Charlton Athletic 3 v Ipswich Town 1

A thoroughly entertaining game this, which Charlton won by half time and yet Ipswich contested for the 95 minutes. At half-time it looked like the thrashing we've been promising someone all season and yet you knew Ipswich didn't deserve it based on their home form. So it proved with Town rallying in the second half to make a contest of it.

Ipswich were poor for the first 45 minutes. Charlton were allowed to dominate possession and it lead to the opener when Matt Holland over-lapped on the right and drove a fine cross into the heart of the box for ex-Townite, Darren Ambrose, to power home the first. After the number of ex-Addicks to score against us so far this season, it was sweet revenge. Big Chris bundled home a strange second when least expected and all of a sudden the Valley breathed easy. Better was yet to come when Ambrose stroked home a third before half-time after being served on a plate by the quick thinking Reid.

So, 3-0 at half-time and Ipswich looking vulnerable to a tonking. Er, no, this is the Charlton, this is the Valley! Not sure what the half-time instructions were but "hang on" was probably the message. I was looking for the 4-4-2 switch to up the ante, but no, we stuck at it. The Ipswich half-time talk was obviously shorter, more direct and probably louder. As a consequence they bossed the second half, missed a penalty, hit the crossbar and managed a fine consolation through an exquisite Counago back-heel. They left themselves too much to do, however, and the points were secured.

Nicky Weaver had a fine game and capped it with another penalty save. The back four stood up to some real pressure; Fortune was excellent and Sodje answered everything asked of him; Powell was ok but was put under a lot of pressure, and Mills had his quietest game of the season, although things hotted up for him in the last 30 minutes.

Andy Reid was nearly back to his best; Matt Holland had a decent game and his cross for the first was perfect; Zheng Zhi held his own and, I thought, had a better game than of late. Lloyd Sam did ok but has much more to offer. Save a place then, for the man of the match for me, Darren Ambrose. If only he played like this every other week instead of twice a season, I wouldn't be calling him lightweight and asking for his dismissal. He arrived with perfect timing and was also on hand to dispatch the killer third after a quality build-up and lay-off from Reid.

Iwelumo was less effective up front and had to watch lots of won headers being steered away from goal. I would have switched to 4-4-2 at half-time and got Varney introduced early. Unfortunately, Semedo was first sub for Sam before Varney came on for Reid. Too late.

In between times Ipwsich rattled the woodwork and generally did all they could to get back into it but the game had been lost. Their fans though were superb; they brought the biggest visiting allocation so far this season by 1000 and were vocal throughout despite being three down at half-time. Our professional performance was spoiled at the finish by an unseemly brawl in which Jonaton Fortune managed to get red carded. I hope Pardew smacks his arse too because this was completely unnecessary and the sort of thing that better teams limit.

West Brom snatched a last minute winner at Leicester to keep us in third but we will leap-frog them next Saturday with a win at the Hawthorns and could catch Watford too if results go for us.

All-in-all we really can't complain. We have every chance of going into the New Year in pole position and, frankly, there isn't a lot to beat. What we need is some overdue home form and to stick at battling away from the Valley. Not too much to ask for is it?

Off to bed now so I am awake and ready to throw punches for Ricky at 4am! There's only one, R-I-C-K-Y H-A-T-T-O-N!