Paul Hurst pleased to see Shrewsbury go under radar in promotion push

Posted Sunday, March 18, 2018 by PA

Boss Paul Hurst is hoping Shrewsbury continue to go about their push for promotion under the radar as they climbed back into League One’s top two with a 2-1 win at Scunthorpe.

Second-half strikes from Jon Nolan and Stefan Payne cancelled out Josh Morris’ early free-kick for the home side, after which the Shrews manager admitted his surprise at the lack of respect being afforded to his side.

“I drove back to Sheffield the other day listening to the radio. They were talking about midweek games and we didn’t get a mention,” said Hurst.

“I kind of quite like that in a way, although it’s very disrespectful in terms of what this team has done and achieved today.

“We’re just trying to do what we can. It’s already been a fantastic season, regardless of what happens in these 10 remaining games.

“But we’re genuinely trying to hang on in there – we want to do as well as we can.”

Victory at Glanford Park was as much down to Shrewsbury’s ability to cope with the conditions as much as dealing with what Scunthorpe had to throw at them.

Snow made visibility tough in spells and a swirling wind affected the flight of the ball – as Shrews goalkeeper Dean Henderson found to his cost when Morris’ early free-kick dropped under the bar.

Scunthorpe squandered several chances to add to their lead, including Henderson saving a Morris penalty minutes before the break, and were to pay for their profligacy when Nolan slid the ball home in the 51st minute to level and Payne fired in from the penalty spot six minutes later.

“It feels like a big win,” Hurst continued.

“First half we saw plenty of the ball, but didn’t carry enough of a threat. That changed in the second half and we were well in the ascendancy.

“I wondered at the time if the penalty save would prove to be a turning point and that proved to be the case.

“I asked before the game about the chances of it being abandoned because of snow and at half-time, there was some concern.

“Thankfully, from our point of view at least, we got finished just in time because the pitch was really getting covered.”

Scunthorpe boss Graham Alexander admitted life is “harsh” on his side at the moment, on the back of one win in 12.

“We’re doing really good things, but getting punished for the slightest mistake or lack of focus. It’s a harsh world at the moment for us.

“We’re in the top four over the last 15 games for chances created, but we have to find that killer instinct.

“We handled conditions well in the first half and played with a great focus and discipline.

“We should have come in with a more handsome lead but didn’t and the early goal in the second half carried on the frustration at the end of the first half.”