Tractors unlikely to concede double

Charlton host promotion-chasing Ipswich Town in a vital encounter at both ends of the Championship table on Wednesday night.  The Addicks are six points above 22nd-placed Oxford United before the midweek round of fixtures and a win would put them on the brink of safety.

However, the more pessimistic Addicks see an away win more likely with Richard Cawley noting Charlton's poor possession statistics. I think that a draw is possible.

If the U's lose to Wrexham on Tuesday evening, Charlton would need just a point to guarantee safety, while if Oxford draw, victory would see Nathan Jones' side survive.

The Tractor Boys currently occupy the second automatic promotion spot but could be leapfrogged by Millwall or Southampton - or both - by the time they kick-off at The Valley.

Kieran McKenna's side also have a game in hand on the chasing pack and even a draw at Charlton would keep their fate in their own hands.

• Following their 3-0 win in October, Charlton are looking to complete the league double over Ipswich for the first time since 2001-02 in the Premier League.
• Ipswich have failed to score in five of their previous eight league games against Charlton, but have netted 14 goals in the three games they have found the net (4-0, 4-4, 6-0).
• Charlton have lost five of their past six home league games (W1) including each of the previous three; they last lost four in a row in February 2024.
• Ipswich, who lost their most recent away league game 2-0 at Portsmouth, are looking to avoid suffering successive away defeats in the Championship for the first time since April 2019 (run of three).
• Ipswich have only won one of their five league games against newly promoted sides this season (D2 L2), failing to win either of their away matches so far (1-1 v Birmingham, 3-5 v Wrexham).

Comparative data on Charlton

The Swiss Ramble blog provides the most in depth and careful analysis of football finances anywhere. His latest analysis is of current table toppers Ipswich Town: Tractors

Why should this interest Charlton fans? Well, there are lots of comparative charts and tables for all Championship clubs including Charlton. In most of them we are around mid-table, e.g., 9th in terms of net spend on players.

The current Ipswich approach is similar to that of Charlton in an earlier era, i.e., don't spend much on players, but try to develop them through good coaching. We also, of course, took some good players from Ipswich.

Charlton fans as seen in the looking glass

An Ipswich fan has put together a lengthy compilation of views culled from the Charlton fans about the club's recent performances and their players: Forum views

Some fans are saying that we are already showing relegation form which speaks volumes about the extent to which it is possible to be pessimistic about one's own team. 11th doesn't look like a relegation position.

Optimists argue that the play off places are not out of reach, which of course they are not. However, this looks like a mid-table season to me, the unresolved question is whether we will be upper or lower mid table.

Well-informed commentators point out that the club's position is not sustainable in the Championship with losses of £5 million a year. Unless we can get promoted, the options are relegation or administration (or perhaps both). Even a year in the Premiership would give us around £120m (less additional spending on players) which would set us up in the Championship for a few years, not to mention the generous parachute payments. It's a strange world where you can have a strategy of getting promoted to get relegated to stay afloat.

Any hope at Ipswich?

With Mick McCarthy's Ipswich in the play off places, and third in the form table, there might appear to be little grounds for optimism about today's fixture between the Tractors and the Addicks. Ipswich are unbeaten in their last seven matches. However, Charlton have lost on only one of their last four outings to Portman Road. Last year we won 2-1, but Ipswich were a much weaker team then and there is no doubt that Mick McCarthy's pragmatic approach has worked well: Mick McCarthy

Chris Solly should be back in contention, while hopefully Rhoys Wiggins will be available. They were both missed in the game against Sheffield Wednesday. Addicks will be able to bid a tearful farewell to Cameron Stewart as he heads back to Hull, possibly en route to Leeds. Two great strikes, but not much else.

After a draining draw at Bournemouth, McCarty is considering freshening up his side: Tractors

Warwickshire's Stuart Attwell is referee, so I will be paying him a call if there are any daft decisions.

I am going for an Ipswich 2-1 win. Odds are: Ipswich 10/11, Draw 12/5, Charlton 3/1.

Tractors raring to go

Ipswich Town are raring to go at The Valley this afternoon, according to Kiwi international Tommy Smith. What is more they have been working with the medical staff to ensure that they have the right nutrients after the Christmas period. The mind boggles: is it Weetabix all round on the coach? One possible reading of what he says is that they are going for a draw: Ipswich

An Ipswich site names Ricardo Fuller as the danger man and forecasts a 2-1 defeat for the Tractors: Tractors

Have Tractors got into gear?

