Skipper's thoughts after the home draw with Walsall
Shrewsbury Town earned a hard fought point at the Greenhous Meadow yesterday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Walsall.Kieron Morris gave the Saddlers the lead just after the break, before Stefan Payne netted for Town in the 70th minute to equalise.
The goal was the Barnsley-loanee’s second in a Town shirt and it sparked a revival for Salop who were unlucky not to grab a winner after applying heavy late pressure.
Experienced centre half Mat Sadler captained the side and he spoke to the press after the match.
“It’s a not the end of the world point – it’s an as you were point,” he said.
“The game was one that we wanted to win and at half time we knew we had to get back into the game somehow.
“It was disappointing to have to come from behind and to have to rescue the game. But we showed a fair bit of character to get back into the game.
“The route to winning the game for us was putting balls in their box and making them defend – but fair play they’ve got three wily centre halves.
“The crowd were magnificent – they were right up behind us. There were some lulls in the game but we could hear them getting right behind us and that makes a big, big difference.”
Sadler, who was making his 36th league and cup appearance of the season, also commented on Stefan Payne’s performance – the striker now has two in two.
“It’s a fantastic goal scorer’s header,” Sadler said.
“Shaun [Whalley] has put a fantastic cross in for him but there was still a lot to do. It’s great to see him on the scoresheet and hitting that bit of form that we know he can do.
“There’s three games to go and I’m sure he’ll have a big part to play in those three.”
Next up for Town is an Easter Monday clash with Northampton Town at Sixfields, where they will look to increase the two-point gap from the drop zone.
“There’s no point underselling it – it’s a massive game,” Sadler continued.
“No team is a walkover. You never walk out onto the pitch in League One where the result is a foregone conclusion – it doesn’t work like that.
“As it looks at the moment 50/51 points gets you safe – so it’s the next opportunity for us to get to that mark.
“People have got to step up to the mark and get us over that line. Fingers crossed they’ll be some stand out performances from the lads that will get us safe.”