POST-MATCH THREAD: Ipswich Town v Charlton Athletic: Tuesday 21st October 2025: KO 19:45

Ipswich started well this evening, pulling the Addicks around all over the pitch and looking sharp. Charlton did a lot of chasing in the early stages, with the press working well, but Ipswich looked capable of going up a gear or two.

Not long into the first half, a couple of good saves from Thomas Kaminsky and a few more interventions from Macauley Gillesphey saved the visiting side from going a goal down.
The Ipswich keeper, Alex Palmer, clearly didn’t fancy facing Charlie Kelman and Tanto Olaofe anymore when, on 22 minutes, with fear in his eyes, he went down with a muscle injury and was replaced by Christian Walton. Perhaps he’s clairvoyant and wanted nothing to do with what was to come!

On 35 minutes we made our best attacking move of the night, with a bit of interplay before A’mari Bell crossed in for Sonny Carey to have a go. He didn’t catch the ball cleanly and volleyed it over. Only seconds later, Ipswich were on the counter, their effort beat the Addicks all ends up but only managed to rocket back off the crossbar. Ipswich then had another effort but it was a bit of pressing from Charlie Kelman that put Tanto Olaofe into space, bearing down on the Ipswich keeper, but his shot failed to sneak underneath Walton’s leg and Ipswich were let off the hook.
In the last minute of the first half, Bell forced a turnover on the keeper’s pass that resulted in a corner. The incoming ball just evaded Charlie Kelman’s head and was prodded at the goal and over the bar by Lloyd Jones.

Both sides went in level at the break. Ipswich were clearly a step above in their movement and fluidity in possession. Charlton were well organised out of possession and largely contained the home side but had a harder time in possession. Still, the Addicks had their moments and could have scored one or two against the run of play had they had a little more composure and a touch of luck.

The second half started with more Ipswich dominance. They had a couple of chances to open the scoring but again failed to. It was Charlton that struck first! Six minutes into the second half, it was Sonny Carey driving at two of the Ipswich defenders. Kelman proved a foil, taking the second defender away, leaving Carey to strike with his left and into the back of the net, firing the Addicks into what was, at that point, an improbable lead.

Moments later, the improbable happened again: Charlie Kelman blasted a thunderous strike in from twenty yards forcing a more than decent save. Then, the Addicks put together a bit of glorious play in the Ipswich Town box. Conor Coventry on the right swung the ball in and Tanto Olaofe flicked it towards goal, forcing the defenders and the keeper to intervene. In the commotion, the ball popped up and fell to Macauley Gillesphey to head the visitors into a two goal lead. The worm had truly turned and it was the Addicks that benefited from a spell of good luck, all in the space of a few minutes.

It was only more disappointment for the home side when the goal they scored on 58 minutes was ruled offside.

On 61 minutes, Kelman and Olaofe were replaced by Miles Leaburn and Tyreece Campbell. Campbell made an almost instant impact when his cross from the right was swatted away in front of the keeper by Ashley Young and out for a corner. The resulting set piece was floated to the back post where Lloyd Jones chased it over his head. The ball was played out to Conor Coventy through a reverse pass into Tyreece Campbell who, with a burst of pace, managed to save it from going out (disputed!?) and pop it over to Miles Leaburn to head home the Addick’s third!

On 71 minutes Ipswich broke down the right, catching the Addicks off guard. But, as the ball came into the middle, Kayne Ramsay made an absolutely superb block to deny a tap in. The home side must have been wondering what was going on! But they didn’t have long to ponder, because Tyreece Campbell immediately went down the other end, beat three defenders and curled a shot past the keeper that went just inches wide. The East Anglian natives, who had been quite quiet, were now noticeably restless, with boos ringing out across the ground. At this point, I have to be honest: we had so many decent bits of play that I couldn’t keep up with my note taking!

All 1800+ travelling fans got a performance to remember! They were in good voice, with the home side silenced (even in the early stages, for some reason). What a night! Perhaps not quite payback for the recent six nil thrashing, but sweet, sweet, sweet nonetheless.

Thomas Kaminsky was solid and made some impactful saves. The back five were all immense, as were Coventy and Docherty in front of them, once they got to grips with the pace. The forwards played their part in forcing any luck, with Sonny Carey giving us the platform to go on and extend the lead beyond Ipswich. He was immense. The starting strikers worked hard and their replacements made an immediate impact. What commitment down to a man!

Take a bow Nathan Jones, Curtis Fleming, and the coaching team. Well done!

Ipswich 0 Charlton 3

Over to you.