Ipswich Town are back in the Championship automatic promotion spaces after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic at the Valley.
Kieran McKenna‘s side suffered the worst possible start when the Addicks raced into a lead after just 44 seconds, courtesy of Greg Docherty.
But, as has been the case all season, the Tractor Boys just kept plugging away, and a win was sealed early into the second half, as Jaden Philogene popped up with yet another goal to add to his Championship back catalogue for the Suffolk side after Darnell Furlong had scored one of his own.
Now up to 23 goals across his last two campaigns in the EFL’s elite division, the ex-Aston Villa winger will be hoping he can finally prove himself in the Premier League, if Ipswich do end up instantly returning to the promised land.
Philogene’s winning performance vs Charlton
Known for his usually audacious strikes from outside the area in the Championship, this time around, it was a coolly taken penalty by Philogene that would hand his promotion-chasing team a 2-1 win.
Scoring against Norwich City, too, earlier in the month, it’s clear that the tricky number 11 is the man for a big occasion in the second-tier, with the 24-year-old constantly bombing forward at the Valley, to try and open up Nathan Jones’ hosts, with five mazey dribbles attempted.
Winning six duels too, McKenna will need this energy to keep oozing out of his trusty winger, to ensure a staggering third promotion as Ipswich boss is secured.
Yet, the worry will be that the one-time Hull City attacker will freeze in the Premier League, again, if promotion is sealed, with only two goals managed across his sparing career in the top-flight to date.
|
Philogene’s Championship vs PL numbers |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat |
Championship |
Premier League |
|
Games |
112 |
24 |
|
Goals scored |
28 |
2 |
|
Assists |
9 |
0 |
That said, even if Philogene could blow hot and cold up a level, a man at the back will be very confident of performing well should they get promoted.
Ipswich star looks Premier League-ready after Charlton
Of course, the argument here will be that the £20m winger is yet to be exposed to the Premier League fully, with his minutes very irregular on the books of Aston Villa.
In time, he could end up being a top-flight calibre performer, therefore.
Right now, though, Dara O’Shea will be ready to get stuck in with the rigours of the Premier League, again, if Ipswich do instantly return, off the back of another dominant showing as Ipswich captain, against the relegation-threatened Addicks.
After all, when the Irishman has been at the illustrious level before, he has gained acclaim donning Ipswich blue, with the accolade of the club’s Player of the Season heading his way at the close of the 2024/25 season, for winning an average of 5.5 duels per contest, even as the Suffolk outfit succumbed to the drop.
He hasn’t lost this determination to win duels when dropping to the Championship, with the imperious captain winning nine duels and one tackle on Tuesday evening to routinely snuff out Charlton attacks.
|
O’Shea vs Charlton |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
O’Shea |
|
Minutes played |
90 |
|
Touches |
99 |
|
Accurate passes |
72/78 (92%) |
|
Possession lost |
6x |
|
Tackles won |
1/1 |
|
Interceptions |
2 |
|
Clearances |
13 |
|
Recoveries |
5 |
|
Total duels won |
9/10 |
Moreover, he displayed a calmness on the ball at the Valley, on a tense night in Ipswich’s automatic promotion bid, that should stand him in good stead for a potential relegation battle, again, with only six of his 78 passes not reaching their intended target.
While O’Shea is constantly composed and disciplined, Philogene is far more of a luxury player, with Premier League defences often silencing him when he’s previously attempted to adjust.
Before anyone gets too carried away at Portman Road and starts dreaming of the promised land, again, Ipswich do still need to get over the line, with games to come against West Bromwich Albion, Southampton, and Queens Park Rangers, before the gruelling season is out.
It really is a must-win for the Tractor Boys across every game, now, if they are to go up via the automatic promotion route, as McKenna relies on both O’Shea and Philogene to keep performing, before making any plans as to who is cut out for the step back up and who isn’t.
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