Ipswich Town Res 3Charlton Athletic Res 0DRISSA Diallo last night revealed he was feeling upbeat about his chances of playing in the first team again this season, and, hopefully, winning a new contract with Ipswich.

By Derek Davis

Ipswich Town Res 3

Charlton Athletic Res 0

DRISSA Diallo last night revealed he was feeling upbeat about his chances of playing in the first team again this season, and, hopefully, winning a new contract with Ipswich.

The Frenchman completed 90 minutes, as the Town second string beat newly-crowned reserve league champions Charlton.

After more than three months out with a hamstring problem, Diallo now feels there is light at the end of the tunnel.

He said: “It has been a difficult time for me, especially with the set-back after the initial injury, but now I'm feeling very positive. I still feel I can play a part before the end of the season with the first team.

“The manager is the man who decides on contracts, not the player, so we will have to wait and see what happens. I just want to play and then we will know more when the season finishes.

“It is a case of c'est le vie and not having any regrets.”

Diallo played well in a steady defence which kept a clean sheet but will not know straight away what effect his first game since early December will have on him.

He said: “I only intended to play one half, or maybe 60 minutes, but I felt good so I carried on. It is a relief to be playing in a match again after so long.

“My fitness is good, so there is no problem there, but you can't beat playing in matches. I will know over the next couple of days if there is any reaction.”

The Blues went ahead on the quarter hour when a neat build up climaxed with a slide rule pass from Scowcroft into Danny Haynes' path and his finish past Darren Randolph was perfect.

Pablo Counago grabbed a second two minutes before the break, with a sharp turn and finish from a Kevin Horlock free- kick, for his sixth reserve goal in 18 games.

The Spaniard forced a good save from Randolph and had a shot cleared off the line, before Jimmy Juan powered in Town's third seven minutes from time.

McDonald curled a shot just over and dragged another shot wide following good work from Haynes, Horlock and Scowcroft. Diallo had a powerful header from a McDonald corner saved on the line by the keeper, while Juan wasn't far away with a nod down from another Horlock free-kick. Town should have had a penalty when Laurie Wilson handled a Scowcroft header as Town finished strongly.

Last night's teams

Ipswich Town: Price, Nash, Krause, Horlock (Beveridge, 46) Diallo, Patten, McDonald, Juan, Counago, Scowcroft, Haynes (Flack, 87) Subs not used: Atay, Sheringham, Supple.

Charlton: Randolph, Wilson, Ashton, Cottrell, Ricketts, Gross (Clifford, 85) John, Long, Walker, Phillips (Robson, 80) Weston (Carvill, 80) Subs not used: Wilson, Kemenes.

Referee: Mr Evetts. Attendance 180.

Town's reserve game against Chelsea has been moved back a day due to the Blues' involvement in the FA Youth Cup final and will now be played on Tuesday, April 19.