Analysis: Patience the key as Shrewsbury Town new-boys yet to gel

This new-look side, with a fresh face at the helm, has not gelled yet.

They were not particularly bad in this defeat at The Valley – John Askey feels they were much better than in the opening day loss to Bradford – but they did not look especially confident.

The players just don’t know each other well enough yet.

There is talent in this Salop squad though and you would like to think in a month or two, they will be able to brush aside teams like Charlton, who did not dominate proceedings.

Town made two signings on deadline day – last Wednesday – and one of them, Ollie Norburn, was in from the off.

The other, Lee Angol, travelled to south-east London but did not make the squad.

Greg Docherty, Luke Waterfall, Alex Gilliead and Ryan Haynes were making their full debuts too, while skipper Mat Sadler was named on the bench.

Lyle Taylor was the one to watch for the hosts, having netted in their opening day 2-1 loss at Sunderland.

Salop, with Waterfall donning the captain’s armband, did not see a great deal of the ball in the opening 20 minutes.

When they did, though, they looked pretty dangerous.

Gilliead was undoubtedly their brightest player in the opening exchanges, running at the Addicks backline with every opportunity.

He would have had a good chance to score too, had Aaron Amadi-Holloway not misdirected his cross from the left-hand side.

Charlton, who only had six substitutes, had a similar situation at the other end just prior to that, with Lewis Page’s delivery being too powerful for Patrick Bauer to get on the end of. New-boy Norburn was having a lot more touches as the half-hour mark approached.

The blue and amber faithful, in the Jimmy Seed stand, were making their voices heard, chanting ‘Askey’s Barmy Army’. And on the pitch Town slowly started to take charge, quickly shifting the ball from left to right and then looking to find target man Amadi-Holloway.

That approach almost paid dividends as Shaun Whalley’s cross was brought down by the big striker. He teed up Docherty, whose low drive sailed narrowly wide.

Salop were growing in confidence – getting more bodies up the pitch – but almost exposed as Karlan Grant beat the offside trap and latched on to an over-the-top pass.

Just as he was about to shoot, Haynes saved the day with a beautifully-timed sliding tackle. It was top defending from the former Coventry City man.

There was not a change for the start of the second period from Town, but they were soon forced into one.

Amadi-Holloway, after almost breaking the deadlock with a close-range header, limped off and Lenell John-Lewis entered the fray.

Askey’s charges continued to knock on the door following that switch.

Docherty’s goalbound strike was cleared off the line by Chris Solly, before Omar Beckles volleyed just off target.

It appeared they would soon find the net, but they were left to rue those missed opportunities as the Addicks went ahead against the run of play – Taylor rising highest to direct home after George Lapslie’s ball in from the right.

A couple more switches came from Salop as they chased an equaliser – Anthony Grant and Fejiri Okenabirhie coming on for Norburn and Josh Laurent.

And they got one, with two substitutes combining for it – Okenabirhie finding John-Lewis who gratefully nodded the ball into the bottom corner, right in front of the travelling supporters.

A draw probably would have been a fair result but Town walked away with nothing after Grant got on the scoresheet late on for Charlton.

It was a goal that, as Askey pointed out afterwards, should have been avoided.

Darren Pratley had the ball near the corner flag with a couple of Salop defenders around him but, somehow, managed to get a cross in to set up Grant, who was unmarked six yards out and headed in over Coleman.

Going over the positives, Gilliead showed off some fancy footwork – giving fans a glimpse of his capabilities.

He could be one that excites the Montgomery Waters Meadow crowd this campaign.

Waterfall, who is no stranger to being captain having filled the role at previous club Lincoln, displayed his no-nonsense defensive style while forwards Okenabirhie and John-Lewis each made a case to start tomorrow’s Carabao Cup clash with Burton Albion.

Askey will be slightly concerned with the fact that Amadi-Holloway went off with an injury, believed to be a groin problem.

Norburn is understood to have picked up a slight knock too.

With so many changes – 15 signings, a new management team and several key players leaving – a flying start was always going to be a tough ask.

Town may go on to enjoy similar times to those experienced last campaign under Paul Hurst, who took Toto Nsiala and Jon Nolan to Ipswich Town last week, but there is plenty of work to do – and Askey will be well aware of that.

Although it is almost impossible to predict what will happen at this stage, Salop should not be in any trouble this term. They have only lost their first two games. If they are still in a similar way after 10-15, there is cause for pessimism.

Hopefully spirits will be lifted with a cup triumph over Burton.

Town are no strangers to a cup run – hosting Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United in recent years, and reaching the Checkatrade Trophy final last season – and progress in that competition could well be what galvanises Askey and his players.