Woodsy disappointed with FA Cup exit but now looks to promotion
Midfielder Ryan Woods felt Shrewsbury Town deserved more from their FA Cup second round defeat at Preston North End on Saturday. Micky Mellon's side lost 1-0 thanks to a first half goal from defender Paul Huntington but the visitors improved after the break and pushed the League 1 high-flyers all the way."I felt as though we deserved a replay," said youngster Woods, again impressive in the Shrewsbury midfield.
"We started quite slowly in the first half and it took us a long time to get going, but in the second half we were brilliant and definitely the better team. At the end the Preston fans were saying that and we've given our own supporters something to be happy about. We're not happy though because we're out of the FA Cup."
Preston missed a penalty late on in the game, but Shrewsbury had a number of chances at the other end with James Collins denied by goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann early on, while the Shrewsbury striker also saw a second half shot cleared off the line. The 10 goal top-scorer and fellow striker Andy Mangan also saw efforts ruled out for offside.
"The manager had a few words with us at half time because he knows we can be better and we as players know that too," said Woods.
"Collo had a shot well saved early on and it might have been different had that gone in. In the second half he and Andy Mangan had efforts ruled out for offside and Collo's looked very tight - he's not sure whether it was the right decision.
"They're flying in the league at the moment and they've got a good home record so it's a big confidence boost to go to Preston and show another team what we can do.
"Had their penalty gone in that would have been a case of kicking us when we were down. It was pretty much the first time they'd been in our 18 yard box in the second half but it wasn't to be.
"Their goalkeeper has been the busier of the two and I don't think Jayson Leutwiler has had much to do at all, especially in the second half. Their defence was very solid so hats off to them."
Deepdale hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for Shrewsbury in 2014 with 3 visits and 3 defeats - the first in the league, and the second coming in the Johnstones Paint Trophy earlier this season.
"I played in the 5-2 defeat here in the league last season on Easter Monday and the side we've got now is one we can be very pleased with. We are giving the fans a lot more to cheer about.
Now we're out of the FA Cup we'll concentrate on the league and aim for promotion."