Defender's thoughts after the draw away to Swindon
Town earnt a hard fought point away at Swindon on Saturday as the sides drew 1-1 at The County Ground.Town fell behind early in the second half after John Goddard rifled a penalty home following Aristote Nsiala’s controversial sending off on his debut.
Town’s equaliser came courtesy of a towering header from Mat Sadler with ten minutes left on the clock, after Swindon had James Brophy been sent off earlier.
“It was a tough point,” Sadler told the press.
“We all worked our socks off there, and in the end it became something of a basketball match. It was hard work out there especially when we went down to ten men.
“And when they went down to ten as well, it made the pitch seem massive and there were some players with real pace who could cause problems – so the game became really stretched.
“I think at the end of the day if you’d said before the game - we probably would have taken a point here, especially off the back of three defeats.”
Town went down to ten men after Nsiala’s sending off in the 53rd minute, and almost immediately after they were a goal down too as Goddard slotted home the penalty.
“We just had to stay in the game. I’m experienced enough to know that things can change around if you stay in the game.
“It was tough because when they’re playing such expansive football, it feels like there’s five or six on each side.
The match saw gaffer Paul Hurst give debuts to new signings Nsiala, Alex Rodman and Freddie Ladapo.
Sadler said of his new teammates: “I thought Freddie and Rodders did really well.
“Rodders gave us real legs and opportunities on the counter. He showed some glimpses of what Shrewsbury fans have got to look forward to.
“Freddie held it up when he could and worked really worked the channels well. Sometimes when you’re playing up front on your own, as he was today, it can be a bit of a poisoned chalice but he worked his socks off.
“To be honest I thought Toto was quite dominant in the air and looked really mobile – getting around the pitch well.
“I think we’ve got some real cause to be optimistic because we’ve got three really good additions to the squad.”
For Sadler it was his second goal of the campaign, but only his sixth since 2002.
He said of the goal: “I just thought get on the move because their defence was quite static at that point – so something might fall for me. I just flicked it on and hoped for the best.
“You do see goals like that – it was a bit like Teddy Sheringham’s goal against Greece in that qualifier.
“We move on, take a point, and keep them in and around us. So hopefully soon we can overtake them.”
Town now move above Bury in the table and out of the relegation zone into 20th ahead of a tough home game against Bradford next Saturday.
“I’ve said time and time again that I love playing for this football club, it’s a great club, and I’m desperate to get us out of this predicament.”