Charlton 0 Shrewsbury Town 2 - Report and pictures

Two second-half goals, a wonder-strike from Alex Rodman and Omar Beckles’ header, did the damage as impressive and stylish Town won at a canter.

The Valley’s largest crowd of the season, 17,581 - including a huge 1,254 - could not argue with the result. The traveling Salopians were in awe of what their side were playing and showed their gratitude at full-time, after cheering for 95 minutes solid.

The goals - and a first league clean sheet in five games - ensured that Shrewsbury would not regret man of the match Jon Nolan’s first-half penalty miss.

But it was a thankless task selecting a star man as Shrewsbury were comfortably better than their hosts all over the pitch.

Aside from a busy first few minutes from the hosts, Karl Robinson’s men were unable to lay a glove on Town.

Hurst would have been delighted with how his side responded from sacrificing two points against Gillingham on Tuesday and a home reversal to Rotherham.

Analysis

Mat Sadler was brought back into the Shrewsbury line-up after he was surprisingly dropped to the bench for Tuesday’s draw with Gillingham.

He replaced hamstring injury victim Max Lowe, with Omar Beckles shuffling back out to left-back in Town’s more recognised 4-1-4-1.

Other visiting changes were a recall for Alex Rodman, as Nathan Thomas dropped to the bench, while Jon Nolan returned from illness in place of Luke Hendrie.

Sullay Kaikai, a transfer target for Hurst in the January window, started for Charlton. The ex-Town favourite opted to join the Addicks on loan instead of a Shropshire return.

The winger, who struck 12 times in 30 games for Town two season ago, was part of an Addicks side that had gone on a run of just one league defeat in seven, lifting them to sixth before kick-off.

While Shrews’ Montgomery Waters Meadow form had stuttered in recent weeks, Hurst’s men went into the south-east London clash in flying away form after downing Portsmouth, Bristol Rovers and Fleetwood on consecutive trips.

The home side wasted little time in giving the boosted £5-per-ticket crowd something to get rowdy about.

And that man Kaikai was soon into his stride, bursting from midfield, away from Ben Godrey and other Town tackles before Jake Forster-Caskey’s goalbound shot was blocked by James Bolton.

Seconds later Dean Henderson got down low to keep out top scorer Josh Magennis’ header before denying a Joe Aribo.

It was a livewire start on a freezing day from Robinson’s men. Town’s start was compounded as they lost Bolton some six minutes in. The full-back picked up a knock while fouling Kaikai and was replaced by Luke Hendrie.

Salop recovered from a rocky start and were soon competing for balls in the midfield and winning 50-50 battles.

Nolan and Shaun Whalley were dictating proceedings as Town held the upper hand after their early scare.

And Shrews should have been ahead after 18 minutes. Rodman disposed Athletic skipper Chris Solly allowing Nolan a free run into the Charlton box.

Ezri Konsa was hopeless to deal with the charging Nolan but was unfortunate to slip in the box, sending Town’s No.20 tumbling over his body.

Nolan’s spot-kick in front of expectant Town fans was poor. Low and down the middle, Ben Amos comfortably made the save - but Shrewsbury were unlucky with the follow-up.

Nolan burst on to the looping ball, winning the race ahead of a cluster of players, but his three-yard header crashed the crossbar.

Charlton made very few forays into the Town half for the remainder of the first period. Town were impressive in their hounding of the home red shirts and used the ball very well, with Nolan at the heart of everything and Whalley the willing runner.

Carlton Morris’ powerful aerial ability was too much for the hosts to handle. Morris was unlucky to volley wide at the back post from a Whalley cross.

Hurst would have liked a goal advantage for the dominance his side enjoyed. Aside from a frenetic opening couple of minutes Charlton looked unable to deal with Town’s power, pace and intelligence.

The attendance was announced shortly after half-time as 17,581 - a season high for the former Premier League outfit.

And nobody in the stadium, regardless of allegiance, could deny a sheer moment of quality less than 10 minutes into the second period.

