Shrewsbury often play a flat 4-4-2 but have in recent weeks mixed it up and played a diamond. Away at Sunderland where they drew 1-1, at home to Coventry where they won 1-0, and at home to Peterborough where they drew 2-2. With this in mind, fully expected Shrewsbury to match us up on Saturday and begin with a diamond to try and get a foothold in midfield, I would later expect they switch to a flat four to try and hurt us down the sides.
Their recent form at home is decent, with wins against Rochdale, Plymouth, and Coventry, and draws against Peterborough and Fleetwood in the league. In fact, Shrewsbury are unbeaten at home in their last 10 games in all competitions, scoring 16 and conceding 8. The last team to win at Shrewsbury was Sunderland on 20th October, so expect a tight and difficult game.
Regarding us, Williams would have had an extra week training with the team and we saw in his cameo last week the quality he will bring. New left back Purrington has played all season and we have also seen recently the importance of having a left footed player, playing in that position. Bowyer will start both.
The interesting one for me is whether we see Phillips continue in goal or if Maxwell comes in. Most would expect that Phillips continues for this week and Maxwell will soon take over from between the sticks, and I have the same opinion. However, we recently learnt that Maxwell likes to come out and command his box, come out and punch things. With being away from home against a strong, physical Shrewsbury team, it wouldn’t surprise me if Bows is considering starting him already.
For me, at the moment the rest of the team picks itself. With Bauer, Sarr, Purrington, Bielik, Pratley, and Taylor, that’s enough height to cause them problems as well as defend properly. I do expect Lapslie to be on the bench, it’s been over two weeks since Boxing Day and he should now be ready to be included, Bows also really trusts him.
I haven’t included Reeves as I didn’t expect him to be back so soon, so I’ve kept the original team together in my prediction but now I fully expect him to be in the squad.
Back to our customary score when we win, and a new run will have begun.
Phillips Solly Bauer Sarr Purrington Bielik Pratley Williams Fosu Taylor Grant
I have a good feeling about this . 2-0 to the Addicks . Both goals from Grant . I shall be a bit further north as I’m watching my local side , Biggleswade Town playing in the FA Trophy at AFC Fylde
I have a good feeling about this . 2-0 to the Addicks . Both goals from Grant . I shall be a bit further north as I’m watching my local side , Biggleswade Town playing in the FA Trophy at AFC Fylde
Fylde's ground is a little gem of a place, much better than Fleetwood's
I think it will be a battle, hench why id go with Lapslie and not Williams, maybe tight at the hour mark approaches then Williams to come on and do the business.
Shrewsbury Town v Charlton Athletic Saturday 12th January 2019 … 3pm Kick-Off Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria)
Introduction Despite the continuous noises being made in the background its not been a bad start to 2019 for the Addicks; two games in having played Walsall and Sunderland (both at the Valley) and we find ourselves undefeated with four points, performances appear to be stable and there could be arguments that Charlton deserved more last weekend. Yet we can’t dwell on past results though, its onwards to the next game and our first on the road in 2019, it’s a trip up to Shropshire and Shrewsbury Town this Saturday as we look to keep this run going!!
The Opposition Name: Shrewsbury Town | Manager: Sam Ricketts Ground: The New Meadow
Ask any Salop fan if they thought that this season would be similar to the last and you’d probably get few agreeing with you – Losing your best players and manager to the Championship is always going to be a tough ask and that showed at the start of the season with Shrewsbury’s first win only coming in mid-September. Yet under John Askey the club showed promise and it was only thanks to a late Karlan Grant goal that saw the Addicks victorious at the Valley in August.
Relegation has remained a concern though and despite picking up a further two wins in October it would be curtains for John Askey – Ironically that decision came just a few weeks after Paul Hurst was sacked by Ipswich Town leaving you wondering if there would be a quick reunion, that wasn’t to be the case and Shrewsbury made the brave decision by turning to yet another Conference Manager in Sam Ricketts from Wrexham.
For the new man it’s been much the same story (proof that changing your Manager isnt always the root cause of the problem; just ask Hull City!!) – Just the one win has been achieved coming at home against Coventry yet once again the inconsistencies of teams at this level have allowed Shrewsbury to slightly pull above the relegation zone, although with just three points between them and the dreaded dotted line, I don’t see this being an end to their difficult season in transition!!
Charlton Team News Its as you were really in regards to the squad… Our New Year began with Jamie Ward and Jed Steer returning to their respective parent clubs – It meant that against Walsall and Sunderland we were a player short yet with Jonny Williams incoming it at least meant we had options from the bench. Having had a week training with his new team mates you’d expect the Welsh International to now take his place in the starting line up
As already mentioned; with Jed Steer being forced to return to Aston Villa it meant we were lacking an experienced Goalkeeper; Lee Bowyer though has wasted no time in bringing in another Welshman in Chris Maxwell; signed on loan till the end of the season from Preston North End; Maxwell is certainly no stranger to this level having played two seasons with Fleetwood before his move to the Championship, the big interesting point about the team sheet on Saturday will certainly be around who starts between the sticks!!
