Gaffer talks after the 2-0 win over Pompey
Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Hurst praised his players for a high quality display as they beat Portsmouth 2-0 at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
Shaun Whalley made up for an earlier missed penalty by putting Town ahead in the 59th minute and Stefan Payne put the game to bed 10 minutes from time.
“I thought it was very good because you have to take into consideration the opposition and I think they were second in the form table”, Hurst told the Press.
“I thought overall we dominated for large parts. We might not have created loads of chances but I still thought we were the best side realistically
“What we are doing, certainly at home, is making teams defend, putting them on the back foot for large parts and I thought we moved the ball well for large parts.
“Towards the end we saw the game out well with no real scares and all that after missing a penalty as well.”
Shaun Whalley had an eventful afternoon and Paul was pleased with how he responded to the earlier missed penalty.
“You’ve got to keep your head and I thought he had a very short period where I thought he’d lost himself”, Hurst continued.
“He will be upset that he missed the chance to score another penalty, but a great follow up and response from not only him but the team, because it can really affect you when you think it’s going to be a tight game and your opportunity might have gone.
But, we kept going and today I thought we were worthy of winning slightly more comfortably than we have done on occasions this season.”
Stefan’s goal means that he is now in double figures for the season and Paul was pleased to see him back on the scoresheet.
“I think Stef feels like he’s been a bit down on himself and disappointed that he hasn’t scored a few chances that he’s had in some of the games, Paul continued.
“I had a word with him on Thursday about him not being in the team and not building it up too much. Even in finishing practice it feels like he’s beating himself up, but it was a good finish today.
“Both Centre-Forwards contributed massively. I thought Carlton really started the game well and was unfortunate not to get his name on the scoresheet, but he was certainly tired when he came off.”
The result means that Town head into Christmas on 47 points from 22 games and Hurst is delighted by how the season has panned out.
“It’s a great way to go into the Wigan game”, Paul said.
“I think to have 47 points now is a fantastic achievement to date. We want that to carry on and whatever happens we will certainly be starting 2018 in a great position.”