Charlton pinch points at Ipswich

13 April 2012
Ipswich 0 Charlton 1

Injury-hit Charlton snatched a late victory over European hopefuls Ipswich after Kevin Lisbie's stunning strike at Portman Road.

The Londoners, who recorded their highest finish for 47 years last term, were overshadowed by Ipswich's achievements in reaching the UEFA Cup but hindered the Suffolk club's Champions League chances with a victory at The Valley last April.

And with six first-teamers on the sidelines, a revamped Addicks earnt their first win of the season against George Burley's men with their late smash and grab.

Lisbie's dipping, vicious volley - an early contender for goal of the season and the striker's first-ever in the Premiership - settled things after the visitors had frustrated Ipswich's usual fluency.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley, furious after the 2-1 opening day defeat by Everton, had made it clear that the result at Portman Road was irrelevant after last week's display at The Valley.

The long-serving boss implored his players for a more competitive performance in the pre-match build-up and they highlighted their aggressive approach to the task with six bookings.

Scott Parker responded immediately with a crunching two-footed tackle on Jamie Clapham that earned the England Under-21 midfielder a third-minute yellow card.

It was the visitors who carved out the first opportunity of the match as well as John Salako nipped past Chris Makin only for Matteo Sereni to charge down the winger's shot.

Referee Steve Dunn then took the name of Jermaine Wright, for a late challenge on Parker, as the match opened in scrappy fashion. Although Ipswich struggled to get into their usual rhythm in the opening exchanges they exerted their authority with a glut of efforts on goal in the first half.

But Marcus Stewart, the top-scoring Englishman in last season's Premiership, was left fuming after turning on the edge of the box and attempting to out-manoeuvre Fish in the 19th-minute.

As Stewart tried to dink the ball over the South African centre-back, Fish's arm appeared to intervene but referee Dunn waved play on much to the forward's disgust.

Nigerian winger Finidi George - outstanding on his home debut with two goals against Derby in midweek - provided Dean Kiely with his first taxing save in the 24th minute, though, his glancing header from Martijn Reuser's left-wing centre forcing the Addicks keeper to hold the ball to his left.

Curbishley was forced into a change just after the half-hour after Richard Rufus injured himself in a challenge on Stewart.

It earned the centre-back, who was returning after suspension, a caution and following lengthy treatment he was forced off with Steve Brown replacing the Charlton captain.

Reuser lifted the subsequent free-kick narrowly over the bar and from the Dutchman's next involvement, Kiely reacted magnificently to turn Hermann Hreidarsson's glancing header, after a corner had broken down, to safety.

George's involvement increased towards the interval and the former Ajax man curled an effort the wrong side of a post before Kiely foiled his attempted flicked header - from Chris Makin's chip ahead - by scraping the ball off his head and out for a corner.

It took a brilliantly-timed intervention by Titus Bramble at the other end, however, to halt Jonatan Johansson, in the process of shooting, on the stroke of half-time.

Charlton opened the second period in more positive fashion and Parker burst forward to send a 20-yarder just too high.

With the visitors tenacity negating the Blues' threat, Burley sought a change with Pablo Counago coming on for Richard Naylor as early as the 51st minute.

The Spanish striker was in the action immediately, guiding a header onto the roof of the net from a Reuser cross. But the

Addicks were showing themselves more as an attacking side and Sereni had to hold John Salako's curling free-kick underneath the angle of his left-hand post and bar.

Ipswich's record signing, a £4.5million-plus purchase from Sampdoria, extended himself fully to fingertip a stunning effort from Jason Euell over the top after the striker had teed himself up and volleyed from all of 30 yards.

But he could do nothing five minutes from time as Ipswich, despite creating the majority of the chances, were left empty-handed after that wonder goal goal by substitute Lisbie.

The 22-year-old, on for Salako, seized on a ball forward to swivel and volley from the right-side of the penalty area, across Sereni and into the opposite top corner of the net.

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