Manager reflects on the FA Cup exit at Preston
Manager Micky Mellon was disappointed to see Shrewsbury Town exit the FA Cup in the Second Round Proper stage at Preston North End on Saturday - but was pleased with his side's second-half performance.A 19th-minute goal from the Lilywhites' Paul Huntington was enough to send Simon Grayson's League One side into the draw for the third round of the competition.
Town performed much better after half-time and look to find an equaliser which would have forced a replay at the Greenhous Meadow, but it wasn't to be.
And Micky believes the supporters will go home knowing his side were the better team after the break and could have earned something from the game.
"We were all over the place in the first half, but in the second half we passed it around superbly," said Micky.
"We had pretty much total control of the football but maybe just didn't have that bit of cutting edge or that bit of composure that was needed to get us back on level terms.
"A lot of people who watched the game would have to say that we were the better side in the second half. In the first half we never did enough, though."
Huntington smashed home the all-important goal for Preston from 12 yards out early in the first half, and Micky felt his side could have dealt with the situation better.
"I was disappointed that we allowed the cross to come in (for the goal) when we had two players there," said Micky.
"It's came across and Liam (Lawrence) has said that he hasn't seen it. It was lashed across at head height and on another day we would have expected to deal with that a bit better.
"We were punished and I was disappointed with the whole first half if I'm honest.
"In the second half we wanted to try and get that movement in the midfield and get our players in there, get people turned and get running at Preston's back four.
"We never did that in the first half but in the second half some of the passing movements were great.
"The lads that came on in the second half controlled the possession much better and passed it out of the midfield with a lot more control.
"Preston changed their system three of four times which is a great credit to our boys because they knew that we were getting the better of things.
"Preston are riding high in the division they're in so it was always going to be a benchmark for us.
"We take little comfort from it, despite running them close, because we're out of the FA Cup, but there have been huge strides made by the playing staff.
"We're just disappointed that we didn't at least take the tie back home."
Midfielder James Wesolowski was forced off through injury and replaced by Jordan Clark in the 16th minute.
And Micky said: "He's tweaked his hamstring so we'll see how he does in the next 24 hours and we'll be able to assess that."
LISTEN to Micky's full post-match interview on our official audioBoom account HERE.