Gaffer's thoughts after scoreless draw with Sky Blues
Paul Hurst couldn’t hide his disappointment at Shrewsbury’s performance vs. Coventry but insisted that the point gained would be vital as the end of the season draws near.Town struggled to a goalless draw with League One’s bottom side having squandered a golden chance to take all three points when Tyler Roberts’ penalty was saved late in the first half.
The result meant that Town missed the chance to earn a sixth consecutive home league win but Hurst was less concerned about the result than he was about his side’s performance.
“For me it’s a point gained, going into the game I accept that people would have thought that it was a good chance for three points but when you see the game unfold, it’s a fantastic point for us.
“In the strangest way, it could be the best point we get this season, because we didn’t play well at all, we looked tired, we couldn’t pass the ball simply.”
He continued: “Coventry looked a lot livelier, they were on the front foot more, but we’ve had the best chance of the game to win it.
“The positive is that we kept a clean sheet, and it’s another point towards getting this club safe.”
The manager admitted that his team selection was a risk, given the effort that Town had given with a stunning performance vs. Charlton on Tuesday.
“In hindsight it would’ve been great to put a different team out, that might have had a little bit more energy.
“But if you change a winning team and you get beat then that’s wrong so we decided to stick with it.
“On the back of Tuesday night I think most people would understand that, but it was night and day in terms of performance.”
Hurst suggested that Coventry’s position at the bottom of the league might have had a negative effect on his players, given that they were given the unfamiliar tag of favourites going into the game.
“Maybe they were nervous. Maybe they built the game up, that they thought it was a really good opportunity to win a game.
“It’s the edgiest the crowd have been for a long time. I can’t blame some of them for wanting better because I totally understand it and I’m in agreement.
“I said coming into this game that if we thought it was going to be easy, then far from it. I didn’t like the vibe from the press. Every game is different.”
Despite the performance, Hurst was keen to draw on the positives from the game, including a man of the match performance from his captain on the day.
“At least we showed a bit of resilience. We showed some fight and some good defending. Mat Sadler was outstanding, him and Toto [Nsiala] did really well.
“We haven’t been beat, and that’s a massive positive when you don’t perform.”
Another positive for Town was a first clean sheet in four games, another sign of the defensive solidity that Hurst has brought to the club since arriving.
“The positive is that we kept a clean sheet, and it’s another point towards getting this club safe.
“If you don’t play well, you try to get something from the game and we’ve done that.”
Hurst also had some words for injured Coventry midfielder Andy Rose, who was injured in the second minute of the game after a sickening clash of heads.
Rose has since been released from hospital, and the Town boss was pleased to see him back at the ground after the game.
“The important thing is that the lad’s okay, I’ve seen him walking around so that’s a good sign, and fingers crossed that there will be no long term effects for him.”