Coyne delighted to see Shrewsbury defeat Rochdale

Posted Sunday, November 18, 2018 by PA

Shrewsbury goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne was impressed with the efforts of the players as they beat Rochdale 3-2.

Ollie Norburn scored twice and Fejiri Okenabirhie was also on target as Shrewsbury picked up three points in their first League One match since parting company with manager John Askey earlier this week.

Coyne, the former Wales international goalkeeper, was also in charge of the team when they won at Crewe in midweek in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Coyne said: “It was a bit of a roller-coaster really, just a fantastic result at the end of the day, just to win at home. With a victory on Tuesday, this backs that up as well. It’s just great.

“I’m made up for the lads again. They were superb today, the effort that they put in. The shift, every one of them put in, was different class, so delighted for all of them in there and it’s just nice to get a win at home.”

Norburn fired Shrewsbury in front from the penalty spot after the lively Okenabirhie was brought down by Sam Hart.

Rochdale hit back to take the lead with goals either side of half-time, a composed finish from Brad Inman added to by Jordan Williams.

But Coyne was pleased how Shrewsbury responded to finding themselves behind, with Okenabirhie flicking home a cross from Josh Laurent to equalise before Norburn’s deflected 20 yard shot in the 72nd minute proved the winner.

“We said at half-time, and we said before the game as well, if things aren’t going your way, don’t panic, keep your composure, stick to what we’ve been working on and the way that we set up,” said Coyne.

“A few heads dropped, which is natural when you concede a goal, but after that sort of period we bounced back and we looked like we created a lot of chances.”

The result saw Shrewsbury leapfrog Rochdale in the League One table, with visiting boss Keith Hill believing it was an uncomfortable afternoon for his side defensively.

“We did a lot of things right,” he said.

“Defensively today, I don’t think we were good, we looked uncomfortable, hence the penalty. We always seem to give a penalty away here.

“Then we take control by regaining and retaining the ball. The game went almost end to end. You want the players to take control of that situation when we’re winning the game.”

Hill added: “We do superb to get back into the game, the goal just before half-time, and then Jordan Williams scores, so I’m reasonably happy, but I’m uncomfortable looking at the way that they were getting in behind our full backs.

“That was a big problem today. We just wanted our full backs to be full backs today, but I think we looked uncomfortable.

“We looked very comfortable when we got the ball, when we controlled the game with the ball, but out of possession I think it was a difficult game for my defenders today, very difficult.”