Club captain Johnnie Jackson has applauded Shrewsbury Town, ahead of the first leg of the Addicks’ play-off semi-final against them on Thursday night (7.45pm).
The Shrews were Sky Bet League One’s surprise package this season and for long parts of the campaign looked as if they could win automatic promotion.
A dip in form after Easter meant that Salop have had to settle for a place in the play-offs but Jackson says that they deserve a huge amount of credit for what they have achieved in 2017/18.
“I’ve been glowing about them all season,” he said. “To finish where they finished and with the squad they have got, I think they’ve been an absolute credit.
“They just fell away at the end but all season they’ve been knocking on the door and their points tally is really impressive.
“They’ll be two tough games; we got beat at home and beat them away and we know what to expect. We’ll be working hard in the next few days on how we’re going to prepare for it.
“It’s a quick turnaround and we’ve got to be ready.”
Goals from Jason Pearce and Josh Magennis earned the Addicks a 2-0 victory in Shropshire in April. However, Jackson does not believe that the result will have any bearing on the two clubs’ next match-up.
He said: “It’s not going to mean anything on the day but I’d rather have won it [in April] than lost it, that’s for sure. I’d rather have won the more recent of the games, too.
“We were excellent up there that night. I’m sure Shrewsbury will come to The Valley with something different and we’ll have to do the same.”
Charlton supporters who are buying their play-off tickets from The Valley on Thursday night are being asked to arrive in plenty of time to help reduce their and their fellow Addicks’ queuing time in the lead up to kick-off (7.45pm).