Gaffer looks back on Hammers game
Shrewsbury Town Boss Paul Hurst praised his players for their sterling effort as they eventually came up just short against West Ham United.
Town managed to keep the Premier League opposition out for over 200 minutes over the two game tie, but a late goal from Reece Burke meant it was the hosts that reached the fourth round of the competition.
“I’m very proud”, admitted Paul.
“West Ham put the big guns on to try and get the victory, which eventually they did in the end, but it took a long time to break us down.
“I’m just really disappointed with the goal that’s beat us. It wasn’t as if Lanzini or Arnautovic picked the ball up and bent one in the top corner, it was a nothing goal.
“We didn’t deal with it and then their lads got to it first and even then it’s gone in off the bar, so it’s a bit heart-breaking because you get to penalties and who knows.
“You’d always say that you’d fancy the team with more technical quality, which would be West Ham, but you never know.
“Often when you get beat you do have mixed feeling, especially on a night like tonight, but it was certainly a massive effort from the players and it could have been a different story I think tonight.”
Town did have chances in the game and were unlucky not to at least take it to penalties but it just wasn’t to be their night.
“Stef’s was the big one”, said Paul.
“That was the best chance in normal time by some distance and I think Joe’s just managed to get his leg on it and it just goes wide.
“That was a big opportunity and then Toto’s had a header right at the death, which would probably mean game over because of the time of it.
“Then in extra-time we had a couple of scares and a fantastic clearance from James Bolton and you just think like it’s heading towards penalties, which we had a good night with last week, so you would have been hoping for more of the same.”
3,000 Salopians made the trip to the London Stadium this evening and Paul paid tribute to their support.
“I think it shows that they can compete against very good players in front of a big crowd”, said Hurst.
“It was an absolutely fantastic following and I’m sure some people will be having to book a day off work, if they haven’t already, or be very tired tomorrow, but I hope they have enjoyed the journey, if not the result we were dreaming of.”