CHARLTON'S three-game winning streak came to an end during some changeable weather conditions at Portman Road on Saturday.

Clive Mendonca fired the visitors ahead on 22 minutes during a torrential downpour but after a sunbathed second half, Ipswich emerged 3-1 winners.

Mendonca's goal came after two Ipswich mistakes - Kieron Dyer's header back to Jason Cundy bounced through the defender's legs and Charlton's super-signing seized the opportunity to whip the ball in from the corner of the goal area.

The closing stages of the half were marked by bad-tempered exchanges. There were a total of four bookings in the opening 90 minutes which infuriated Addicks boss Alan Curbishley. "I'm desperately disappointed with the referee's performance and I went in and told him so at half time," he said.

Charlton were awarded six yellow cards in all, the most disastrous being that of Richard Rufus, who was cautioned for a mistimed challenge on Johnson as the striker tried to accelerate down the wing. Rufus now faces a one-match ban.

Ipswich emerged much more determined after the break and were rewarded on 53 minutes when Rufus's defensive header fell for Mick Stockwell, whose 15-yard volley dipped over Charlton keeper Sasa Ilic.

The home side then forced a string of corners which eventually led to their second goal in the 76th minute. Mathie's flagkick was headed back by the unmarked Mowbray on the far side of the box and Cundy had plenty of space to plant his own header just inside the right-hand post.

Two minutes from time Rufus' bad luck continued as he failed to clear his own box and David Johnson slotted past Ilic.

Curbishley said afterwards: "I think the scoreline was a bit harsh. We set our stall not to concede an early goal and we got the perfect start. If we could have weathered the storm for 10 or 15 minutes after half-time we might have gone on and won."

Elsewhere in the first division both Sunderland and Nottingham Forest had convincing wins. Charlton lie behind those teams and Middlesborough, who have a game in hand.

If the Addicks to gain an automatic promotion place they must return to their pre-Ipswich form and the crunch games will be this Saturday's home tie against Sunderland and the encounter with table-topping Forest on March 28.

q The reserve team fixture against Arsenal at The Valley on March 24 has been declared a Family Fun Night. Pre-match entertainment will include face-painting, relays, penalty shoot-outs, cheerleaders and a police dog display team. Charlton will unveil two new mascots called Floyd and Harvey and there will be games in the West Stand car park such as "bouncy boxing" and "bungee running". There is even tabletop football and Subbuteo in th Millennium Lounge.

The fun starts at 5.15pm and everything, including admission to the game which starts at 7pm, is free!

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