Gaffers thoughts after the 0-0 draw away to Oxford United
Sam Ricketts reflects on Town’s hard-earned point today at The Kassam Stadium.
Sam shares his thoughts on his team's performance today. “I thought we were well worth our point today. I thought for the first half we were by far the better team. A few half chances, the keeper didn’t have to make a real save, well there were a couple in there where we had a few opportunities I thought we were outstanding first half against a team that I think are up there with some of the best teams in the league so I'm really pleased.
Second half, at times we’re going have to dig in especially away from home and we did that, and we still had opportunities on the break, so I'm delighted with the performance and happy with a point.”
Max O’Leary didn’t have much to do until the 80th minute mark which shows how well and solid Town have been for the 90 minutes. “We didn’t just come here to defend. You see in the first half letting the defenders have the ball, for me isn’t a defensive thing, we were just waiting and picking our moments of when to go. Like I said, I thought we were outstanding, and we started the game very well and overall it was an excellent performance.”
Town had a couple of chances early in the game. Dave Edwards had his fair share of chances but was unlucky to not find the back of the net. Aaron Pierre had his header cleared off the goal-line too. “That was us pushing and we were the ones pressing and you could hear the home supporters getting frustrated which is always a mark of how well the away team are doing. Like I said, I'm delighted with the performance and I thought we were excellent and we’re happy with a point. I would’ve been delighted with three but happy with one.”
Oxford have been scoring plenty of goals on home soil, however Town managed to keep them out for 90 minutes and take a point off them. “You have to respect them and respect what their threats are and how were going to combat that and I thought we did it really well. They had a few opportunities obviously, and they’re going to like any team does in a game but overall I thought we were the better team.”
Sam made changes to his side today as we saw Fejiri Okenabirhie start the game over Jason Cummings and Sean Goss made his return to League football after suffering an injury. “It’s what each game brings, and different games provide different things. Fey’s had to be patient at times, he’s worked extremely hard and done well and started the odd game, but he’s earned his right to start the game.”
Shrewsbury have had a handful of 0-0's this season, with some of them coming against some big teams with the likes to Rotherham, Lincoln. “There’s not really much more that can be done really. To be honest if we look at the situations we get ourselves into, the number of balls that came into their box in the first 20 minutes, there’s one cleared off the line off a set piece, another good save off a well-worked set piece with Dave Edwards peeling round and the keeper made a good save down to his right hand side so we just need, whether it’s that bit of luck or that bit of quality or that final pass, final shot to up it. I think once we get one, we’ll go on and get two’s and threes.
“A couple of their players spoke to me after the game who I don’t know and said what a good team we are and it’s always a good respect when the home side say things like that. To come away from home to a team that hasn’t lost in so many games and like I said we were the better side and I'm really pleased.” Sam said.
Town have a week to rest and recover as they have no mid-week game. Next Saturday Town host Coventry at The Meadow. “No mid-week game so that’ll be nice. A week to rest and recover but also to do some training as well which will be important, and we’ll get ready for another tough test because Coventry are another excellent side in this league too.”