Charlton's play-off push continued to falter after goals from Owen Garvan and Danny Haynes gave Ipswich a 2-0 win at Portman Road.A howler from Addicks goalkeeper Nicky Weaver gifted Ipswich the lead in the 19th minute when he completely missed Garvan's cross from the left.

Substitute Haynes then doubled the lead eight minutes after half-time and the Addicks failed to find a way back as they slipped out of the play-off places and behind their opponents.

Ipswich looked eager to get back on track following their 4-1 defeat at Barnsley on Tuesday and could have taken the lead after 30 seconds when Jose Semedo's slip let in Alan Lee, but he shot over the bar.

Minutes later Alan Quinn's corner was only half cleared and the ball fell to Alex Bruce whose shot was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Weaver.

Charlton gradually found their rhythm and came agonisingly close to taking the lead themselves in the 17th minute when Greg Halford met Darren Ambrose's corner but his header cannoned off the woodwork.

The visitors were made to rue that miss two minutes later as Garvan's cross from the left looped over Weaver and in off the far post to give Ipswich the lead.

Ipswich's joy was short lived as midfielder David Norris was forced off with an injury and replaced by Haynes.

The substitution did not affect the home side's rhythm too much and Pablo Counago was played in on the right and cut onto his left foot before seeing his shot well saved by Weaver.

Charlton thought they had equalised a minute later when Ambrose was sent through by Zheng Zhi and finished well, but the linesman flagged for offside.

The visitors grew in confidence and an excellent diagonal ball over the top found Ambrose but he drove the shot just over the bar.

Ipswich were still looking dangerous and Haynes' cross from the right found Alan Quinn who headed over at the far post.

Leroy Lita should have equalised just before half-time but he volleyed straight at Stephen Bywater after being picked out by an excellent cross from Zheng.

Charlton started the second half brightly and Lita laid the ball off to Jerome Thomas whose shot was deflected over.

However, in the 51st minute Ipswich doubled their lead when Quinn's corner was cleared by Ambrose into the path of Haynes who chested the ball down before volleying in superbly.

Addicks boss Alan Pardew reacted by putting striker Chris Iwelumo on for defender Semedo as Charlton looked to get back into the game.

It appeared to be working as Halford drove over from distance before Iwelumo headed over from Ambrose's corner.

As time wore on Charlton were pushing more men forward and Ipswich looked to hit them on the break with Garvan's long-range strike saved by Weaver.

Strikers Luke Varney and Andy Gray also came on for Charlton late on, but they were unable to find a way through the stubborn Ipswich defence.

Ipswich had to play the final five minutes with 10 men after the returning Shefki Kuqi was stretchered off and boss Jim Magilton had made all his subsitutions.

However, the Tractor Boys held on for the win that moved them to within just two points of sixth-placed Plymouth.

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