Charlton might be considered a trifle premature in beginning work to expand The Valley in anticipation of Premiership football, but the team have unshakeable belief and an opportunist performance last night sent them to Wembley and left them one game away from reclaiming the top-tier place they lost in 1990.
Having lost the first game, Ipswich feared the worst because Alan Curbishley's side had not conceded a goal in their previous eight outings. Shaun Newton's first-half effort gave Charlton a degree of comfort and broke the spirit of an Ipswich side who have now bowed out at this stage in two successive seasons.
A back injury cost Charlton the services of Clive Mendonca, whose goals had been instrumental in them advancing this far, while Ipswich left out Jamie Clapham, whose own-goal on Sunday had divided the teams.
The first leg had degenerated into an increasingly fractious contest littered with bookings and the dismissal of Charlton's full back Danny Mills, but by showing a yellow card after the first serious foul Eric Wolstenholme established order.
The creative figures in the Ipswich midfield were into the game more quickly this time but after Kieron Dyer had sent one blistering drive just over the bar, the home side began to threaten.
Two supreme saves low down left Mark Bright cursing the Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright. The visitors, countering through David Johnson and Alex Mathie, could not come so close and The Valley remained in expectant mood.
After 35 minutes their hopes were fulfilled as Charlton went further ahead overall. Ipswich had never looked at ease when Newton was on the ball and, from a throw-in, the winger weaved his way inside before directing a firm, left-footed drive high into the net.
Ipswich pressed for all their worth in the second half but Charlton are not used to conceding goals and behind a compact, organised defence Sasa Ilic always seemed to take up the right positions. Johnson nodded one opportunity straight at him and another shot was smothered.
Charlton: Ilic, Barness, Bowen, K Jones, Rufus, Youds, Newton, Kinsella, S Jones (Mortimer 82), Bright, Heaney. Subs Not Used: Allen, Brown. Booked: K Jones. Goals: Newton 36.
Ipswich: Wright, Stockwell (Sonner 36), Taricco, Dyer, Venus, Cundy, Uhlenbeek, Holland, Johnson, Mathie (Scowcroft 61), Petta. Subs Not Used: Clapham. Booked: Petta. Att: 15,585.
Referee: E K Wolstenholme (Blackburn).
