Shrewsbury Town will this week attempt to draw a line under one of the biggest FA Cup disappointments in their history - as Marc Tierney offered an apology to supporters.
Town found themselves on the wrong end of one of the major shocks of first round weekend when they were dumped out by the part-timers of Blyth Spartans at Croft Park.
See our match photo gallery here
The Blue Square North outfit bridged the 63 places which separate the two teams in the football pyramid with a 3-1 victory.
And left-back Tierney admitted he had major sympathy for the travelling supporters who made the near 500-mile round trip to the north east.
“I feel so sorry for the supporters that have come and paid their money,” said last season’s player of the year. “They shouldn’t be happy with that and we shouldn’t be happy with that.
“It’s heartbreaking for the fans who came up here. They can say whatever they like because that was such a poor performance - they shouldn’t have to watch football like that.
“They come and support the team and to play as we did collectively was poor.
“We have had a good season but this is definitely one of the most disappointing parts. We need to come back stronger, not least for the fans.”
Tierney insisted Town didn’t under-estimate Blyth ahead of the game. “We didn’t take it lightly,” he added. “We did it all properly but on the day we went over that white line, we were just not there.
“It’s possibly the worst feeling I’ve ever had in football and we are under no illusions the performance wasn’t up to scratch.”
Meanwhile, manager Paul Simpson described the defeat as amongst the worst moments of his 26-year career in football.
“It’s one of the lowest points I’ve ever had in the whole of my career and I’m not taking anything away from Blyth Spartans,” he added.
“They thoroughly deserved to win the game - there are absolutely no complaints.
“They raised their game to a level they haven’t done all season and we didn’t deserve to get anything out of the game.
“It was a performance I was actually disgusted with.
“I was embarrassed as a manager when we have had such fantastic support come all this way.”
By James Garrison
5 Comments
too right mate! And it’s not just those who travelled who have suffered because of this result, we’ve all felt the pain.
Report abuse
Forgiven
Report abuse
I can just about accept being dumped out of the FA cup by a much lesser team, the really important thing though is that this result must be consigned to the great bin of history as quickly as possible and for it not to affect league performances. Full marks to Mark for coming out straightaway and apologising and I am sure that the boss is already picking them up, best of luck for the rest of the season…up the town
Report abuse
We feel pretty sorry too. How can a team that plays so well at home crumble so quickly away, not just at Blyth but at other lower opposition’s grounds. Lots of us were looking forward to a good cup run this season to boost our status and finances, but to given the run around by a bunch of gas fitters, plumbers and trainee accountants shows that there really isn’t much difference between the lower pyramid leagues and division 2. It is time these players woke up , and not at 3.30 on Saturday when they are becoming habitually two goals down. We supporters deserve better performance than the timid, weak and apparently couldn’t-care-less attitude of last Saturday’s rubbish display.
Report abuse
all is forgiven please do not leave us needing foregiveness on friday. floreat salopia, that is a big 10/4 and over, roger and out
Report abuse