League One: Ex-Portsmouth boss Paul Cook swerves Ipswich media duties for successive days | Charlton boss' emphatic promotion verdict after Sunderland win

On Wednesday, the Tractor Boys were purchased by Gamechanger 20 Ltd, which is 90 per cent owned by investment fund, ORG.

As a result, Cook chose not to conduct his pre-match duties on Friday so he could fully focus on the upcoming game. It was expected he'd discuss the takeover after the clash against the Dons at Portman Road.

However, Ipswich continue to stutter since the Liverpudlian succeeded Paul Lambert as manager in March.

The East Anglia outfit failed to register a shot on target for successive games, leaving them in eighth place and three points outside the League One play-offs.

Asked where Cook was, first-team coach Matt Gill said: ‘I think he's chatting to a few players in there at the moment. Yeah, he just asked me to come and do it.

'For me, it's been pretty similar. Train the boys, get on the training pitch, try and add some energy in and around the training ground. It's been energised.

‘The lads know that they are close to trying to achieve something between now and the end of the season.

‘It was a surprise for lots of us. But, like I said, it's exciting times and everyone is just concentrating on what they need to do. Just stay in your lane and do your job and try and add some value to what you're trying to achieve.’

Meanwhile, Michael Appleton had mixed feelings after Lincoln fought back to claim a point against Blackpool.

The in-form Seasiders raced into a two-goal lead at Sincil Bank, with Ellis Simms and Sullay Kaikai bagging.

However, the Imps – whose previous two games were postponed because of a coronavirus breakout – fought back with Anthony Scully and Brennan Johnson on target to keep them in the play-offs.

Appleton told the Lincolnshire Echo: ‘They showed really good spirit. It’s been a tough couple of months and certainly a tough couple of weeks for everybody.

‘I was worried about how we would be condition-wise today. I said I would have to use all my subs and I’ll probably have to do the same again.

Having said that, no excuses, the first goal has to be better than that. I thought we got let down by the ref but even when you get let down, you’ve still got to react and think danger and smell danger. We didn’t do that.

‘They executed the second goal well. To come back from that was really pleasing.”

‘The players are happy that they’ve shown enough spirit to come back against a side that are in decent form.

‘I’m still a bit frustrated that we allowed them to go into a two-goal lead but later on this evening and tomorrow I’ll feel happy that we’ve shown that spirit and belief to never give up.’

Sunderland’s 12-match unbeaten run was ended by Charlton, who are now one place and one point outside the top six.

Josh Scowen netted an own goal in the first half before Alex Gilbey’s 61st-minute strike delivered the Addicks all three points.

Scowen scored a consolation goal for Sunderland but it wasn’t enough.

Nigel Adkins, who has picked up seven points in three games since taking The Valley hot seat from Lee Bowyer, told the South London Press: ‘We’re in the mix. We’re in the race. That’s the important thing.

‘We’ve got the momentum. We have to keep winning the games but today we’ve backed up the excellent victory at Doncaster to go and get a valuable three points against a very good side.

‘Fantastic stadium, the stature of the football club. I’m delighted. And it wasn’t a smash and grab, we had opportunities to score more goals.’

Second-placed Peterborough stretched clear of Sunderland in the automatic promotion race.

The Posh won 3-0 at struggling Swindon – although manager Darren Ferguson wasn’t happy at full-time.

He told the Peterborough Telegraph: ‘I counted five one-on-ones we missed and we missed a penalty.

‘We played okay, but no better than that. We will need to be more ruthless for the rest of the season.

‘I shouldn’t have been sat in the stands with 89 minutes gone worried in case Swindon pull a goal back. We should have been out of sight by then.

‘The back four and the goalkeeper were excellent, but the finishing was absolutely horrible. We should have won 7-0 or 8-0.’

Other results

Accrington 1 -5 AFC Wimbledon, Crewe 0-6 Oxford 6, Doncaster 1-4 Wigan, Fleetwood 1-0 Rochdale, Gillingham 0-0 Shrewsbury, Northampton 1-1 Bristol Rovers, Plymouth 0-3 Hull