Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst ready for play-offs despite home loss to MK Dons - 7M sport

Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst ready for play-offs despite home loss to MK Dons



Posted Sunday, May 06, 2018 by PA

Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst ready for play-offs despite home loss to MK Dons

Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst insists his side should relish the big occasion as they prepare to face Charlton in the League One play-offs.

Hurst saw his side close their campaign with a 1-0 defeat at home to relegated MK Dons, but the Shrews boss quickly turned his focus to taking on the London club.

“It will be tough,” said Hurst. “It wouldn’t matter who you’re playing, does it? Honestly, I didn’t have a preference. We know that’s what it is now. We’ve beaten each other for whatever that means and counts for.

“We’ll prepare. It looked like it was probably going to be them going into the game and that’s how it’s turned out.”

Shrewsbury won 2-0 at Charlton in February, with Lee Bowyer’s men recently winning the return fixture by the same scoreline, and Hurst expecting a big atmosphere at The Valley.

“For me personally, that’s what you’d want, and that’s what the players have got to rise to,” he added.

“I’m sure there will be a bigger crowd this time, but we went there and put on an excellent performance. That’s what we’ve got to strive for to give us a chance of getting a positive result to bring back here on Sunday.”

Shrewsbury were unable to sign off their League One season with victory as Kieran Agard converted a 63rd-minute penalty after the striker was upended by Aristote Nsiala.

Hurst added: “It was all right in bits but it kind of petered out in general.

“I thought we tried to be more front foot second half. Obviously, there’s some substitutions made that maybe don’t particularly help a bit of momentum, but I’m just glad that, I think, we’ve come through unscathed, that’s important.

“Yes, we would have loved to have got a victory. I wanted to get 90 points, it hasn’t happened, but it’s still been a fantastic season.”

MK Dons interim manager Keith Millen was pleased with his side’s efforts as a tough season ended on a wining note.

Millen said: “Before the game, I was trying to think of some big inspirational team talk to try and motivate the players because they are very down.

“I said to them in the end that let’s forget about the season today and go out there and show some pride in yourselves really and try and win the football game on its own.”

He added: “I thought in difficult conditions because of the heat it could easily have been quite sloppy and a little bit flat, but I thought we were excellent.

“Our game plan, our tactics worked well, and we had a threat up front with some pace and movement.

“We had a little bit of luck at times which maybe we’ve not had before and I think we were very solid.

“It’s a great result today but it doesn’t mask over the season by any means – but at least I can go in there after the game and say well done.

“Hopefully it makes them feel like they can achieve something going forward, so, yes, a good day today, but a poor season.”

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