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Ipswich Town 4-0 Charlton Athletic - Match Report
Saturday, 30th Apr 2022 14:34

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



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BromleyBloo added 14:34 - Apr 30
Good to sign off with a win and a convincing one, but, as McK said before the game doesn't really mean or count for anything going forward.

Still time for him to have a full pre season now and I think a fair amount of change with incomings and outgoings needed.

May be with new owners stability and approach, we have the beginnings of a basis to push on and get out of this depressing division, back where we belong. So hope at last, but next year needs to be much, much better………..

COYB!!!
13

FrankMarshall added 14:35 - Apr 30
Great result.

Looking forward to next season!
14

TimmyH added 14:44 - Apr 30
Nice way to finish the season on a sunny day with a good win and Mr Norwood to end his time here with a goal but at the end of the day it was a dead rubber.

Okay I'm not going to sugar coat this - but finishing 11th and 1 point more than last season is p-poor, yes we've finished behind Bolton a club in dire financial straits 2 seasons ago and a very average Portsmouth!

BIG season for the club coming up and for McKenna as well, if we fail to get in the play-offs yet again our new owners will be getting twitchy and the optimism at the start of this season will soon be going down the drain.
8

Bert added 14:45 - Apr 30
Great performance and good goals. 83 points to secure a play off place so let's start the new season banging in the goals. Have a good summer everyone.
10

DaGremloid added 14:46 - Apr 30
Good performance to end the season on a high but I would like to have seen that over the last few weeks tbh.

So now onto Kieran's most important period since he took over. Let's hope he can now really stamp his authority on the club by building the squad he wants.

Oh and to all you defeatists who can't wait for us to go out of the cup competitions in order to concentrate on the league, I have two words for you:

Rotherham United.
12

tractorboybig added 14:56 - Apr 30
another crap season by an average third tier club......lots of work needed
-14

Nobbysnuts added 14:59 - Apr 30
Good result for the happy clappers but my oh my what a poor season...probably our poorest so far...question marks over KM? Definitely. Can he turn it round? Possibly...letting our most natural goal scorer go on a free will be KM's biggest mistake. Wish you all the best nors ....you deserved another year's contract.
-14

chopra777 added 15:05 - Apr 30
We now have a group players playing for the club and want to make progress. Although this season has not worked out to plan. When you totally destroy a squad and rebuild there will be a few cracks. PC gave us a poor start then KM gave us belief but lost his way with underestimating opponents in this brutal league. Great to see WC getting a brace and Norwood signing off with a goal. Too old to be squad player and no longer a proficient goal scorer. Good luck in your travels. KM needs to find 6 new players for promotion next season. The future at PR is at least better. Onwards and Upwards.
7

johnwarksshorts added 15:05 - Apr 30
Looking forward to next season, but need to turn all those draws into wins. Gonna be tricky as some good teams coming down and coming up next season. Trust in McKenna COYB.
5

Monkey_Blue added 15:07 - Apr 30
Anyone marking down my Norwood comment… GFYS. Drink drivers are the scum of the earth, especially the serial offenders.
-12

IpswichToon added 15:16 - Apr 30
I like what Edmundson said that the gaffer had said to them. Something to the effect of "The best teams don't have days off". That really showed today with a fantastic performance, albeit against a team that looked like they were already on their holidays.

A fantastic way to finish the season. Unbelievable positivity considering we just finished in the lowest league position we've seen for more than half a century!
3

Stato added 15:17 - Apr 30
Such a lack of ambition from those targeting playoffs. It's promotion or failure and playoffs such a lottery.
4

Monkey_Blue added 15:18 - Apr 30
Ashamed how many fans on here forgive a serial drunk driver. Shocking. Have a look at yourselves
0

runningout added 15:23 - Apr 30
I worry about our own people/fans sometimes
6

blueboy1981 added 15:26 - Apr 30
Good note to finish, but whatever the euphoria for such –another P#ss Poor season.
As I've said previously many times, much to be done, and much improvement required … !!!
Another close season reset to Zero, looks on the cards to me.
Let's hope the next one works …. !!!
5

Help added 15:28 - Apr 30
An enjoyable day out to finish the season. 4 goals to the good in a nothing match other than pride. Nice to see Charlton bringing a few fans and plenty of banter. Think the PA system was the worst today it has been all season in the Magnus.

