Gaffer's thoughts after the EFL Cup game
Micky Mellon was proud of his side after they were narrowly defeated 1-0 at the Stadium of Light by Premier League Sunderland who had seven full internationals in their team:"The history books will say that we lost one-nil. But anybody that was here will say that Shrewsbury are a club that are on their way forward. They are a club that will take on these teams and try and play the right way. That way is good attacking football, trying to score goals and defending very well and fighting for that badge. That is very important. I am sure the fans that were perched away in the highest positions I have ever seen in my footballing career, they were so far away I had to really look to see them, but they were in good numbers and they didn’t stop backing the boys. I am sure they are having the journey home now and saying what if but I want them represented properly at the football club and I want the club to grow and tonight we added to that.”
Shrewsbury were knocked out of the English League Cup but Mellon felt he couldn’t fault the attitude of the players or the fans who made the gruelling 444 mile round trip to the North East:
“To come to a Premier League team like Sunderland and be so disappointed for the boys is the measure of the performance that they have put in. it was a fantastic representation of Shrewsbury Town. I keep saying we are trying to build something here and to come up here and play like that and work so hard and finding ourselves so unfortunate to go out, the lads have to take great credit. I am gutted for the players and the fans but I am sure the fans will be proud to come here and see the boys perform like they did.”
The 44-year-old felt there were narrow margins between the two teams but despite the defeat the manager was impressed with the tactical flexibility of his players:
“It’s a fantastic strike by Adnan Januzaj, he hit that one and big Toney was unlucky, the guy made a good save from his shot and that is the differences sometimes. But there is nothing for runners up and no prize for being second best but in terms of performance we are delighted. We know the system very well and what is pleasing me is we are able to flick between back fours and back fives. We know what we are going to do and that is great credit to the boys and the work we put in that we are able to flick those systems and cause people problems because that is important that we can do that. They did it seamlessly tonight and I am very proud of them.”
The Scotsman praised David Moyes for his achievements and the former Fleetwood boss believed his fellow countryman was relieved with the late goal that sealed the result:
“It is always encouraging when you see a Premier League team running the ball into the corner to try and play out time against you. They were desperate to get over the line because they know we were a threat. We wanted to come here and give a good account of ourselves and we did that and ran a Premier League team very close. We will dust ourselves down now and recover and then we will go again. I am going to go and see David now. When you look across at a manager you know. I got that look that said to me we are very grateful to have Januzaj, I don’t know how much he cost them but I think they will be very grateful to have him. David is a great fella, he is someone that we are very proud of in Scotland so I will go and have a chat now and he will be very gracious because he is a good guy.”
Mellon insisted he plans to use all his squad this season and praised them for being patient and taking their opportunity to play:
“I have recruited every one of these players to play first team football. I keep on saying it that there are eleven people that play but there is no first eleven. They are recruited to come in tonight and do what they did. Big Olly Lancashire came in and did the job for us and do what Sarcevic did which was work his socks off. The subs came on and they are recruited to add to what we do and try and get us over the line. But the whole squad is in my plans and considered as first team players. They can all play any system that is put in front of them and that is great credit to them and we will continue to do that. I trust my players, Abs (Ogogo) is a great example of that. We keep him game ready and he can come in and he waits for his opportunity and performs like that. That is what we are about. We want to have a squad of first team players that can go in seamlessly and give a performance for us.”