Shrewsbury 0 Charlton 2 - Report and pictures

A poorly-defended set-piece cost Town as Addicks captain Jason Pearce headed home from close range 16 minutes from time.

As Shrewsbury hunted for an equaliser late on, goalkeeper Dean Henderson was caught out midway through his own half and after inadvertently booting the ball high into the night sky, Josh Magennis was left with an easy finish.

Paul Hurst’s men failed to work Charlton goalkeeper in 95 minutes on what was billed as a must-win clash in the top two hunt.

Shrewsbury were unable to take advantage of their game in hand on Blackburn and remain five points behind Rovers with four games remaining. Wigan extended their lead at the summit with a late winner against Oxford.

Town’s night was compounded as Shaun Whalley and Toto Nsiala went off injured as little imagination or efforts on goal cost Hurst’s side.

Sam Jones, a central midfielder signed in the very final moments of the January transfer window, was handed his full Shrewsbury debut in a surprise switch for Bryn Morris, who dropped to the bench.

Town fans have been more used to the 26-year-old’s singing ability than his technique on the football pitch but he arrived from Hurst’s former club with a reputation of getting goals from midfield.

Before lining up against the Addicks, Jones had played only eight minutes of football for Town across two substitute appearances. He has spent a period of his short Town career building up his fitness levels.

He joined Max Lowe in the first team. The left-back replaced the suspended Omar Beckles, who picked up two yellow cards at Bradford.

Carlton Morris returned to the team for Stefan Payne. Bowyer six changes to his Charlton side that lost at home to play-off rivals Scunthorpe last weekend.

The Addicks caretaker chief said his side needed wins to maintain their top six hopes. The visitors had lost their last two.

The last two Meadow meetings between the sides had finished 4-3.

Charlton’s intent was highlighted early on as goalkeeper Ben Amos was told off for time-wasting inside 10 minutes.

Debutant Jones neglected a chance to shoot in his first Shrewsbury attack but soon got on to the ball and started spraying it around and showing his ability. He played at the tip of Town’s midfied in front of Jon Nolan and Ben Godfrey and was the standout of a largely dull opening with some attacking moves.

Shaun Whalley was unable to stab a volley on target from Alex Rodman’s fine cross before Morris swept against the side netting from Godfrey’s pull-back after his storming run.

Town were sleeping as Arsenal loanee Stephy Mavididi was allowed through down the left and his goalbound effort was only stopped by a stunning Toto Nsiala block.

Bowyer’s men looked unable to clear their lines but Town moves were not quite dropping the way of the hosts as a deflected cross pinged across the box but would not fall to a blue and amber shirt.

The usually unflappable Dean Henderson dropped a corner and his blushes were only spared by a timely interception by Mat Sadler.

As if the Jones call was not enough, Hurst made another big call at the break as he sent on former Wealdstone man Eisa for just his second Town outing.

Off went 12-goal winger Whalley, who looked to be limping earlier in the first half.

The edgy encounter woke up. Big forward Josh Magennis headed off target for Charlton before Henderson kept Tariqe Fosu out from close-range.

Town powered forward and Morris’ goalbound strike cutting in from the left was blocked before Eisa cross-shot from the other side was parried by Amos.

The lively Fosu then tested Henderson’s reflexes on the hour. His 25 yard thunderbolt was arrowing before the keeper acrobatically tipped over. Hurst’s men struggled desperately to deal with the following set-pieces and skipper Pearce headed wastefully wide while unmarked.

Shrewsbury did not heed their warning. Forster-Caskey’s free-kick from the left side was viciously delivered but Town did not get near the Charlton attackers and Pearce made them pay. His six yard header left Henderson with no chance.

The anxious mood inside the Meadow turned nervy still as the home side knew they needed two goals to take any advantage of their game in hand on Blackburn.

Rather than a Salop response it was the visitors on the front foot as Mavididi cut inside a defender in the box before lashing low at the near post. Henderson did well to deny him.

Worryingly Nsiala went down with a knee problem with five minutes to go and went off for Lenell John-Lewis as Town rolled the dice.

The hosts created nothing on a night celebrated gleefully in Wigan and Blackburn. Charlton fans were sent into bedlam as Magennis added a second eight minutes into added time from Henderson’s howler. A forgettable night all round

Shrewsbury Town (4-4-1-1):

Henderson; Bolton, Nsiala (John-Lewis, 85), Sadler, Lowe; Godfrey; Whalley (Eisa, 45), Jones (B Morris, 76), Nolan, Rodman; C Morris.

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Hendrie, Gnahoua, Payne.

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2):

Amos; Dijksteel, Bauer, Pearce ©, Page; Marshall (Reeves, 76), Konsa, Forster-Caskey, Fosu (Dasilva, 90+5); Magennis, Mavididi (Lennon, 90+5).

Subs not used: Phillips (gk), Kashi, Ajose, Zyro.

Referee: Darren Handley

Attendance: 5,838 (360 Charlton fans)