Micky Mellon proud of his players after FA Cup exit
Proud Micky Mellon insisted Shrewsbury Town's players can walk away with their heads held high despite their FA Cup exit to Manchester United.
Town lost 3-0 in the fifth-round tie after first-half goals from Chris Smalling and Juan Mata were followed up by one from Jesse Lingard just after the hour.
Salop didn't threaten until United were reduced to 10 men when Will Keane went off injured when they had used all three substitutes.
Abu Ogogo saw a shot cleared off the line and headed wide with the goal at his mercy, while substitute Larnell Cole fired narrowly over at the death.
The defeat left boss Mellon saluting the efforts of his players.
"The players can walk away with their heads held high because they gave us everything they had," he said.
"I'm determined I'm not going to be anyway critical of the players because we came up against some fantastic quality."
But Mellon admitted he was disappointed Shrewsbury didn't give the fans a goal to savour against the 11-times FA Cup winners.
"That was probably what we were disappointed about, that we never gave the fans a goal to cheer," he said.
"We'll be disappointed when we have seen the opportunities back that we didn't score."
United were dominant and in control from the first whistle however and Mellon was hugely impressed with Louis van Gaal's side.
"You've got to congratulate Manchester United on a superb display," he said.
"You see players of that quality getting free kicks around the area you always know you're going to be in trouble. Mata has that quality Mata to bend it in."
Van Gaal praised a "fantastic" United performance.
"Everybody shall say that because it is against Shrewsbury Town, Manchester United has to win but we have seen very difficult results in the FA Cup, when not always the top team wins.
"So I think we have done it fantastically and I have congratulated my players."
Ogogo admitted he was disappointed Town didn't do better.
"I think we gave them too much respect in the first half."
And the former Arsenal scholar explained what happened with his chances.
"Morgan Schneiderlin just got a touch on my shot to deflect it, and then for the header, I couldn't see because of the glare of the lights, even though my contact on it was probably too good."
