Gaffer reflects on Cobblers game
Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst felt that it was a point gained as Town drew 1-1 with Northampton Town.
The Cobblers took the lead on the stroke of half-time and Town then went down to 10-men as both Abu Ogogo and John-Joe O’Toole were shown red for a brawl.
“I think we have to be realistic and to have won our last five away games and then get a point and remain unbeaten is not a bad thing”, Paul said.
“Obviously people are making a lot of the fact that we could have gone top with a victory against a team that are at the wrong end of the table, but I knew that they would have a reaction.
“It was a very frantic game, not much time for either team on the ball, a good atmosphere and it was pretty breakneck speed for a lot of the game.
“I always thought we would have a spell on top and I think for quite a lot of the second-half we did that, but the goal just before half-time makes it difficult for us.”
Nolan’s equaliser came just two minutes after the red cards and Paul was pleased for the Liverpudlian.
“It was a superb strike”, said Hurst.
“I think he showed his quality as the game wore on. I certainly don’t think we deserved to get beat tonight, but when you are a goal behind you are never too sure and we’ve got to try to get back to not giving ourselves a more difficult scenario in the game like we have in the last two away games.”
The incident involving Ogogo took place off the ball and Paul gave his view on the incident.
“The first I heard of it was the fourth official saying ‘behind you, behind you’ to the referee and obviously he’s seen that two players are on the floor and both sets of players trying to get involved - some to make the situation worse, some to resolve the situation”, Hurst explained.
“I’ve had a look back from some wide angle footage and it’s hard to see exactly what happens. All I would say is that Abs is in the box waiting for a cross, O’Toole comes back from some distance and you can see that he makes contact with Abs. Then there’s some more contact and it seems as though he won’t let go of him and eventually there’s a reaction.
“I’m sure I will get some other footage to make a better call on it. It’s difficult to say too much and to have a real go at my own player because if someone won’t let go then eventually you are going to try and get them off you, but I will remain judgement entirely until I see some better footage.”