Toney levelled in the first half but Town finish with 10 men after Deegan sent off
Shrewsbury Town made it three draws on the bounce against Swindon Town in a largely dull affair below the dreary skies at the Greenhous Meadow. Town are now unbeaten in three but without a win in five games.John Goddard nodded home in the early stages before Ivan Toney levelled the scores with a decisive breakaway just before half time. Shrewsbury were left licking their wounds at the final whistle as Louis Dodds and Ivan Toney picked up injuries and Gary Deegan was shown a red card in the final minutes.
Swindon had a couple of early chances in first two minutes. The ball fell to Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill on the edge of the area but he could only blaze his half volley over the bar.
Shrewsbury responded well with some pressure of their own but it was Swindon who scored the opener with eight minutes gone. Goddard scored his first ever goal for Swindon as he leapt highest from a cross into the box and guided his header into the bottom corner.
The home side were struggling to settle in the Shropshire rain in the first fifteen minutes and a succession of misplaced passes allowed Swindon opportunities for a second.
A neat one-two between Nathan Thompson and Sean Murray culminated in Thompson driving a shot from the edge of the box but the captain’s effort sailed harmlessly into the crowd.
Shrewsbury had a chance half way through the first period when Jim O’Brien curled the ball into the path of Toney in the box. The Newcastle loanee chested his lay-off to Dodds but his shot was blocked.
Town were lacking creativity in attack and with ten minutes to go until half-time it was the away side who looked most likely to double their advantage.
O’Brien lofted a free-kick from out wide which caused a scramble in the Swindon box but no Town player could poke home as The Robins cleared.
Shrewsbury managed to restore parity with a cutting counter-attack straight from defending a corner with 43 minutes gone. The set-piece broke to Ian Black on the edge of the box and the midfielder drilled his pass into the feet of Dodds on the half way line. The 29-year-old turned and lifted a through ball over the defence and into the path of Toney who burned past keeper Lawrence Vigouroux before sliding the ball into an empty net.
Town came close to taking the lead with ten minutes gone after half time. O’Brien looped a free-kick from deep into the penalty area and Olly Lancashire managed to find space 10 yards out but his volley was tame and gathered comfortably.
Shrewsbury were dealt a blow with half an hour left as Dodds went down unchallenged and had to come off clutching the back of his leg.
Toney was next to go to ground clutching his leg minutes later but he managed to hobble on.
With fifteen minutes to go both teams were struggling to create clear opportunities. Goddard played in Luke Norris in the left corner of the box and he cut inside well but blasted his effort high and wide.
Shrewsbury thought they had snatched the win with another sharp breakaway in the 85th minute. Gary Deegan sent Jack Grimmer away up the line after defending a corner. The on-loan Fulham defender then hit a low cross into Leitch Smith 6 yards out but Vigouroux somehow made a point blank reaction save to keep the scores level.
Just as the home side were building up some steam in the closing stages, Deegan showed a lack of discipline as he fouled on the centre circle and received his second booking of the game.
Swindon piled on the heat as they attempted to make the most of their numerical advantage but it was to no avail as the match finished 1-1.