Analysis: Disappointment a telling sign of progress being made at Shrewsbury Town

In truth, there was probably more than the ‘tinge’ of frustration Aaron Wilbraham spoke of in the away dressing room at full-time, after the visitors had claimed a handy share of the spoils.

Most of a blue and amber persuasion would likely have taken a point before the game. Sure, Charlton’s home form of late had been patchy, but Lee Bowyer’s squad still possesses real quality and was one point outside the play-offs.

Equally, level at 0-0 at the break after Charlton had edged the first half and created the better chances, Salop would happily have shook hands and set off back up the M1 with a share of the spoils.

But, the fact the visitors led for close to half hour through Sean Goss’s expert diving header, and the simplicity of Conor Washington’s equaliser – given Shrews’ considerable defensive efforts – meant the full-time whistle felt a little deflating.

Most of all, however, it was the aftermath of an enthralling final five minutes plus stoppages in south east London, where one might assume that it would be the hosts coming on strong in search of a vital winner to keep their promotion hopes alive.

No, instead it was plucky Shrewsbury trading several what should have been knockout blows on their opponents, relegated from the Championship last season.

Shrewsbury were guilty of passing up at least two gilt-edged opportunities to steal a memorable victory. Victories on the road in front of empty stands are hardly efforts that will go down in the annals, but a late winner at The Valley would have been right up there with some of Shrews’ efforts early on with Cotterill in the dugout.

Town’s substitutes were the chief conspirators and guilty parties.

Charlton looked threatening with a corner with five minutes to go, but an expert line-splitting pass from sub David Davis released Daniel Udoh into an almost empty Charlton half, with only a nervously-retreating defender to beat.

Udoh’s run was strong and physically imposing, but, to his credit, experienced Charlton skipper Jason Pearce used all of his nous and defended the striker expertly.

Pearce forced Udoh away from his right foot. By this point the striker had worked his way into the Charlton box and surely had to let fly and test goalkeeper Ben Amos. But Udoh, with just four goals this term, second-guessed himself and the moment came and went, he could not get the effort away as Pearce won the duel.

It felt like the big moment had gone.

Except it hadn’t, as the hosts continued to shoot themselves in the foot.

From nowhere, a blind hospital backpass played the busy Davis in on goal. Davis, met by the outrushing Amos, cleverly opted to square for Edwards who had the reasonably simple job of beating one Charlton body on the goal-line, but, off-balance, Edwards hit the deck and managed to scoop his effort well over the crossbar. Wilbraham said afterwards Edwards blamed a costly bobble. In the midfielder’s defence, the struggling Valley surface was very patchy at best.

It was scarcely believable how Shrewsbury had let such major chances on goal for a late winner come and go. Players almost dropped to the worn turf in despair, frustrated yelps of disbelief pierced the air, audible over the swirling wind.

But still, remarkably, Shrews were to have another go. Shaun Whalley, surprisingly left out after his two assists in the win at Rochdale last Tuesday, was only introduced in the 90th minute – and he still had a moment at being the hero.

Another sloppy piece of Charlton defending saw a loose header drop invitingly to Whalley, just outside the penalty area, with Amos out of his goal.

A gentle lobbed volley seemed the order of the day but Town’s No.7 opted for power and dip to find the top corner and the effort flew wide. It was a good strike but another very presentable opportunity in an incredible finale for the visitors.

Those kind of chances have to be scored, at that stage of a football match, at any level.

Town may have taken a point ahead of kick-off, and a point on the road is still a very decent result – but Shrewsbury players are ambitious and there would have been real frustration in the dressing room at the lack of a killer instinct at the death.

Still, Cotterill’s men can be satisfied with four points from two away trips to Rochdale and Charlton in a week.

This time last week Shrews had endured a difficult three-game winless week in which they had put in two poor Saturday displays in defeats to Bristol Rovers and Fleetwood.

The team looked physically and emotionally tired, as if the intense period and struggles with the manager’s health had caught up with them.

They were poor for the first 20 minutes at bottom side Rochdale last Tuesday but recovered to deservedly and comfortably win that game and their display at Charlton, and disappointment at just a point, represents more real progress made under the manager, despite his continued absence.

A 1-1 home draw against Charlton in early December, in front of supporters, was just Cotterill’s second league game in charge at Town.

Skipper Ollie Norburn, who along with fellow injury victim Aaron Pierre are big misses for Shrewsbury at the moment, netted an added time penalty that day as Cotterill organised his new side to a deserved point, albeit one that felt rather snatched at the death from 12 yards.

This time, however, Shrewsbury can lay claim to have carved open the more telling chances at the end and were arguably the more disappointed with a point.

With any luck, given Wilbraham’s encouraging update on the manager’s health last Thursday, Cotterill may be released from Bristol Royal Infirmary Hospital this week to be back home with his wife in time for next weekend’s home clash against leaders Hull.

Both Hull and Burton, who Town visit a week tomorrow, are League One’s form sides. They have won five and six in a row, respectively.

Only three sides, however, have lost fewer games that Shrewsbury this season. That hard-to-beat quality, given what went before it, is the main evidence of the stunning progress under Cotterill.