Charlton suffer third successive defeat

Charlton went down to their third successive defeat, losing 1-2 to form team Ipswich at The Valley today.

Jackson was dropped to the bench against Ipswich, as was Kermorgant reports Paul May. Kerkar, who has been disappointing of late, was nowhere to be seen with Harriot promoted to the bench. Green and the returning Stephens started. Haynes was played out wide left at first, later switching to the right. Hulse and Fuller were paired up front. There was a minute’s applause to mark the passing of club historian Colin Cameron.

Cresswell shot from an early free kick conceded by Morrison, but it went over. Haynes put in a spectacular right-footed shot and the keeper just managed to put it over the bar. There should have been a second corner as the ball came off the keeper, but the referee did not agree. Hamer looked as if he had damaged his hip and was wincing in pain.

Cort had to battle with Orr and managed to avoid the corner. A wild swing from Trinidad & Tobago international Edwards went wide. Frimpong made a good challenge, but Smith defended well in the subsequent attack.

Solly cleared from danger and Charlton counter attacked, but Green’s shot was charged down. It was a nice move, even though it was ultimately unproductive. Frimpong put in a great tackle in the box. Fuller held the ball up well with three defenders around him.

Lee Martin was brought down by Frimpong, I am not certain that was in the box. The penalty by D J Campbell on 17 minutes was apparently saved by Hamer diving to his right, but it must have come off the post as the referee did not give a corner. Hamer had to come off his line to save well from D J Campbell who had burst forward.

Haynes played the ball into the box, but Fuller’s attempt was charged down by the Ipswich back line. Green failed to track the left back. Hamer still did not look comfortable and would probably have been taken off if he was an outfield player.

Fuller shot but the keeper dived to his right to save. Campbell shot but Hamer got down quickly to save. Fuller won a free kick for the Addicks. The effort from Stephens hit the base of the post with the keeper nowhere.

The ball was drilled back in from the right hand side with Murphy keeping it in and Campbell scored the opener for Ipswich on 35 minutes with a volley into the bottom corner ten minutes before half time. The tractor drivers in the Jimmy Seed came to life.

Fuller shot straight at the keeper when he should have passed the ball. Morrison caught Drury and got a yellow card. The free kick was not taken well and went wide. Green went for the shot when he should have passed. There was insufficient collective work in the final third.

Hamer seemed to be moving more freely. The Addickted were subdued with Charlton not coming into the game much after thet went behind. Ipswich doubled their lead through Murphy after Hamer made a final initial save from Lee Martin on the stroke of half time, Charlton having fallen asleep.

HT: Addicks 0, Tractors 2

There was a double substitution after the break with Frimpong and Green going off and Jackson and Pritchard replacing them. Haynes put a good ball in, Jackson was about to let rip with his left foot and Fuller took it off him. Solly floated the ball in, Hulse got the header, but it was a comfortable save for the keeper.

Ipswich were playing keep ball, but Charlton eventually won the ball back with the rain starting to lash down to dampen the atmosphere even more, at least for all except the 1,319 Ipswich fans in the notional crowd of 18,380. Solly got in behind and the corner was awarded. The keeper punched out Jackson’s corner and the move ended in a goal kick.

Hulse threatened but was forced wide. Fuller won a free kick 20 yards out just to the right of centre. The free kick took a deflection leading to a corner, but Ipswich were able to clear their lines. Hulse was caught by Orr, but nothing was awarded. Ipswich took off Drury and brought on the experienced Nigel Reo-Coker. He trained with Charlton before his move to Ipswich.

There was another odd offside decision by the East Stand linesman. The corner flag snapped and the game was halted. Haynes floated the ball into Hulse and the keeper tipped it over as a safety first move. Charlton kept up the pressure after the corner from Stephens and won a second corner. It was a great delivery by Jackson, but eventually the keeper, who flapped initially, was able to gather.

Pritchard was taken down by Cresswell, having got round him, but the East Stand lino awarded the free kick to Ipswich. Pritchard tried to feed Solly in the box, he was brought down, and the penalty was awarded. Haynes had insisted on taking the penalty and made no mistake in drilling the ball high and wide of the keeper.

Seaborne put in a poor ball to Hulse, it came back to him and then he headed it out for a throw. Fuller went down and put his arm up straight away. The doctor was summoned. It appeared to be a problem with his left shoulder. Fuller came off and Kermorgant came on. Stephens put in a free kick from 30 yards and the curling ball was just wide as the rain lashed down.

Kermorgant won a corner for Charlton. Once again the keeper displayed his Dracula problem, but it did not lead to a goal. D J Campbell went off and Hyam came on. Charlton were unable to create anything in the closing minutes of normal time. Four minutes were added on. Stephens gave the ball away. Handball was awarded against Kermorgant, Ipswich made their third substitution to waste a bit of time, Murphy taking his time going off as Emmanuel-Thomas came on. Ipswich failed to clear the ball, Stephens could have equalised, but he hit it first time and put it wide. Hamer came forward as Charlton won a corner, but it was to no avail.

The second half was much better from a Charlton perspective, and indeed the first fifteen were good enough, but the damage was done in the rest of the first half.