Jones versus Ainsworth. Didn’t exactly point to a graceful, free-flowing contest. But needs must, on both sides. We were desperate for a win, to kick off our fresh mini-series (this time a run of five games against teams below us in the league) and to cement the impact of the victory at Bolton, with the knowledge that, with Mansfield having lost but Bolton rebounding with a win at Huddersfield, three points were even more needed to keep us in touch, even if the best we could manage was to move up one place in the league depending on the outcome of the Leyton Orient v Reading game. For Shrewsbury, the victory against Wrexham will have given them fresh heart, but especially with Cambridge winning earlier in the day they were still in deep doo doo and desperate for a something from the game.
In the event we left it late. Very late. About as late as possible. So late in fact that in stoppage time Shrewsbury, who to that point had registered one shot all game, came very close to the ultimate smash-and-grab, fluffing a golden opportunity. Then to send us all home delirious Small scored, giving us the points. Did we deserve them? Yes and no. With 70% possession we mustered only three shots on target as Shrewsbury contented themselves with keeping a clean sheet. If we had finished 0-0 we can’t have complained, grudgingly accepting that if we were in their shoes we might well have done the same. But what a difference a late winner makes.
Like for Bolton, there were decisions for Jones to make on team selection. On Tuesday he gave the same players who underperformed against Rotherham the chance to redeem themselves. Which they did – but with the help of second-half substitutions, including a good contribution from Anderson, and a change of formation. Proved to be another case of ‘as you were’ with no changes to the starting XI but one alteration to the subs, with the very welcome return from injury of Ramsay. He replaced Campbell(A), which did bolster the defensive options but left us with only Anderson as a replacement in midfield.
The first half was a frustrating affair. It badly needed a Charlton goal. Shrewsbury were poor in possession, failing to capitalise on balls given away by Gillesphey, and gave us all the time and space in our own half, but focused on shape and discipline without the ball and defending their final third in numbers. Campbell and Small both threatened to break the deadlock, with the former moving across the front line and deep to good effect, picking up free kicks and wriggling free, often beating his first man, once getting to the by-line with his cross almost converted. The latter was doubled up on but on one occasion simply went through and beyond the pair to get in a decent cross.
Nevertheless, we had very few actual chances. A Berry free-kick went through the wall but their keeper got down well to turn it aside. It was our only effort on target and we managed to waste set pieces from either side as Berry and Gillesphey floated ball into the box for their keeper to gather comfortably. You’d have thought Taylor might have teached them how to do it before he left. Leaburn was generally ineffective and with Campbell often in a wide position isolated.
The stats at half-time showed we had 68% possession but only three efforts on goal, just the one on target. Shrewsbury amassed zero attempts, their only real threat coming from a couple of corners. I doubt Ainsworth was worried about that, while we were left wondering whether Aneke and Godden would be called on sooner rather than later.
Nothing changed early in the second half, but the game would have panned out differently if we’d taken a good opening on 56 minutes. Campbell and Edwards on our left side combined and Edwards’ low cross was only parried by their keeper. It fell for Docherty and you would have backed him to plant it into the net, but he rather mishit the shot, which was probably going wide before it hit Berry.
That chance gone, the predictable first change was made on the hour as Aneke came on for Leaburn. Shortly after Docherty bursting through was fouled on the edge of the area, probably correctly given as outside the box. Aneke curled the free kick over the bar.
On 71 minutes Shrewsbury had their first shot, producing a fairly routine save by Maynard-Brewer and shortly after that Jones threw on the replacements. Anderson, Godden and Ramsay came on for Berry, Docherty and Mitchell, indicating a 4-4-2 with Campbell and Small operating as the wide men. Aneke’s presence was having the usual impact, at least causing mayhem for their back line, but if anything we struggled rather in the final 15 minutes of normal time to create that opening and score that goal.
Six minutes added time and that produced the game’s two key moments. First, Shrewsbury came so close to going ahead. A break down their right side was developed well and the ball squared. Their guy ran on to it, Anderson not able to track him back, and it looked odds-on he would score. But he scuffed the chance, his effort ending up being put behind for a corner. And before we’d had much chance to start breathing again, we won it. Godden and Aneke ensured a ball into their box was not cleared properly and it ran on for Small to get a deft touch past a defender. Suddenly he was clear and he hit it low between their diving keeper’s legs and into the net. Cue massive relief and celebrations, with just a couple of minutes seen out before the ref brought proceedings to a close.
Just a massive extra two points. They may not have moved us up the table, with Leyton Orient beating Reading, Stockport winning, and Bolton having won earlier. But they leave us just spitting distance from a top-six spot, two points behind sixth-placed Barnsley with a game in hand, four adrift of Stockport in fifth but also with a game in hand on them, or one point behind Leyton Orient, Reading and Bolton.
There will be issues for Jones to consider for Tuesday night and Bristol Rovers at home, including whether the 3-5-2 set-up works best at home against teams focused on defending. But those thoughts will be for tomorrow. Like us, I doubt he’s finished celebrating yet.
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