First win on the board delights the boss
Town Manager Graham Turner heaped praise on his side after a measured performance sealed a well-deserved first victory of the 2013-14 campaign in a 2-0 success over Swindon.
Middlesbrough loanee Adam Reach scored nine minutes into his debut to put Salop ahead before substitute Tom Bradshaw doubled the lead five minutes from time to record his first league goal since an October 2011 meeting with Accrington.
“I thought it was very good,” said Turner.
“I thought, given the performance, we should’ve scored more goals but the overall impression was that we had a good shape, we worked hard, composed ourselves and that we thoroughly deserved the three points.
“Most of our players did well. Adam Reach on his debut did well, it was a good goal he scored and there were one or two other opportunities we had.
“Overall it was a good performance for us, a good afternoon, and the clean sheet was important for the back lads and the goalkeeper.”
Turner’s troops missed a host of chances at 1-0 to kill off the game before Bradshaw’s late clincher, and the gaffer admitted to feeling a little twitchy heading into the final minutes with the slender advantage.
“Without doubt I felt tense. I think you do when you’re almost throwing away chances like we had, so you just fear the worst. But we stood strong at the back, were solid as a team, and I thought we deserved more than the two goals.
“I’m glad Tom got the second, it takes the pressure off him leaving him out. It sounds daft, but it takes the pressure off him. He’s played the first three games and barely had a shot at goal, so coming on as sub when he’s fresh and one or two of them are getting tired. That’s his strength with his mobility and his pace and he got himself free. We might have got one or two more from that sort of situation.”
Despite not recording a victory in the first three games, Turner maintained that there was no need to panic after a tough start to the campaign.
“I don’t think I’ve had too many fears. Having watched us in pre-season and watched us in training, I didn’t have too many fears that we wouldn’t turn it round and obviously today was a big boost for us.
“I don’t think there is a disaster. We lost to Bolton here in the Capital One Cup, they were a good Championship side and first half at Leyton Orient I thought we did well. We capitulated a bit when the first goal went in, they’re a very powerful side and they’ve won three out of three, so it was a tough game.”
Watch the full interview with GT on SHREWS PLAYER