Shrewsbury Town 2 Cardiff 1 - Report and pictures
Shrewsbury Town made it three Championship victims from three with a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City.
Two second-half goals in the space of 60 seconds from Shaun Whalley and Louis Dodds turned it around for Paul Hurst’s side, whose fine pre-season form continues after wins against Aston Villa and Wolves.
Hurst continued the theme of pre-season so far between the sticks in selecting Manchester United loanee Dean Henderson, with the seemingly settled centre-half pairing of Toto Nsiala and Mat Sadler in front of him.
Jayson Leutwiler was present in the Roland Wycherley Stand after returning to the UK a couple of days ago following his involvement with Canada in the Gold Cup.
The visiting side settled the stronger in the glorious Montgomery Waters Meadow sunshine. Town new-boy James Bolton showed superb awareness to cover his defensive team-mates as Kenneth Zohore was put through on goal.
Zohore then curled over Henderson’s goal for Neil Warnock’s side before Town threatened down the other end as both Alex Rodman and Carlton Morris tested Neil Etheridge with routine efforts.
Nsiala passed up a fine headed opportunity from Shaun Whalley’s delivery before the defended escaped a certain card in competitive football when tugging back a shirt from a high clearance, but got away with a stern ticking off.
Lee Tomlin curled the set-piece narrowly over Henderson’s angle in an opening half hour that was not shy of enthusiasm and goalscoring opportunities.
Zohore was proving a handful and showed his athletic side to roll Sadler well and smash a curling effort just over Henderson’s left angle.
Moments later Town clicked into gear as Jon Nolan freed Louis Dodds down the right flank, last season’s top scorer crossed perfectly for C Morris, but the forward mistimed his diving header.
The Bluebirds had probably edged an entertaining first-half and edged head of the stroke of half-time, Zohore profited over the top, beating Sadler for pace, he eventually helped it into the path of former Town loanee Mendez-Laing to knock into empty net.
Two goals in the space of barely 60 seconds at the start of a lightning second period swung the game in Town’s favour.
Dodds played a cute through ball inside Lee Peltier for Whalley and the pacy winger nipped ahead of marker and was then caught, with Premier League referee Bobby Madley pointing to the spot.
Whalley fired his spot-kick down the throat of Etheridge but the ex-Walsall keeper could only help it into the roof of his own net.
It was Whalley’s first goal of pre-season and he was involved in the action again. The lively C Morris showed fine pace and drive before playing in Town’s winger.
Whalley had a couple of bites at the cherry but the ball eventually fell nicely for Dodds who made no mistake with his calm low finish.
The hosts were barely recognisable from their first-half display and looked good value for their lead.
Further wayward efforts from Whalley, Rodman and C Morris were all examples of Shrewsbury’s confident against higher-ranked opponents.
Rodman’s tail was up. The wide man was giving Cardiff defenders the runaround and, after riding four challenges, was blocked for a corner with 20 minutes remaining.
Junior Brown helped Nsiala’s header onto the bar from the corner with the hosts still on top.
Town eased to 90 minutes without having their lead threatened, with Hurst refusing to making any changes, it is likely the Town bench will be used to take on neighbours AFC Telford United at the New Bucks Head tomorrow night.
