Charlton Athletic 1 Ipswich Town 2

A third consecutive defeat for the Addicks today and I suddenly find myself looking again behind us instead of above us. The more negative amongst us will point to one win in six and i confess to being slightly worried particularly amongst the backdrop of some hopefully unfounded ‘Powell’s days are numbered’ rumours.

I was in the pub for the majority of the game and was left to follow the game on Twitter but after recklessly conceding an early penalty, to be 0-2 at the half simply left too much to do against a team more hungry for points than us, and once again Powell’s charges were left chasing a game.

A Danny Haynes penalty reduced the arrears but despite scoring 5 in one game, we are the division’s 2nd lowest goal scorers and whether it is a lack of adventure, ability of simply goalscoring prowess, Powell needs to address this flaw quickly.

Nonetheless I saw the team sheet come through and immediately felt that Powell had approached the game in the right frame of mind. Fuller was back alongside the recalled Hulse, he had two wide men in Green and Haynes with Stephens and Frimpong in the middle and the more than proven back five behind them. Even young winger Callum Harriott was on the bench alongside fit again Ceddy Evina.

It didn’t work though and a seemingly lacklustre first half handed us a Boxing Day defeat.

Addick Bloggers at The Valley: Drinking During the Game; Addicks Championship Diary; Blackheath Addick; Hungry Ted; Deepest Darkest; Charlton Casualty; Doctor Kish.
Powell-ometer: Hard to disagree with his offensive team selection but a scrappy 3 points would give Powell some tie to breath at the moment.
Elsewhere: Forest beat Leeds 4-2 in the other early game, Palace lost at Cardiff, Boro beat Blackburn and Hull and Leicester shared the points in Humberside. Huddersfield and Blackpool was 1-1, Wednesday won their 3rd game on the trot at Bolton and Burnley beat Derby 2-0. Peterborough also won for the third consecutive time thrashing Wolves away 3-0 and Birmingham won at Barnsley 2-1.