Whalley had just seen a left-footed rocket zip inches past Amos’ upright but Town’s other winger stepped up to the plate to produce.

Rodman skimmed in from the left on his favoured right foot and unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the left side of the penalty area which arrowed into the opposite top corner via Amos’ fingertips and the angle of crossbar and post.

It was a postage stamp strike. Absolute perfection. Rodman needed little backlift to generate so much power and the winger knew it was in from the moment it left his foot. Off he powered down the opposite end to celebrate with the visiting fans.

It was the very least Town deserved. Robinson made a chance sending on the dangerous Tariqe Fosu in response but Shrewsbury looked comfortable - fitter, sharper and technically better than the hosts.

Rodman’s opener was a stunner. Town’s second was basic but no less celebrated.

After a delightful right-sided move involving Nolan, the impressive Hendrie and Whalley, Town’s No.7 whipped in a corner and in powered Beckles, totally unmarked, to easily head in his second goal for the club.

He wanted it more than any red shirt.

Town were as comfortable as they have been in the league this season. Charlton were booed by the home crowd for their sleepy defending.

Shrews could’ve had more as they attacked at will but just a second three goal haul in the league this season was not to be.

A late bout of handbags was the closest Charlton came to getting to grips with high-flying Shrewsbury, who have found the winning formula on the road and continue recovering fro setbacks in style.

Key moments

2 - James Bolton blocks Jake Forster-Caskey’s goalbound shot before Dean Henderson saves Josh Magennis’ header and Joe Aribo’s scorcher was tipped over the top.

10 - Luke Hendrie comes on to replace the injured Bolton who picks up a knock while bringing down Sullay Kaikai.

11 - Omar Beckles heads Shaun Whalley’s near-post corner over the top.

17 - Penalty Shrewsbury. Alex Rodman intercepts down the left and Jon Nolan is free to power forward, into the Charlton box before a falling Ezri Konsa brings the midfielder down.

18 - Nolan’s poor penalty is straight at Ben Amos who makes the save. Rebound loops high into the air and Nolan makes it before a cluster of players but heads against the bar and away from three yards out.

27 - Ahmed Kashi blasts miles over the top for the hosts.

37 - Carlton Morris’ left-footed volley from a narrow angle flies wide from Whalley’s cross.

51 - Stunning strike from Whalley with his weaker left foot is just wide of the far corner from outside the right side of the box.

53 - GOAL SHREWSBURY! What a beauty from Alex Rodman! Ends his barren league goal run of four games with an absolute rocket. He cuts inside from the left flank and finds the opposite top corner with aplomb. Amos got fingertips on it but it crashed in off the angle of bar and post.

55 - Abu Ogogo’s pressing wins the ball high and Morris is inside the Addicks’ box but his low finish is kept out.

67 - GOAL SHREWS!! A simpler one this time. Whalley’s corner met by the unmarked Beckles who eases a header beyond Amos.

77 - Nolan skews one over first-time from a short Whalley free-kick. Charlton asleep again.

78 - Whalley should make it three. Town break and a hopeless Addicks clearance drops to Whalley on the penalty spot spot but he stabs wide.

82 - Sub Tariqe Fosu with Charlton’s best effort of the day just wide of angle from 25 yards.

Teams

Charlton (4-2-3-1):

Amos; Solly ©, Pearce, Konsa, Dasilva (Ajose, 70); Forster-Caskey, Kashi; Marshall (Fosu, 57), Aribo, Kaikai, (Zyro, 90+2); Magennis.

Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer (gk), Jackson, Bauer, Reeves.

Shrewsbury (4-1-4-1):

Henderson; Bolton (Hendrie, 10), Nsiala, Sadler, Beckles; Godfrey; Whalley, Ogogo ©, Nolan, Rodman; C Morris.

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Thomas, John-Lewis, B Morris, Eisa, Payne.

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

Attendance: 17,581 (1,254 Shrewsbury fans)

Position in the table: 2nd (68 points from 34 games)

Star man: Jon Nolan