Shrewsbury Town goal hero Mat Sadler pleased to make amends for Cobblers opener

The ex-Birmingham man, who handed the captain's armband back to the returning Abu Ogogo, nodded in a 66th-minute leveller from Shaun Whalley's cross at Sixfields to help earn Paul Hurst's side a crucial point in their battle to stay up.

It cancelled out Marc Richards' opener, the veteran forward taking advantage of acres in the six-yard box to finish comfortably.

"We go again, I was happy to score myself because I felt the first goal I could've done better with, so I was happy to rectify that with a goal," said Sadler.

"We're three points clear of Port Vale ahead of a very, very big game against Southend on Saturday.

"I felt a little bit disappointed with the first goal, especially when we were on top, it just put us on the back foot.

"I think I made a step and came back behind Alex Revell, it was a fantastic ball in and it just needed someone to get something on it."

Hurst expressed his delight at his side's performance, claiming it was a marked improvement on the 1-1 draw at Greenhous Meadow against Walsall on Good Friday.

"Overall, what I would say is that I was extremely happy with the performance," said the Shrewsbury chief.

"We passed the ball well and the improvement was there, we were a lot more relaxed. We played with quite a bit of freedom to us.

"I told them at half-time to keep doing what they were doing and they'd get themselves a goal.

"I think we were on top in the second period even before they went down to 10 men.

"Over the course of the season any point away from home's a good point. We dominated the game but couldn't make the second (goal) fall for us.

"I'd rather have played rubbish and won but I'm extremely pleased with the performance. It's hard to ask too much more."