Shrewsbury Town goal ace James Collins hailed by boss
Shrewsbury Town manager Graham Turner today hailed the impact of man-of- the-moment James Collins – as Mark Wright revealed his satisfaction in silencing the Bristol Rovers boo-boys.
Shrewsbury Town manager Graham Turner today hailed the impact of man-of- the-moment James Collins – as Mark Wright revealed his satisfaction in silencing the Bristol Rovers boo-boys.
Collins struck in the 86th minute to earn Town a one-goal home victory over Rovers last night, as Turner’s men claimed three precious points in the ever-tightening race for automatic promotion from League Two.
Just two points separate the top six clubs and Turner is happy with the input of Collins, after the 21-year-old took his season’s tally to 10 with his third goal in four games.
The Town boss said: “James set his standard against Southend when he was up front on his own, worked his socks off, got hold of the ball and got the goal he deserved.
“Since that, he had one at Hereford and one again last night, which was a great strike. He’s working hard for the side and always looks capable of getting into goal-scoring positions.”
A vital victory for Shrewsbury was of special significance to winger Wright, who was subjected to jeers every time he touched the ball from the 449 travelling Rovers fans.
Wright, who turns 30 in nine days time, spent 18 months with the Pirates before leaving for Shrewsbury last January.
“I thought we were the better team over the 90 minutes, it was a case of keeping composed and the goal and chances would come.
“I was always going to get stick and I’m just glad to get the three points and get one over my former teams.
“It probably helps a bit because you just want to prove them wrong.
“We have won the game and that’s the way to shut them up, but it’s about us getting the points and we came up trumps.”
Promotion specialist Wright has twice been part of a side elevated from League Two with Walsall and Milton Keynes Dons, but admits this season’s quest could be tighter.
He said: “It’s going down to the wire and who can keep their nerve. When I have been promoted before, it’s usually been by April.
“But I think this season will go all the way because there are a lot of teams who are close together in the top six and nobody seems to be dropping points.”
Comments for: "Shrewsbury Town goal ace James Collins hailed by boss"
steve Oxfordshire
This is a blueprint match for the kind of grit and determination that will separate the winners from the also rans.
We clearly showed more initiative and guts is this one compared to the Torquay match although both were close.
The Rovers manager has said that we were the best he's seen this season and our home form has certainly so far shown that, it's a great record there's no doubt about that.
Looking at the games we've got left and who in there with us i predict Swindon and Crawley to go up automatically and then it's up for grabs with us Cheltenham and probably Torquay now rather than Southend who could end up in the play-offs.
What i liked about this match is that we never gave up and played right to the end...well done lads an all round good gritty performance and another well taken goal from Collins.