Football Apr 24, 2026

Charlton Athletic 1-2 Ipswich Town: Tractor Boys hit back for victory at The Valley to retake second in Championship

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Charlton Athletic 1-2 Ipswich Town: Tractor Boys hit back for victory at The Valley to retake second in Championship

Jaden Philogene's penalty fired Ipswich back up to second as Kieran McKenna's promotion chasers came from behind to beat Charlton 2-1.

The Tractor Boys are back above Millwall on goal difference and with a game in hand, as they close in on a return to the Premier League a year after they were relegated.

In the first of three pivotal away games in six days, they started badly, falling behind to a Greg Docherty goal inside the first minute.

But they hit back through a superb Darnell Furlong strike and a Philogene penalty to keep their automatic promotion bid firmly in their own hands.

Charlton are still not mathematically safe from relegation but frustrated manager Nathan Jones made eight changes to his side from the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, their sixth game without a win.

The move looked to have paid off instantly as Docherty fired the hosts into a shock lead after only 42 seconds.

Ben Johnson's mistake allowed Tyreece Campbell to burst down the right and when his angled drive was palmed away by Christian Walton the ball fell to the Addicks skipper who thumped it into an unguarded net.

Ipswich took a while to get into their stride but when they did Philogene volleyed over before Dara O'Shea headed straight at Addicks keeper Thomas Kaminski.

Then Ivan Azon made an awful mess of a Furlong cross, right in front of goal, when he kicked the ball with his right foot against his left leg and watched it roll feebly wide.

The equaliser came after 36 minutes when Azor Matusiwa found Furlong 20 yards out and the full-back lashed his shot beyond Kaminski into the far corner.

It was a timely first goal for Ipswich for the 30-year-old, who moved to Suffolk from West Brom last summer.

Furnell also played a major role in Ipswich's second, 12 minutes after half-time, when he was sent tumbling in the area by Macaulay Gillesphey.

Philogene's spot-kick was actually pretty tame but it rolled under the body of the diving Kaminski and squirmed into the net.

Philogene almost had a second moments later but Kaminski pulled off a fine save with Anis Mehmeti unable to convert the rebound.

Charlton sent on Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes as they pushed for the point they still need to ensure their safety,but Ipswich held out to move another step closer to a swift return to the top flight.

Charlton's Nathan Jones:

"I thought the overall performance was good. We started brilliantly.

"We gave a cheap foul away for the penalty and you can't afford to do that, and that's what's costing us at the minute. We need to do the basics better and we need one more big performance."

Ipswich's Kieran McKenna:

"It's a big win, I really like how we won. Conceding a goal that early was a big blow.

"To have that and then we couldn't get a foothold in the game, so to come back from that and show belief, to score a really good goal in the first half and come out in the second half really strong was a good show of character from the group.

"To do that away from home, it was a good night to do it. Now there's every chance we have to show it again if we are going to be successful."

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Premier League title race: Arsenal back in control despite dropping to second after Man City beat Burnley , says Paul Merson

Premier League title race: Arsenal back in control despite dropping to second after Man City beat Burnley , says Paul Merson

In his latest column, Your Site' Paul Merson says the Premier League title race could come down to goal difference - especially after Manchester City...

Millwall: Five factors behind Lions' unlikely push for promotion to the Premier League with Championship play-off place already assured

Millwall: Five factors behind Lions' unlikely push for promotion to the Premier League with Championship play-off place already assured

Millwall have a first-ever promotion to the Premier League in their sights.A Championship play-off spot is already secured and an automatic promotion...

Celtic transfer news: James Forrest agrees new deal at Scottish Premiership club until end of next season

Celtic transfer news: James Forrest agrees new deal at Scottish Premiership club until end of next season

Celtic winger James Forrest has agreed a new deal, keeping him at the club next season.The 34-year-old, who is the club's most-decorated player, has s...

Tatjana Haenni interview: RB Leipzig boss is first woman CEO in Bundesliga and out to ignite club and to win titles

Tatjana Haenni interview: RB Leipzig boss is first woman CEO in Bundesliga and out to ignite club and to win titles

Tatjana Haenni, the first woman to be the CEO of a Bundesliga team when appointed by RB Leipzig in December, is being asked about Union Berlin’s new h...

Michael Carrick: Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe hesitant to offer permanent Old Trafford job to interim boss - Paper Talk

Michael Carrick: Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe hesitant to offer permanent Old Trafford job to interim boss - Paper Talk

The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday's newspapers...Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to be hesitant to give Michael Carrick the permanent manager...

Lamine Yamal: Barcelona star to miss rest of season with hamstring injury but 'expected to be available' for World Cup with Spain

Lamine Yamal: Barcelona star to miss rest of season with hamstring injury but 'expected to be available' for World Cup with Spain

Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of the domestic season due to a hamstring injury but is expected to be available for this summer's World Cup, accordin...