Steve Cotterill reflects on Town's 2-0 defeat in the Papa John's Trophy.
Shrewsbury Town's Papa John's Trophy journey came to an end with a 2-0 loss to Sky Bet League One high flyers Wigan Athletic. A goal either half saw the Tics progress to the knockout stages.
Steve Cotterill expressed his disappointment at exiting the competition and felt his side's performance was lacklusture.
On the result and performance:
"I'm disappointed really, I wanted to get through to that next round. We had that opportunity tonight, even if we'd have got a draw it'd have gotten us through.
"So I'm disappointed, it was a lacklustre performance, it was a bit like one of those after the Lord's Mayor show. There was a lot of hype involved around the weekend and this game bothered me a little bit.
"I think the boys that normally start didn't reach the levels they normally have done, and for the others it's always difficult when they're thrown back out there to try to get up to speed again.
"And I think that's what we looked tonight, we looked disjointed, and that was probably down to where we are in the context of the week, is what I mean.
"There's a few positives, young Callum got 90 minutes again, I didn't think he let anybody down. It was only 15 or 20 minutes for Charlie but I thought he did Ok."
On Josh Vela returning from injury:
"Obviously I'm pleased for Josh Vela to get 90 minutes under his belt in what was a competitive game, so there are some plusses, Shaun Whalley getting back out on the pitch after that worrying calf injury.
I actually thought as the game went on Josh got a bit stronger and a bit more confident, so I think it was one of them ones where we leave him and just burn him out. So in regards to Josh Vela all good there and no injuries thankfully.
On the response to going 2-0 down
"I just said to the boys that we didn't start playing until we were 2-0 down, I've said that too many times this season.
"We're almost a bit soft, and then we go 2-0 down and we get angry and start playing again.
"Whereas (we should) do that in the first place, and then we don't have to worry about being 2-0 down.