Have Ipswich Town finally got into gear under Mick McCarthy or are they still stuck in the mud? McCarthy replaced Paul Jewell weeks after he failed to do the decent thing and succumb to the curse of Charlton.

Ipswich are currently 5th in the form table (Charlton are 20th), having won three, drawn two and lost one of their last six games. They haven't scored many goals away (seven) and have conceded 26, but still have managed to win three games and draw two on the road.

They stuttered somewhat in Saturday's 1-1 draw with fellow relegation strugglers Bristol City. McCarthy commented, 'I was happy to take a point from a game we could have lost, to not lose twice on the bounce and not to crumble when we could have done. In terms of performance it was nowhere near as well as we played against Nottingham Forest or Millwall.'

Up front D J Campbell was quiet, while Daryl Murphy had a frustrating afternoon. Murphy is a doubt for Boxing Day after picking up a knock to his knee on Saturday, but McCarthy is hopeful he will make the trip. Lee Martin can deliver a good corner, but N'Daw was sloppy with has passing and was caught in possession too often. Andy Drury did provide some power and pace in midfield, but skipper Carlos Edwards had another quiet afternoon, creating very little danger from the right. The defence looked quite strong with Tommy Smith defending stoutly and scoring the goal. Bradley Orr made a brilliant first half block.

Of the four most recent games we have played at home to Ipswich in the second tier, we have won three comfortably: the exception was an end-of-season celebration when we had already been promoted to the Premier League as champions.

Odds are 5/4 for a home win, 12/5 for a draw and 21/10 for an away win. Pessimists have already been out in force virtually this morning, one arguing: 'Powell's baffling tactics, team selections, ineffective substitutions and turgid style are causing concern.'

The vapourings of the usual suspects aside, Chris Powell is clearly under pressure. An often reliable source has stated this morning, 'I think it would be very unsurprising if Jimenez sacked Powell before or after the Watford game, should we fail to pick up, say, four points over Christmas. There are strong indications it was intended to sack him after the Cardiff game and a meeting had been scheduled for the following morning.'

The suspension of Lawrie Wilson is a blow as he is a real menace down the right. Even so, I am going for a 2-0 win for Charlton, although I should warn you that I am bottom of the West Sussex branch prediction league.

Happy Christmas! Greetings from the players and Sir Chris here (well worth a watch): Christmas

Victory around the corner for Ipswich

Ipswich manager Paul Jewell is confident that victory for the Tractors is just around the corner, starting with Charlton on Saturday. Given that he's already being criticised, he's hardly likely to say anything else

Pre-season the pundits had limited faith in Ipswich, while agreeing that they would escape relegation. Four Four Two had them at 14th and The Times at 15th which is where they finished last season. The Football League Paper had them down at 19th.

Striker Michael Chopra seems to have lost his golden touch. In the defeat at Boro he kept running but made little of the chances he had. Paul Taylor, signed from Peterborough for £1.5m, showed good movement behind Chopra and was more likely to score. However, he limped off injured in the Wolves game. Arsenal youth product Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has become a source of frustration to fans and did not play against Boro, although he came on a sub against Wolves Fans would like to see Luke Hyam used, but he stayed on the bench at the Riverside and against Wolves.

In defence Luke Chambers looked reasonably strong at Boro, while Aaron Creswell put in a decent shift on the left of defence, but could not get into the game. Keeper Scott Loach saved a penalty against Huddersfield, but was at fault for one of the goals at Boro. N'Daw was largely anonymous in the centre of the park, but former Manchester United trainee Lee Martin was more impressive. Daryl Murphy could not make any passes count.

Against Wolves the Tractors wasted chances galore either side of a comical own goal from defender Tommy Smith in the 68th minute. The Kiwi still seems to be suffering from jet lag after his return from international duty. Ipswich have the worst goalscoring record of any club in the division. Paul Jewell confessed, 'We're not just missing half-chances - they're gilt-edged opportunities.'

I find this a difficult match to call, but it's at least possible that we could take all three points. A lot will turn on who scores the first goal.