Gaffer delighted with win after third game in a week
Manager Micky Mellon has heaped praise on Captain Liam Lawrence as the midfielder netted the two goals in Shrewsbury’s 2-0 win against Oxford United at Greenhous Moor on Saturday.Shrews had taken the lead through the ex-Sunderland man before he finished off the game with a free-kick with eight minutes to go, but Town also had to play half an hour with ten men after Derby loanee Rhys Sharpe was given two quick-fire bookings.
But the manager expressed his delight at how his players dealt with their third game of the week following away ties against Wycombe and Morecambe.
“You have to show different qualities at this stage in the season with the games coming quick and fast.” said Micky.
“Two away games, three games in the week, science will tell you that you will have a dip in the energy levels.
“So fair play to the lads on getting the clean sheet today, we had half an hour down to ten men so we had to dig in, but then we got that second one to give us the lift we needed to get over the line.
“But it’s terrific that we have six much needed points but as always we will not get ahead of ourselves and we will dust the boys down and go again
And Micky, who welcomed Lawrence back during the trip to Morecambe on Tuesday, lauded the experienced players’ performance once again.
“He stuck his second away nicely with a fantastic struck free-kick and I am delighted he has scored two today.
He added: “He is very important in this situation as when people get nervy, even the crowd, he tries to keep people calm and he certainly worked hard to do that today.”
But on what was a positive day Micky was disappointed with the dismissal of youngster Sharpe, who was dismissed on his home debut for a second yellow-card.
“He will learn from that, it was maybe a bit of over exuberance maybe,”
“But the only reason I think he give a second yellow was because he had already given the first, and if referees keep giving yellow cards for stuff like that I will struggle to put a side out”