Looking forward to next season with the usual eager anticipation. Looking forward to seeing who the club brings in to strengthen the team. COYB. Uppa Towen
5

EssexTractor added 15:35 - Apr 30
Maybe Charlton were on their holidays but todays possession , passing and overall performance was I believe indicative of what lies in store from July 30th.
Yes some additions are required, McKenna has known that for some time, he and his off the field team will already have targets in mind.
This young managers abilities and style of football has obviously excited the supporters ..26,000 for a “ nothing” League One fixture says it all.
Maybe 4 newcomers to boost next seasons push .
Some final words of praise for individuals …who may not win awards…
Wolfenden so calm and assured
Donacien unbelievable consistency
..and after Beattie and Butcher now in the same area of play another B ..Baggott tremendous home debut …
9

ricardo55555 added 15:41 - Apr 30
I have really enjoyed this season. Some cracking matches with Cook in charge. Some surprisingly and frustratingly poor games too, I grant you. The Wycombe wanderers away game was just brilliant entertainment, with some wonderful attacking football, a fantastic night out. Since McKenna has taken over, the football played has been high class, and entertaining. It is just the finishing thrust that hasn't always clicked. Today it all clicked, and we purred with confidence. It might be a dead rubber, but it shows our solid potential. McKenna is a sharp cookie, bright, and learning about division One all the time. He will be thinking through his footballing approach, with its clear strengths and its current limitations. We are very fortunate to have McKenna. I think he is a top coach. He will do his very best with the resources he is granted. I am really looking forward to our bid for promotion next year, and we need to be right behind the club next year, which judging by the great support this year could get even stronger with a good start. You never know we might even score from a corner next season….
14

Flamencaman added 15:43 - Apr 30
Let me see Wigan escape relegation last season, this season finish champions shows what can be done by a good manager, those draws will be wins the losses will be a minimum of a draw if not a win,wonder how many of the new boys leave,certainly won't be many loaners asked back Celina the rest bye bye and thankyou
3

backwaywhen added 15:45 - Apr 30
TB Big , we are by far not a bang average side , just need tweaking in the summer and some of the football we played today was sublime , get the right players in and we will get promoted , Twine will do for a start , 4 today away to Plymouth, proper little fox in the box ……. In KM we trust .
3

brassy added 15:51 - Apr 30
most optomistic i have felt in 15 years coybs.
5

The_Prof added 16:04 - Apr 30
..and after Beattie and Butcher now in the same area of play another B ..Baggott tremendous home debut …

Don't forget Billy Baxter, who the legend that is Ray Crawford thinks may be our best player ever.
0

jas0999 added 16:06 - Apr 30
A great way to end a bitterly disappointing season. Although we can't read too much into this dead rubber result, at least we were entertained and it's great to watch the team score four and keep a clean sheet. Pleased that Norwood signed off with a goal. Will be an interesting summer, where investment in strikers will be critical. Bonne started great but one goal in 30 odd isn't good enough, plus he seems to always be offside!

Have a great summer all!
8

yorkieblue62 added 16:23 - Apr 30
It was a freak season to get in the play offs. Even if we'd turned 6 of the draws into wins we would have still missed out. 41 pts from second half of season not a bad return but now the real hard work starts for McK to show he can build on a solid start, get rid of the dead wood and add a few game changers, especially up front.
4

AlanG296 added 16:35 - Apr 30
Good that we finished the season with a positive performance, second most goals in a home game this season, and a win to cheer. Means nothing in the league status situation, our lowest finish to a completed season for 69 years. Next season must be better if this is #ourtime!
1


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