Shrewsbury Town survival bid boosted by new arrivals
When involved in a promotion hunt or fighting for safety, at this point in the season you want all eyes on the ball – but there are a few exceptions.
Toto Nsiala, Gary Deegan and Louis Dodds would all be forgiven for a lack of sleep or a day away from Greenhous Meadow with their partners having given birth or, in Dodds' case, due to this week.
Paul Hurst, who has two children, was keen to single out Nsiala and Deegan for praise after demanding games against Millwall and Rochdale.
Their commitment to the Shrewsbury Town cause cannot be questioned. Nsiala played against Millwall hours after becoming a father for the first time.
And midfielder Deegan attended training on the day his partner gave birth and played 90 minutes despite spending part of Saturday at the hospital.
Top scorer Dodds is the next in the line to celebrate a new arrival. The attacker ran himself into the ground against Rochdale.
Hurst said: "Toto was very emotional on the Tuesday and Deeg's partner had given birth on Friday and the next minute he'd turned up to training when we weren't expecting him.
"Credit to them. They want to be here and don't want to let their team-mates and the club down.
"It might seem a little thing but, trust me, it's not. People that've become parents out there will, I'm sure, understand that.
"Deegs was out on his feet at the end of the Rochdale game and I'd say he'd have slept on the night but he better get used to no sleep for a little while I think!
"I don't know what it is about this team...we've got another one coming shortly with Doddsy!
"Deegs was feeling it, he was late into the game because his little one had a test and he was shattered at the end – you could see it.
"But what he's good at is putting himself in positions because he's a little more wiser than the other lads out there."
Nsiala admitted to catching up with sleep ahead of Rochdale's visit, while he interestingly added the new-born allowed him to be in a more relaxed mood.
Either way, the news further embodied the positive vibe and vibrant atmosphere around the Meadow, despite the recent dip in form before Saturday.
"We watched them train on Friday and there's no way in a million years anyone that would've watched would say 'that team's in the bottom four', 'they're low on confidence' or 'team spirit's gone'," Hurst added.
"They were nice and bubbly. Maybe there's the odd critic that says it shouldn't be like that, but for me it should. There's no point sulking or being too down. You've got to get on with your job."
