Joe's thoughts after the FA Cup win over Aldershot
Joe Riley has praised Shrewsbury Town for a clinical performance after Paul Hurst’s men thumped Aldershot Town 5-0 at the Montgomery Waters Stadium in the Emirates FA Cup first round on Saturday.
Goals from Alex Rodman, Shaun Whalley, Stefan Payne, Arthur Gnahoua and Carlton Morris sealed Town a place in round two, after a dominant performance against National League side Aldershot.
Defender Riley, who made his seventh outing of the season in the cup tie, praised his team-mates for their clinical finishing after the game.
“It’s job done, and we were really clinical today,” Riley told the assembled press. “And saying that – we could have even had a few more – which is always nice.
“It was good for the strikers to get a couple of goals, and for Shaun [Whalley] to get a goal and a couple of assists as well.
“We’ve shared the goals around this season, which is good because to be successful you need everyone chipping in with goals.
“We probably started a bit slow and sloppy, but the goals kicked us into life and after they went in we looked dangerous on the counterattack with our pace.
The full-back, who has struggled with injuries in recent times, revealed he is happy to be back out on the pitch, and that he is hoping for a good run in the side.
“It’s two [games] on the bounce and hopefully now I’ll get a run of games, we’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “I’m not fussy [over playing left-back or right-back], as long as I’m playing football.
“Especially after the injury, I just want to play football and I’m pleased I can do that at the moment.”
Next up for Hurst’s side is a short trip to face Walsall in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday night, and Riley admitted Salop are looking for success on all fronts this term.
“We’ve bounced back today with a win, and we want to go and win on Tuesday as well,” Riley said. “We want to do well in every competition this year, whether it’s the Checkatrade Trophy, the FA Cup, or the league – we want to be successful in all competitions.
“We look really confident at home, and I think teams are started to feel that when they come,” he added. “Before the gaffer came in maybe teams recognised we were a bit vulnerable at home, but that’s changed massively, and we’ve been brilliant at home.”