Boss Kieran McKenna felt forward Conor Chaplin fully deserved his first hat-trick for the club as the Blues hammered Charlton 6-0 at Portman Road.

Chaplin took his total for the season to 25 in all competitions and 22 in League One, second behind only Peterborough’s Jonson Clarke-Harris.

The treble was the 26-year-old’s first in a competitive game for the club and only the second of his senior career having previously bagged a matchball in Barnsley’s 5-3 victory over QPR in December 2019.

“It was a good performance,” McKenna said reflecting on Town’s biggest win under his management. “Lots to enjoy.

“We started the game with a great intensity, got the early goals and were pretty relentless right the way through from those who started to those who came on.

“A really good performance, a day to enjoy for the club, of course, with the Foundation Fixture, and another full stadium, and an enjoyable day.

“But it’s only three points. We’ve said that downstairs, there’s no bonus points for a performance like that, it’s still three points and it’s a step in the right direction, but we have to back it up on Tuesday. That’s the focus now.

“Enjoy today, enjoy this evening with their families but everyone be ready on Sunday and Monday to get ready for Port Vale and back up that performance.”

The Blues out the visitors under pressure from the off, winning three corners in the opening minute and 15 seconds.

“It was a really good start,” McKenna reflected. “We try and start every game like that, especially the home games when you have the crowd behind you as well it’s really important to get that energy up.

“We were happy with the start. Of course, the opposition dictate that as well and Charlton came to play, they weren’t wasting time, [manager] Dean [Holden]’s trying to develop that team and develop the culture of that group, so they’ve got to find out where they’re at. They came for a match, which not everyone does.

“We got off to a really good start, that’s important, and I think the start probably reflects the mindset of the group at the moment.

“We’re enjoying the journey, we’re enjoying each game and we just want to keep attacking games and trying to deliver performances.”

Chaplin had scored twice six times this season but had usually been subbed before he had a chance to get his third.

“He got in there in time!” McKenna laughed. “Delighted for him, he deserves it, he deserves everything he gets because of the character that he is, the energy that he gives the group every day, he deserves all the good things he gets.

“He’s such a good finisher, great work from the team to create the chances, two really good goals. The first goal was a really, really good team move that he finished off as expertly as he does.

“The second goal, a wonderful pass from Nathan [Broadhead] and the third was a really enjoyable goal too because we were so alive from the set play.

“A great ball from Massimo [Luongo] and Nathan was really unselfish because he could have lashed at it himself from that area but put it on a plate and Conor gets a lovely moment for him, his first hat-trick for us and everyone’s happy for him.”

Why is Chaplin such a good finisher? “He definitely works on it. He’s a really good practicer. He studies, he loves scoring goals. He studies other strikers, he thinks about football, he talks about football a lot, he lives and breathes it.

“There’s probably a natural bit in there to some of his instinctive moments in the penalty area.

“But there’s also a lot of practice and he’s a really good finisher off of both feet - and also his head as well - and he doesn’t need much backlift to do it and that make him a really dangerous player in the box.

“It’s up to us to keep trying to create good chances for him and it’s up to him to keep doing his job for the team in all aspects and put those things together and hopefully he can keep scoring and we can keep performing well.”

McKenna says he and Chaplin have spoken about his role, the former Portsmouth player having developed since the Blues boss took charge in December 2021.

“He was obviously a striker in his younger days and we spoke a lot, especially in the first six months when I arrived about his evolution as a player,” McKenna reflected.

“When he arrived at the club he still saw himself as a striker and then he was playing more as a 10 in a typical 4-2-3-1 and we spoke a lot about evolving his game and evolving his position and I think always see it that he’s a forward player and can play in different roles.

“He’s scored when he’s played as a left 10 or a left-sided forward for us, he’s scored goals from that position, he’s scored goals from the right.

“When he scored [a hat-trick] against Tottenham in the friendly he was up front in the nine position, which he enjoyed as well. He can score anywhere across the frontline.”

The Town manager was also pleased for Freddie Ladapo, who came off the bench to score twice, taking his tally for the season to 19 in all competitions, 15 in the league.

“Delighted for him, everyone’s delighted for him,” McKenna continued. “I think that’s probably the best bit of the day for me, just the feeling of togetherness between the whole club first and foremost, but in the squad you can see how happy they are for each other, how they’re supporting each other.

