Sam Ricketts reflects on Town's 1-1 draw with Lincoln City.
Shrewsbury Town welcomed Lincoln City to the Montgomery Waters Meadow this afternoon for another Sky Bet League One fixture.
Sam Ricketts’ men managed to earn a point against The Imps after Ollie Norburn dispatched a first-half penalty for his team.
Town manager Sam Ricketts was pleased with his team’s effort but was disappointed not to have secured all three points. He said: “I asked the players before the game to play with their heart and to give everything they have got – at the end of the game, I couldn’t have asked for any more.
“They really gave everything they had for the performance today. It was real difficult conditions today. It was very windy and the pitch didn’t allow the real slick passing of the ball – that made it hard.
“I thought the players’ attitude and effort was excellent. After going one up, it’s disappointing to give a penalty away like we did to allow them back into the game. We gave every ounce of every that we could but couldn’t get the three points.
“I think we should have had at least one more penalty. The foul on Shaun Whalley, I don’t understand that decision. Just because the referee gave a penalty in the first half, that isn’t a reason to not give another.”
Town’s performance grew during the first-half, and Sam feels half-time nullified the momentum that Town had built up towards the latter stages of the first period. He said: “I thought the longer the half went on, the better we played. We had more confidence and we pinned them in.
“We were really pushing for that second goal, but unfortunately we couldn’t get it. Half-time came and stopped our momentum. The second-half, we had the worst possible start.
“The lads gave everything they had, there was no shortage of effort or determination. Callum Lang came back in today and he was a massive positive. Max made some good saves and we expect him to do that – he’s a good keeper.
“We struggled to break a team down who dropped right back into their half. It was hard to create the space near the two centre-halves. It just didn’t quite fall for us in their box really.
“It wasn’t through lack of effort or desire. The ball just didn’t fall for us. There is n divine right to win these games and Lincoln are a good side. Drawing with them shouldn’t be seen as a bad game but we do want to win these games.”