleasure this season. Respect for opinions is not too much to ask.

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