“Of course, everybody’s pushing to play but everyone’s pushing for the team first of all to help the team be successful and Freddie came on with a really good attitude, really good intent. Two great finishes, defended well and he keeps contributing as he has all season.”

Despite the Blues moving back into second, a point ahead of Sheffield Wednesday with a game in hand on the Owls, McKenna insists he’s taking no notice of the league table.

“No, still not looking at it,” he said. “If we had two weeks off maybe I’d have a look, but we’ve got Port Vale on Tuesday.

“The next five league games come in the next couple of weeks, so there’s no time to reflect, no time to look at anything, we just need to keep attacking each game.

“Of course, we’re on a good run but it’s an incredible season in the league, we’re going to need a lot of points at the end and the way to do that is to keep performing and the players have shown today the frame of mind they’re in, how they’re enjoying the games, are attacking each game and that’s what we need to keep trying to do.”

Photo: TWTD

Stato added 18:31 - Apr 15 If I was the manager I'd have subbed him for Ball in the 80th minute rather than taking Luongo off and that way he could have his own standing aviation from all 4 sides of the ground. But if I was the manager we'd be fighting relegation so KM can continue to do it his way.
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Unhinged_dynamo added 18:44 - Apr 15 Chaplin deserves all the plaudits for what has been a fantastic effort over the season so far, also Ladapo. How long has it been to have two players on the 20+ mark ?
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NorwegianTractor added 18:56 - Apr 15 I'm delighted for Conor as well, and for my own prediction coming true when I commented on the forum July last year when everyone was screaming for a 20+ striker that Conor was already in the building and I believed him to be our 20+ guy. But mostly I'm delighted for the team - as long as we win it doesn't matter who scores. Hopefully we can keep on winning and make the direct promotion.

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Gforce added 19:00 - Apr 15 Wise words again,from our feet on the ground, Wiley old fox of a manager. Keeping everything crossed for the final five games 🤞
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Suffolkboy added 21:28 - Apr 15 Gosh ! What a day to be in the ground ,and witness our smashing squad absolutely on form, in fact top form , and working so so intelligently throughout for each other and towards actually scoring goals right to the very end ! Charlton were neither deliberately ‘dirty ‘ ,nor exceptionally physical but were inadequately equipped technically and nowhere near sharp enough ,being constantly out thought and losing the ball to a side incredibly alert and playing together as a very tight unit ! A great game from the Town , very well Refereed too ! Thanks are due to a really good team of Officials ! COYB

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VanDusen added 00:16 - Apr 16 @unhinged dynamo. I imagine Marshall and Mathie in 95/96 (I think) when we were top scorers in the country. Certainly wasn't 94/95 when Claus Thomsen with 5 was our leading scorer... 😂
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Len_Brennan added 07:31 - Apr 16 Extraordinary performance yesterday, and clear how McKenna has shaped the mindset of the group in how they played & how they echo his sentiments in post match interviews. We're nearly there, but not there yet, so a 6-0 demolition of a side on a good run can still only be reflected on with "yeah, a good performance, not on to the next game". That is a great attitude. If we win one of the Peterborough & Barnsley away game, or if Barnsley fail to beat us, we are in an incredibly strong position; but a draw at Peterborough & defeat to Barnsley could take it back out of our own hours, so he is absolutely right not to get carried away. On current form, Barnsley are still a threat, & a greater one than Sheffield Wednesday now. Time for steady heads & a steady manager. Thankfully we have both.

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Orraman added 11:02 - Apr 16 I find it difficult to believe that Kieran does not look at the league table. Really, not even a little peek? I guess that's the difference between us fans and the cold professionalism of a top class manager. His philosophy of one game at a time is clearly working and he is not distracted by all the ‘what ifs' going on around the top four. Must be great to have such a focussed mind

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Ebantiass added 12:56 - Apr 16 Wise words again from a manager that likes to keep his feet and those of his players firmly on the ground. Brilliant win but yeah only the three points to be collected by us. The two games away from home with the posh and Barnsley will determine the season. Our run in is 'nt going to be easy be we should go into them with a quiet confidence and determination.
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Karlosfandangal added 18:25 - Apr 16 People forget this is KMK first managers job and he is still learning too. What a change the club has gone through in the last 2 years.
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