Jon Taylor acknowledges important goal but knows there is a lot still to do
Match-winner Jon Taylor paid tribute to the Shrewsbury Town fans after Saturday's vital one-nil win over relegation rivals Stevenage helped lift the team from the bottom of League One.
The winger's 57th minute goal was enough to settle the contest at the Greenhous Meadow, although results elsewhere meant the gap between Town and safety remained at two points.
It was Taylor's 7th of the season after recent strikes against Notts County and Bradford City.
"I think it's up there with the most important goals I've scored this season," said the top-scorer.
"It was against a team who were right above us, and we had to win. A draw wouldn't have been good enough. The lads were excellent and set the tempo from the start which is what Mike Jackson wanted us to do. We got the crowd on our side and I think they knew from the start how much we wanted it. They helped us all the way through with the cheering, the lads were talking about it after the game about how good they were. We're made up to get the three points."
Despite the result, Taylor said celebrations in the changing room were muted at the full time whistle.
"We've still got a lot of work ahead of us, we can't get too overexcited with winning one game, he said.
"We know what we've got to do next week. I was walking past with a bottle of champagne afterwards and someone said 'are you going to be drinking that tonight?' I said 'no chance.' I'll only be drinking it when we're safe, that's when the lads will have a drink. We had a meeting with Jacko and he said to us we have one month of our lives to do everything right, on and off the pitch, for ourselves, the team and the club. That's what the lads are going to do."
Town had to dig in deep at the end to preserve the score-line when the fourth official indicted seven minutes of stoppage time. Impressive on loan Wolves defender Dominic Iorfa - who set up Taylor's goal - could have wrapped up the points on only his second Football League start but saw his late effort saved by goalkeeper Chris Day after being sent clean through.
"Dominic was excellent" said Taylor. He's only 18 and he's got forward a couple of times. He slid me through for the goal, and if he'd have scored that at the end we'd have all gone mental. It would have made the last seven minutes a bit easier. We were all shaking on the side but just glad it's over now."
Taylor also reserved praise for Jackson and says he'd like him to stay in charge next season, whichever league Town are in.
"I'd love him being in charge next season," he said. "He's a good coach, manager and good with the players at talking one-on-one. Everyone can see how much it means to him. I just thrive on it. I love how much it means to him. He's a great man and works so hard. He got us going before the game, which got the fans on our side, which got us the win.
"He's left me out of the team recently so I've got a love-hate relationship with him! The first time he did that I was devastated, we had a few words but he's trying to pick the right tactics and it's not personal. He's doing it for the right reasons and I have to be ready when he needs me. I want to do well for the team and club but it was a while ago so we're mates again now!"