Ipswich 0-0 Charlton: Stalemate at Portman Road

Plucky Charlton earned a credible and deserved goalless draw at play-off chasing Ipswich Town - but it was not enough to save them from slipping more into relegation trouble.

A drab goalless draw did little to help either side's cause at opposing ends of the Sky Bet Championship table.

Charlton shaded it in terms of chances created but both keepers were on top in a game which threatened to burst into life but never really did.

It could have been so different after just six minutes when Freddie Sears smashed a low shot just wide of the far post for Ipswich, who knew a win was paramount to keep their faltering play-off hopes alive.

At the other end, the home side survived a scare when Callum Harriott's hopeful ball over the top was misjudged by both Bartosz Bialkowski in the Ipswich goal and centre-back Christophe Berra, before the latter cleared the danger as Yaya Sonogo waited to punish them.

The visitors went even closer when Sonogo cleverly teed up Harriott and his low shot was well saved by Bialkowski low down to his left.

Minutes later Ben Pringle brought the best out of Nick Pope, the Charlton keeper brilliantly tipping a shot over that was destined for the top corner.

The final chance of the first half fell to Jorge Teixeira but the centre back was denied the opening goal by a fine tip over by Bialkowski.

A similar chance fell to Charlton at the start of the second half but Sanogo headed wide at the near post before Ipswich should have taken the lead in the 52nd minute.

Cole Skuse's dinked cross was met by the head of Jonathan Douglas but he could only direct the ball over from eight yards out.

The game was opening up and Sears' direct run and goal-bound shot was only blocked by the back of Teixeira before Brett Pitman's low drive was well held by the impressive Pope.

Charlton winger Harriott did brilliantly to turn Berra inside out before shooting wide of the upright on the hour mark before Jordan Cousins' shot from 20 yards was beaten away by Bialkowski.

Harriott, Charlton's most dangerous player on the night, fired just wide of the near post before, with 10 minutes remaining, Charlton twice almost took a shock lead when Ademola Lookman and then Sanogo was denied by good saves from Bialkowski.

Lookman then turned provider when his wicked late corner was turned towards his own goal by Luke Varney with the Ipswich striker relieved to see the ball roll past the post.