An outstanding Charlton display saw Johnnie Jackson’s side record a thrilling 2-0 victory against Ipswich Town at The Valley on Tuesday night after dominating from start to finish.
Jayden Stockley broke the deadlock on 26 minutes with his 12th goal in as many games, before Alex Gilbey bagged his first goal of the season two minutes from time to settle the outcome.
Jackson made two alterations from Friday’s FA Cup second-round tie at Gateshead as club captain Jason Pearce started at the heart of the Charlton defence, while as Craig MacGillivray returned in between the sticks.
With the game only four minutes old, Conor Washington tried his luck with an audacious strike from range after latching onto Stockley’s flick-on, though his lobbed effort dipped over Christian Walton’s crossbar with the visiting stopper scrambling.
Elliot Lee’s tantalising free-kick delivery was then met by Pearce at the far post, but the skipper was unable to generate the requisite power to trouble Walton, while Diallang Jaiyesimi could only nod over after meeting Ben Purrington’s centre.
The Addicks continued on the front foot thereafter, and soon gained their just reward for a fine early display. George Dobson found Washington racing in behind the Tractor Boys’ defence with a perfectly-weighted threaded ball, and although Walton was equal to the Northern Ireland international’s low drive, Stockley was on hand to stab home from close range.
Stockley was in the thick of the action again minutes later, this time racing on to Gilbey’s through ball to force Walton into another smart stop, with the keeper steering it agonisingly wide of the onrushing Washington.
Only George Edmundson’s heroics prevented the Addicks from doubling their tally on 35 minutes as Washington sprung the visitors’ offside trap to latch onto Lee’s inch-perfect ball, though the defender recovered well to thwart the forward.
Jackson’s men returned from the interval with the same intensity and panache, Stockley delivering an intricate reverse ball for Washington, who saw his cross deflected as far as Purrington at the back post, but Walton stood tall to repel the left wing-back.
Lee enjoyed a flurry of openings either side of the hour mark, first heading over from six yards after receiving Purrington’s knockdown and then stinging the palms of Walton with a venomous drive.
A trademark, lung-busting surge forward from Gilbey needed a last-ditch intervention from Aristote Nsiala to thwart the midfielder, before Walton foiled Washington twice in as many minutes with a series of fine saves.
With a matter of minutes remaining, Walton was required again to repel substitute Jonathan Leko’s drive, though the keeper could do nothing about Gilbey’s composed finish moments later. Having been fed by Lee, Charlton’s number 11 turned Edmundson inside out to put the seal on a one-sided affair in SE7.
Charlton: MacGillivray; Clare, Pearce (c), Famewo; Jaiyesimi (Leko 69), Gilbey, Dobson, Lee, Purrington; Stockley, Washington
Subs (not used): Henderson, Elerewe, Souaré, Watson, Kirk, Davison
Goals: Stockley 26, Gilbey 88
Booked: Pearce 68 (foul on Aluko)
Ipswich Town: Walton; Vincent-Young, Nsiala, Edmundson, Donacien; Evans, Morsy (c); Aluko (Chaplin 69), Fraser (Pigott 64), Edwards (Humphreys 83); Bonne
Subs (not used): Hladky, Burgess, Penney, El Mizouni
Booked: Donacien 29 (foul on Gilbey)
Referee: Christopher Sarginson
Attendance: 26,376 (3,159 from Ipswich)