Gaffers thoughts after the pre-season win over Burton
Shrewsbury Town maintained their 100% pre-season record vs. Championship opposition in pre-season but Paul Hurst asserted that there is still work to be done.
Shaun Whalley won and then converted a late penalty to seal the victory over Burton Albion, in a game that was played at a half-pace after the first-half sending off of Marvin Sordell.
Hurst admitted that he wasn’t pleased with the quality of the performance after playing over an hour vs. 10 men, and confirmed that he asked the referee Rob Lewis to allow Burton a substitution to level the sides up.
“We both wanted to play 11 v 11, and I would’ve been more than happy, but the referee is saying he can’t do that.
“I’m just trying to come out of the slumber I had on the sideline.
“I was bored to tears to be honest, and I can’t wait for next Saturday when it means something.”
Sordell’s challenge on Abu Ogogo was a shocker and Hurst stated that some of his players had said that it was “arguably the world tackle they’ve ever seen”.
The penalty incident came about after Jake Buxton’s careless loss of possession inside his own half, and the boss admitted it was hard to take any satisfaction from the win.
“We hit the post and we got the winner but a lot of that was through their mistake rather than anything we did.
“I think there was a lack of understanding in what to do against 10 men when they line up that way.”
Hurst also commented on individual performances, with positive mentions for Junior Brown and Bryn Morris, but he wants to see more from new signings James Bolton and Jon Nolan – who received a warm ovation after being replaced.
On Bolton, Hurst said: “There’s more to work on, I think he’s come in and done well but positionally he needs work.
“Junior has come back and he’s trying to listen and take things on board, so that’s a positive.
“The combination of Sads and Toto did well last season.”
On his midfield pair, Hurst said: “Bryn came on and picked some nice passes, Nolan did okay at times, but I’m not sure about his ovation when he came off, he wasn’t that good.
“People haven’t seen anything like what he can do yet and I think people like him already.”
With the season kicking off next Saturday vs. Northampton, the gaffer says he still has decisions to make regarding his first-choice eleven.
“Quite a few of them have left themselves extremely vulnerable, or not pushed themselves into that line-up.
“I’ve got some thinking to do next week, I’ve got certain people in my mind that will play and I think others have missed an opportunity.”