Charlton slumped to a 2-0 defeat against high flying Shrewsbury at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.
After a bright opening from the Addicks, Shrewsbury slowly gained the upper hand and ran out worthy winners.
Karl Robinson made two changes to the team that won at MK Dons; Jason Pearce returned at the expense of Patrick Bauer, and Mark Marshall came in for Ben Reeves. Both Bauer and Reeves were on the bench.
Chris Solly won the toss and, unusually, opted to attack the Covered End in the first-half. The low sun shining directly in the keeper’s eyes was probably the reason for Solly’s decision.
A sweeping move involving Josh Magennis and Sullay Kaikai, gave Jake Forster-Caskey a chance after two minutes, but Dean Henderson saved the midfielders effort.
A minute later, the keeper was called into action again. He saved Magennis’ header with his feet, and he then tipped Joe Aribo’s acrobatic follow up over the bar.
The game was an open affair, with both sides looking to attack.
The visitors had a glorious chance to take the after 17 minutes. Ezri Konsa was adjudged to have brought down Jon Nolan in the box.
Ben Amos saved Nolan’s spot-kick with his feet, but the ball looped up, and Nolan was the first to get his head on it.
His effort bounced down off the underside of the bar, and the Addicks somehow scrambled it clear.
The Shrews went ahead seven minutes after the restart, when Alex Rodman unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt from the corner of the area.
Fifteen minutes later, the visitors sewed the game up, when Omar Beckles headed home a right-wing corner unopposed.
The was an unsavoury incident near the end following a challenge by Kashi. A scuffle broke out amongst most of the players.
When the situation calmed down, Magennis was shown the yellow card by referee, Christopher Sarginson.
It was a hugely disappointing result and performance, as Robinson admitted after the game:
”We weren’t good enough. They were the better team and we didn’t carry out our game-plan properly.
“We wanted to change our style, we wanted to be a little more direct to play in behind them with two higher players.
“We knew their midfield was dominant and they dominated us. We have got to learn that. When the game gets rough and tough, you can’t always play football.
“Why, against a pressing team, would we want to take a free-kick short and play sideways and backwards?
“We encouraged them and it took me screaming in the first half for us to put a free-kick in the box.
“We didn’t ask enough questions of them. We have got to learn a very valuable lesson from this game.”
Charlton: Amos; Solly, Konsa, Pearce, Dasilva (Ajose, 71); Kashi, Forster-Caskey, Marshall (Fosu 57), Aribo, Kaikai (Zyro, 90); Magennis.
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Jackson, Bauer, Reeves
Booked: Forster-Caskey 20 (foul), Solly 79 (foul), Kashi 85 (foul), Magennis 89 (scuffle) .
Shrewsbury : Henderson; Bolton (Hendrie, 10), Nsiala, Sadler, Beckles; Godfrey; Whalley, Ogogo, Nolan, Rodman; C Morris.
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Thomas, John-Lewis, B Morris, Eisa, Payne.
Goals: Rodman 52, Beckles 67.
Booked: Nsiala 90 (foul).
Referee: Christopher Sarginson (Staffordshire).
Attn: 17,581 (1,254 Shrewsbury).