John Askey backs winless Shrewsbury to come good after Bristol Rovers draw

Posted Sunday, September 02, 2018 by PA

John Askey defended his side’s performance despite their winless run continuing after having to settle for a 1-1 draw with 10-man Bristol Rovers.

Visiting defender Daniel Leadbitter turned a Shaun Whalley cross into his own net as Shrewsbury pulled level after Stefan Payne, the striker who joined Rovers from Shrewsbury last month, fired Darrell Clarke’s side in front from the penalty spot.

Rovers were reduced to 10 men in between the goals when left-back Joe Martin, signed on loan from Stevenage earlier in the week, had his debut cut short when he was sent off for two bookable offences.

It was a third draw in six league games for Shrewsbury this season as Askey’s team were unable to convert some promising approach play into a win.

Askey said: “I don’t want to sound like a record, just keep saying the same thing.

“We shouldn’t get ourselves in that position where we give a penalty away. It probably wasn’t a penalty but we should never get ourselves in that position.

“Apart from that, we limited them to very few chances and we’ve played well. We’ve played some attractive football and we need to react better in their box as well.

“Although we’re playing well and we look decent, we’ve still got more work to do to change results.”

Asked if it is a cutting edge Shrewsbury are missing, Askey added: “It is the cutting edge. Whether it’s the final ball or whether it’s somebody making something out of nothing where they react quicker than the defender, we’ve got to do that in the box.

“The majority of our play is very good. You can’t knock the players for the work rate.

“I think they’re working really hard, playing good football, but there’s obviously something that we’re not doing right.”

Rovers had rarely threatened when they took the lead in the 53rd minute, Payne converting a penalty after Ollie Clarke broke into the box and went down under a challenge from Luke Waterfall.

Shrewsbury equalised in the 71st minute as Rovers right-back Leadbitter turned Whalley’s dangerous low cross from the right into his own net.

Rovers boss Clarke said: “We’ve got to use it as a building block. You’re never pleased with a point, but the way we defended at times, we defended our box, we just didn’t defend one ball that came in it.

“Pleased with the effort with the boys. I thought we were disappointing, our first-half performance, if I’m honest with you, we weren’t at it and were giving away the ball too cheaply.

“But we’re digging in and we’re showing that side of things and when things aren’t going great for you at the minute you’ve got to do that.

“We wanted to start the month off with a building block, try and obviously put August behind us, and we got a point and we move on to a big home game next week.”