POST-MATCH THREAD: Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town: Wednesday 22nd April 2026: KO 19:45

Ipswich Town visit the Valley this evening looking for a win to take them into the last automatic promotion place but also, you’d have to think, seeking to avenge Charlton’s 3-0 win at Portman Road, their only loss at home. Eight changes tonight to the home side bring to mind the time we went to Middlesbrough, made significant changes, and won. Thomas Kaminski came back into goal, after an extended absence, replacing Will Mannion. Conor Coventry, Macauley Gillesphey, Collins Sichenje, Jayden Fevrier, Joe Rankin-Costello, Charlie Kelman and Tyreece Campbell all come into the starting lineup.

Nathan Jones must have had a dream last night that inspired this new look squad and adapted formation! Only 43 seconds into the first half, Tyreece Campbell intercepted a poor attempt to pass out from the back. He pressed into the box with the ball at his feet and unleashed a shot that the keeper parried back into the centre of the box, failing to the feet of Greg Docherty and his driving shot worked its way through traffic and into the back of the net to put the Addicks up a goal.

Charlton started this one on the front foot. Ipswich’s passing was largely woeful in the early stages, with Charlton seemingly able to cover the lanes all over the pitch, forcing interceptions and mistakes. Unfortunately, with just under 14 minutes having elapsed, Amari’i Bell went into a challenge and came out limping. Minutes later he went down for treatment on his right leg. Luke Chambers was his replacement when it was determined that Bell could not continue.

On 22 minutes Ipswich had their best change of the match to that point. Slick movement and quick passing on their right side dragged Gillesphey out of position and carved through the remaining defenders, resulting in a shot from six or seven yards that was ultimately scuffed and turned wide. Minutes later, a free kick on the right forced a Kaminski diving save from a header in the box. Ipswich were now benefitting from a period of greater possession.

Charlton were less effective in the press and had retreated back. Collins Sichenje and Jayden Fevrier were very effective, however, in the tackle and in leading attacks down the Charlton right. It was from a Sichenje tackle that released one such counter attack, with Charlie Kelman popping off a fairly weak, outside-of-the-right-boot shot that the Ipswich keeper saved easily. His angle was tight and he made the most of what space he had.

Ipswich had their equaliser with ten minutes of normal time remaining in the first. Charlton had loaded the box for a throw in but that came to nothing and meant that the visitors saw an opening on the counter. The ball was moved through Philogene down their left, then into the middle. The goal came through a low shot from the edge of the box, through the legs of a sliding Greg Docherty. Thomas Kaminski dived to his right but the ball eluded him and nestled into the back of the net. The keeper will blame the closing down but the shot wasn’t that well struck and I personally think he should have done better.

There was a lot of back and forth for both side for the remainder of the half and into the seven minutes of injury time. Tyreece Campbell was taken down in a poor challenge that resulted in him receiving treatment and the Addicks reduced to ten whilst he was asked to leave the pitch. The half ended without further incident and both teams went in even.

Campbell was replaced at halftime with Lyndon Dykes. This one started with Ipswich dominating possession and Charlton dropping deep. Charlton had lost the out ball that was effective in the beginning of the first, largely through Jayden Fevrier, Greg Docherty, and Joe Rankin-Costello.

Just over ten minutes in, an act of absolute stupidity handed Ipswich the chance to go ahead. Macauley Gillesphey, tracking back into the box, clumsily tangled up with Furlong, the scorer of Ipswich’s earlier goal and both went down. The referee had no option but to award a penalty. Philogene stepped up to take the penalty and summarily dispatched it. It wasn’t a great penalty. Kaminski dived the right way but the ball went under his body. He should have saved it. Sonny Carey then replaced Charlie Kelman.

It wasn’t clear by that point whether this Charlton side could redeem itself. Where would the quality come from? If Ipswich made another mistake, would we have the ability to capitalise again? Ipswich almost had the opportunity for a third if not for a decent Kaminski save. On 69 minutes Ipswich made two changes, one of which was the dangerman Philogene, who had been marshaled well by Sichenje and, at times, Fevrier, going off. By 77 minutes, Nathan Jones made his own changes. Luke Chambers and Joe Rankin-Costello were replaced by Matty Godden and Harvey Knibbs.

It wasn’t long after he came on that Godden was brought down in a challenge that left him hobbling long after. It looked as though he was having trouble with his ankle for the remainder of the match. With five minutes of normal time he went down and received treatment. He was able to continue but he was still limping at times. With him not at one hundred percent, it didn’t look like the necessary equaliser would come. Maybe a bit of luck and a set piece?

Ipswich were soaking up Charlton pressure for the majority of the final minutes of regular time. But just into the added eight minutes the visitors had another chance to extend their lead, but for a point-blank, double save from Kaminski. Charlton then had a passage where waves of waves of pressure were piled on to no avail. Balls were swung into the box but Ipswich were coping. Godden was a passenger, seemingly with a damaged right ankle. The Addicks needed just one point to secure Championship football next season, but it wasn’t to come tonight.

The second half wasn’t as entertaining as the first. No shots on or off target in the second and a mistake for the penalty. And multiple injuries won’t help the campaign for one more point from the two remaining matches. Disappointing all round.

Charlton 1 Ipswich 2
Over to you.