Magnanimous Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers today saluted the super Shrewsbury Town giant-killers who stunned his Premier League side.

Town created a majorCarling Cup second round shock and defeated top flight opposition for the first time in more than eight years as they swept past Swansea 3-1 on a thrilling night at the Greenhous Meadow.

It helped Shrewsbury into the third round for the first time since 1993/4, and Rodgers took time to heap praise on the League Two hosts.

“Big congratulations to Shrewsbury because they were the better team,” said Rodgers, who made a point of shaking hands with every Town player at the full time whistle.

“They tried to pass the ball and they condensed the play, dropped off into a block and made it difficult for us to find the space.

“When they had the chance to counter, they took the opportunity.

“They have got good players. I worked with Lionel Ainsworth (at Watford) who is a talent on the outside with good ability,

“I know Marvin Morgan has got qualities from his time at Aldershot and can make it difficult.

“The two midfield players (Sean McAllister)and Nicky Wroe) wanted to play and the boy Mark Wright probably should be playing at a higher level. I was very impressed by them..”

Rodgers – who has links with Shrewsbury with his wife Susan being born in the county town while former Town ace Mike Kearney is his father-in-law – had no complaints about the result.

“It’s a beautiful stadium and the pitch was perfect for football,” he added.

“I said to the players before the game, there will be a big team that will be put of the tournament and it will be the team whose attitude wasn’t right and ours wasn’t right.

“I can stand here and make excuses and say we are glad to be out of the tournament but. I’m not because I wanted to do well in it.”