Boss Matt Taylor chatted to the media after watching his Shrewsbury side secure a 3-2 win over Colchester in the FA Cup.
Goals from Dan Udoh, Jordan Shipley and a Connor Hall own-goal saw us secure our place in the hat for the second round.
On what was a day full of positives, both Shipley and Elliot Thorpe made their eagerly anticipated returns from injury.
And Taylor's side went on to secure a deserved win at the Croud Meadow - with Salop more than deserving of their victory.
On the game:
“We started the game really well but conceded from their first attempt on goal.
“What I liked is the players didn’t give in, they didn’t lose belief. They kept going.
“We scored a really good goal to equalise.
“I spoke to the players at half-time, I didn’t feel our decision-making in and around the opposition’s box was at the level it can be.
“Second half the challenge was to go out there and make better decisions and we did that.
“We should have scored more than the three. We’ve had 17 shots and only hit the target six times which isn’t good enough.
“But the aim of the beginning of the day today was to be in the hat for the next round of the cup. Ultimately, we have fulfilled that.
“I’m pleased because we have managed to utilise the squad as well.
“Elliot Thorpe has made his first appearance. Jordan Shipley was brilliant. He has come back in and you’ve seen the energy and quality he brings.
“It was a wonderful pass for him to get in from Tom Flanagan and he has that deft touch.
“I’m pleased we have scored three goals for the first time this season. I’m disappointed in the way we conceded the second goal.
“We shouldn’t have been in that position - the game should have been out of sight.
“But, as I say, we wanted to be in the hat for the next round and we are so I’m pleased.”
On equalising with a corner routine from the training ground:
“It was (from the training ground). I’m pleased that Dan managed to get in. I’ll give Sean Parrish (first-team coach) his dues for that.
“The players have taken on board (those instructions). We’ve worked the ball into a position where we make sure we have an over-load and Dan does what good strikers do and gets across his man.
“We changed the formation slightly today. We’ve ended up playing a different formation again due to personnel – Ryan and Max came on.
“I’m really pleased. We have managed to take our moments in the game today. But I still feel that we should have scored more. I really do. I felt we were so dominant in terms of possession.
“We varied our game today, especially towards the end when you have got a physical threat with Max and Ryan. We did that well.
“In the middle of the pitch, I still feel we can be a little more progressive in the way that we play.
“My challenge to the players now is can we go forwards when we are going sideways? Can we go sideways when we are going backwards?
“But these are all things that as a group we are working on.
“For the players today I am pleased. But you’ve also got to remember that we go again Tuesday here.”
On playing a 3-4-2-1 system:
“You want to make territorial advantage count.
“What we tried to do today was get our players in positions where on the pitch it would be natural for them to receive.
“They all understand what we want out of possession.
“They also understand that it’s hard work to play the way we want to play because you will have to – at times – jump a long way to press people and to press the opposition.
“But what I’m pleased about today is in those moments that came to us – we showed calmness, the third goal the football leading up to it was excellent.
“We have got to keep challenging the players. That is my job. I have to keep challenging them to produce consistent performances.”
On Jordan Shipley returning in a number 10 role:
“He is back ahead of schedule. He has done really well with his rehabilitation.
“I think it speaks volumes about him as a man how hard he has worked to get to this point.
“It was touch and go but I think it was the right decision to put him in.
“He said to me before the game he would score today and low and behold he did.
“He had a hand in the first goal and he managed to get the second goal. I’m really pleased for him with the way he finished it, you see the quality he brings.
“Let's be brutally honest, we have been unlucky with injuries this year with key players being out for long periods of time.
“We are gradually getting to a point where we have a fuller squad. There are still issues with Kieran Phillips, in terms of Brandon (Flemming), George Nurse has got a long-term injury.
“We are hoping to have Morgan Feeney back in the group at the latter part of next week.
“That makes my job a lot more difficult because you’ve then got to pick a team and we’ve got quality in the building so those players who have got the shirt need to keep delivering.
On Elliot Thorpe making his debut:
“Like Jordan, he has fully committed to his rehab. He has worked really hard. We put him in a position today that the fans might not have expected – in that number 10.
“But Elliot, having known him, grew up as a midfielder. He understands that position.
“And we just felt with the threat that was being caused out wide, Tunmise (Sobowale), would give us real one-vs-one dominance.
“I’m pleased that Elliot has got on and made his debut. It’s now a case of preparing for Bolton.
“The supporters were really good today. I hope they have gone home happy because, as I say, the aim at the beginning of the day was to make sure we were in the hat for the next round.”
