A sparkling second half performance saw Charlton cruise to a 3-0 win at Shrewsbury on Saturday afternoon. The result ended Shrewsbury’s ten match unbeaten run at home.
Strikes from Lyle Taylor, Darren Pratley and Karlan Grant did the damage.
Lee Bowyer made two changes from the team that drew with Sunderland last week. New signing, Ben Purrington, came in for Anfernee Dijksteel, allowing Chris Solly to revert to the right. And Jonny Williams replaced Tariqe Fosu in midfield.
Purrington brought natural balance to the defence, and Williams caused the Shrews problems all afternoon.
The hosts found the Addicks’ strike force of Taylor and Grant almost unplayable at times.
In the second period Grant had three one-on-one situations, but was foiled by Steve Arnold on each occasion.
Shrewsbury had the better of the early exchanges, and Dilllon Phillips had to make a terrific save with his legs to stop Josh Laurent opening the scoring after 20 minutes.
But five minutes later Charlton were in front. A Grant drive was turned behind by Arnold. Albie Morgan delivered a dangerous flag-kick that James Bolton could only flick on to the inside of the own post. Taylor was on hand to prod the rebound home.
It was total dominance from the Addicks after the break, and they should have won by a bigger margin.
Ten minutes after the restart, Shrewsbury failed to clear their lines from a corner, and Pratley thundered home a spectacular goal from the just outside the penalty box.
Grant completed the scoring ten minutes from time. He broke from the halfway line, drove into the area before being upended by Anthony Grant.
Grant converted the penalty himself.
Bowyer’s side created some really good chances in the second half. As well as Grant’s opportunities, Patrick Bauer should have done better with a free header from six yards.
Charlton’s 518 fans made a cacophony of noise all afternoon, and were rewarded by a dazzling display from their team.
It was one of those games that make all the hours and thousands of miles spent on the motorway worthwhile.
Here are Bowyer’s post match thoughts:
“I think we deserved it. We didn’t pass it well first half, it was driving me crazy.
“When we did on the odd occasion we passed through them and then created chances.
“Then the second half we passed it more and created chance after chance. Karlan could have had four, he missed three one-on-ones, Pat (Bauer) had a good header, should have scored.
“It should have been six or seven really. It could have been on another day.
“I thought the front three, Lyle, Karlan and Jonny were excellent. That’s what we have, good players that can hurt teams going the other way.
“We were solid today at the back and as a team performance I think it was very professional.
“I just said to them ‘We will get promotion but you have to do this every time, you can’t drop your standards’. If we keep doing this, what we’ve done today, then there is no reason why we can’t go and win every game and I believe it.
“We’ve got a very good side and a good squad and on our day we’re a very difficult side to play against and we’ve just shown that here.
“Not many teams have come here and done that this season. They haven’t dropped many points at home.
“I don’t think it (promotion) is about the other sides. It’s in our hands, ok we might be a few points behind them but it is in our hands. If we do it properly every game then I think we’ll be up there.”
Charlton: Phillips; Solly , Bauer, Sarr, Purrington; Bielik (Dijksteel 82), Pratley, Morgan (Lapslie 58), Williams (Marshall 77); Taylor, Grant.
Subs (not used): Maxwell, Clarke, Fosu, Hackett-Fairchild.
Goals: Taylor 25, Pratley 55, Grant 80.
Booked: Bauer 29 (foul), Pratley 49 (foul ), Bielik 71 (dissent).
Shrewsbury: Arnold; Bolton, Sadler, Waterfall, Haynes; Docherty (Gillead 59), Grant, Norburn, Laurent (Edwards 78); Amadi-Holloway (Angol 81), Okenabirhie.
Subs (not used): Coyne, Beckles, Eisa, Sears.
Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).