Sam Ricketts reflects on a frustrating loss against the league leaders.
Sam Ricketts reflects on Towns frustrating afternoon at Adams Park as Shrewsbury suffer only their fourth league defeat. A goal from Rolando Aarons is the difference to both sides as it sends Wycombe to top of League One.
Town started their first half dominant and the team on top, it was very little that separated the two teams. Sam shared his thoughts with Shrewsweb. “I think we were the better team, especially the first half, coming to a side that haven’t been beaten at home. We completely dominated the first half, but we lacked the bit in the final third, we had enough shots and we just didn’t score.
"We dominated the first half, we had the best chances of the game, second half, Scotty Golbourne’s header, Norburn’s header. Jas had a few decent chances first half too and we just didn’t score. We put them under a bit of pressure. Ultimately, I think we were the far better team. I think if we got a draw, we would’ve still been disappointed.”
For the opening 45 minutes, Town were definitely on the front foot with their fair share of chances that they had. “I’d say for the first half we were, especially away from home you want to start the game well. The first five minutes I thought we were probably even, after ten minutes it was edging our way, 20 minutes in we were on top, 30 we were on top, 40 we were on top too. We just didn’t get that goal in the first half and in the second half naturally we’re going to put them under a bit of pressure, but we had the better chances.
"Scott had a really good chance to put us ahead but then we concede a goal and then Norburn had another really good chance to level the scoreline and get us back in the game. Ultimately, the players are really disappointed because they know how well they played, and the game was there for them as well.” Sam said.
Town conceded from a free kick that was floated into the box by ex-Town man Joe Jacobson that allowed Aarons to break the deadlock. “I don’t think it was a freekick, I think the referee was weak in a number of things today. First of all, you need to win the first contact and if you don’t you need to pick up the second and we didn’t do that. Apart from that, I thought we defended magnificent in the first half, especially in the second half dealing with their threat. They probably dealt better with Akinfenwa than anyone else has this year. A point I still would’ve been disappointed and to come away with nothing is hard to take.”
Defender Ro-Shaun Williams saw red after picking up his second yellow card in the space of ten minutes after lashing out at Akinfenwa. “I think the referee backed himself into a corner, I think he didn’t really have control of the game and in the end, he ended up sending Ro-Shaun off for nothing really. I don’t think the first one was a booking really and the second one, possibly, but I’m not so sure.”
Today’s host went top of League One after securing all three points against Town. “I thought first half we more or less controlled the game. It was the best 45 minutes because it was collective, and especially coming away. We were knocking at the door of their goal, but we lacked that bit of final quality in front of their goal.”
“If we weren’t having chances then it wouldn’t be a problem, but we are having chances. We could possibly hit the target a little bit more. If you don’t hit the target, then you don’t score a goal. We’re not a million miles away.” Sam said.