Gaffer in reflective mood after the Peterborough defeat
Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst was proud of his player’s despite their first defeat of the season against Peterborough United.
Town threw everything they could at the hosts, but it was Marcus Maddison’s wonder strike that would prove the difference.
“I’m proud of the players”, Hurst told the Press.
“I said that if we are going to lose a game of football then that’s the way to lose it because they were clinging on for large parts of that game.
“I thought they started well, but we were maybe guilty of inviting a bit of pressure onto us by trying to play a bit too much early on.
“It just wouldn’t quite drop for us. I think my only criticism is that we perhaps didn’t work the ‘keeper enough for all pressure that we had, but ultimately we’ve seen what it means for a team to beat little old Shrewsbury.
“To come to a team like Peterborough, who want to get into the play-offs, and for them to be clinging on at the end is credit to the team.”
Maddison’s strike from 40 yards was an incredible piece of skill and Hurst praised the midfielder for the effort.
“It’s a great strike, you can’t get away from that”, said Paul.
“I think 99 times out of 100 I would be down playing it, but not many players would have the technique and ability to score that goal.
“We had a long time to get back into the game and we certainly tried. We couldn’t really get much more attacking towards the end of the game with the line-up we had, but it just wouldn’t quite drop and either the final ball in the box or the shots just weren’t quite up to the standard that we wanted.”
Despite the defeat, Town remain top of League One and Hurst is now looking for his players to get that winning feeling back next weekend in the FA Cup.
“Fair-play to them in terms of how they defended”, said Hurst.
“They got men behind the ball and put bodies on the line, which is what we’ve done at times, certainly last season when we were fighting at the other end of the table.
“I’m proud of the players. There’s no inquest after the game or crisis meetings. We’ve just got to dust ourselves down.
“It’s frustrating that we haven’t got a league game next weekend or Tuesday night to try and get back to winning ways, but it is what it is and Aldershot is the next game to be right for because they are a decent side.”