Johnnie Jackson has been working hard with the players on their defensive shape in recent weeks, a process that reaped dividends with three successive clean sheets at the end of April, and there's value in the 6/4 available on the Addicks keeping Shrewsbury at bay in what is likely to be a cagey first leg clash at The Valley.
The Addicks closed the season with six games that produced a total of only seven goals, and all six would have finished 1-0 either way had it not been for a bizarre injury-time strike from Josh Magennis in the 2-0 win at Shrewsbury that kick-started the run of shut-outs. So take some of the 11/2 about the Charlton 1-0 correct score as well.
Shrewsbury have managed just one win in seven league outings since their Wembley disappointment in the Checkatrade Trophy final against Lincoln but Paul Hurst has rested most of his key players at some point in the past fortnight, once it was apparent that automatic promotion would elude them, so they should fresh and ready to go physically.
We cannot say precisely how Salop will line-up but they will presumably keep things tight with the usual three central midfielders, which enables them to accommodate the creativity of Joe Nolan. Hurst has played around with with various combinations since losing skipper Abu Ogogo to knee surgery a month ago but without finding an obvious solution.
Bryn Morris, Joe Riley, Sam Jones and Arthur Gnahoua have all been all tested, usually with Nolan in his favoured number 10 role but also with him starting from deep. The worry is that Ogogo simply cannot be replaced to anything like the same effect. The Shrews have won 23 out of 36 matches he has played, compared with just two out 11 when he hasn't.
Recommended bets:
1pt Charlton to keep a clean sheet at 2.50 (Bet365)
1pt Charlton 1-0 correct score at 6.50 (general)
