Thoughts on the Bury win and first Town goal
Shrewsbury Town stretched their unbeaten run in the league to five games on Saturday as they overcame a resolute Bury side to win 2-1.Second half goals from loanees Tyler Roberts and Freddie Ladapo gave Town a 2-0 lead, which ultimately gave them all three points at the Greenhous Meadow despite a late consolation goal from Bury’s Jacob Mellis.
It was Roberts’ first goal in a Town shirt having joined on loan from West Brom in January and he spoke to the press afterwards.
“It was special for me to be involved in both goals and help the team get the three points,” he said.
“I think for the whole team we played great today – and we got a great result. We’ll go into the next game with loads of confidence.
“We were on top for large periods of the game – so for them to get a goal that late in the day put us on the back foot – but we dealt with it well so credit to the defence.”
For Roberts, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Oxford, it was a first league goal in men’s football and he turned provider shortly after to assist Ladapo’s 77th minute strike.
Roberts said of his goal: “I kind of looked around and the space was there so I stayed in the space and shouted for it.
“It just came back to me and I thought I just need to get clean contact here – and I did that and it went in - a whole load of emotion comes out when you score – you’re excited and you’re happy – so I just want to celebrate.
“For Freddie’s - the defender has showed me down the line – so I tried to come inside and Freddie was there to get the tap in.
“He loves getting a goal here and doing his dance so it was good to see him get another one.”
Roberts is one of five fit forwards in the Town squad following the return to fitness of Louis Dodds and AJ Leitch-Smith, and the arrivals of Stephen Humphrys and Freddie Ladapo on loan.
“I think it’s healthy to have competition because we’re all in training together and we know we have to be on top of our games to make the manager have a difficult decision for the weekend.
“Even in the games there’s going to be competition – because everyone’s going to want to stay in the team – it’s only going to bring the best out of players.”
Town have now risen to 18th in the table, and are four points clear of the relegation zone ahead of tricky away ties at Scunthorpe and Peterborough.
“We’ve got a good group of lads here and we’re all in it together so we’ll keep climbing the table. So hopefully soon there will be no worries about relegation.
“It’s a great little run we’re on now and the team will go into the next few games full of confidence – on our day we can beat anybody.”