Phillips Dijksteel | Bauer | Sarr | Solly Williams | Bielik | Pratley Fosu Taylor | Grant
Prediction This might not be as straight forward as it appear on paper… When you look at the form guide there is only one winner: Charlton, yet Shrewsbury arent going to lay down and accept that, they’ve drawn the last two with one of those coming at the Stadium of Light – Our record at Shrewsbury is certainly nothing to shout about, our 2-0 win there last season being just our second ever win in Shropshire, the other coming in our first ever trip up that way in the old Third Division in 1972!!
After two back to back away defeats, I have us to bounce back to victory on the road.
2-0 Charlton, Taylor x2.
Really optimistic with the new signings and a couple of players back from injuries. Having a full bench with Lapslie and Reeves back will make a huge difference. If we have any chance of promotion we must start winning on the road.
Comments
Their recent form at home is decent, with wins against Rochdale, Plymouth, and Coventry, and draws against Peterborough and Fleetwood in the league. In fact, Shrewsbury are unbeaten at home in their last 10 games in all competitions, scoring 16 and conceding 8. The last team to win at Shrewsbury was Sunderland on 20th October, so expect a tight and difficult game.
Regarding us, Williams would have had an extra week training with the team and we saw in his cameo last week the quality he will bring. New left back Purrington has played all season and we have also seen recently the importance of having a left footed player, playing in that position. Bowyer will start both.
The interesting one for me is whether we see Phillips continue in goal or if Maxwell comes in. Most would expect that Phillips continues for this week and Maxwell will soon take over from between the sticks, and I have the same opinion. However, we recently learnt that Maxwell likes to come out and command his box, come out and punch things. With being away from home against a strong, physical Shrewsbury team, it wouldn’t surprise me if Bows is considering starting him already.
For me, at the moment the rest of the team picks itself. With Bauer, Sarr, Purrington, Bielik, Pratley, and Taylor, that’s enough height to cause them problems as well as defend properly. I do expect Lapslie to be on the bench, it’s been over two weeks since Boxing Day and he should now be ready to be included, Bows also really trusts him.
I haven’t included Reeves as I didn’t expect him to be back so soon, so I’ve kept the original team together in my prediction but now I fully expect him to be in the squad.
Back to our customary score when we win, and a new run will have begun.
Solly Bauer Sarr Purrington
Bielik
Pratley Williams
Fosu
Taylor Grant
Maxwell, Dijksteel, Lapslie, Morgan, Marshall, Clarke, Ajose
Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Charlton Athletic
Taylor
Sarr
I shall be a bit further north as I’m watching my local side , Biggleswade Town playing in the FA Trophy at AFC Fylde
Dijksteel, Bauer, Sarr, Solly
Bielik
Pratley, Lapslie
Fosu
Taylor, Grant
I think it will be a battle, hench why id go with Lapslie and not Williams, maybe tight at the hour mark approaches then Williams to come on and do the business.
0-2 Grant, Williams either side of the break.
So he is knackered and will now be rested for a few games:)
1-1
Solly Bauer Sarr Purrington
Bielik
Lapslie Williams
Fosu
Taylor Grant
Subs Morgan, Marshall, Maxwell, Dijksteel
Ajosie, Pratley and Stevenson.
Maxwell
Solly | Bauer | Sarr | Purrington
Williams | Bielik | Lapslie
Fosu
Taylor | Grant
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Stevenson | Dijksteel | Morgan | Marshall | Ajose | Pratley
And the score will be 3-1 to us
Williams and Purrington to start. Maybe Maxwell too.
Go 1.0 down.
Half time bollocking from LB
Equalize via scrappy goal.
Play superbly but dont score.
1.1
Solly | Bauer | Sarr | Purrington
Morgan | Bielik | Williams
Fosu
Taylor | Grant
Substitutes Bench: Maxwell | Stevenson | Pratley | Dijksteel | Marshall | Ajose | Clarke
Purrington is match fit and apparently in form at the moment (according to many AFC W fans on their forums).
Really hope we stuff these lot though!
You reds!
Unlike Robinson's team, this team is more attack minded so will at times leave defenders exposed.
2-0 Charlton, Taylor x2.
Really optimistic with the new signings and a couple of players back from injuries. Having a full bench with Lapslie and Reeves back will make a huge difference. If we have any chance of promotion we must start winning on the road.
Phillips,
Solly, Sarr, Bauer, Purrington
Morgan, Pratley, Bielik, Fosu
Taylor/ Grant