Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury Town 1 Burton Albion 0 - Report and pictures

Shaun Whalley’s penalty helped Shrewsbury Town make it four wins from four against Championship opposition this summer as 10-men Burton Albion fell to defeat.

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The winger’s spot-kick five minutes from time was the difference, but the game will be remembered for a fiery first-half where Marvin Sordell saw red.

Liam Boyce of the Brewers was then stretchered off with an awful looking injury as any momentum the game had picked up tailed off.

The eye-catching call in Hurst’s starting Shrewsbury team was the inclusion of Niall Ennis, the 18-year-old signed on-loan from neighbours Wolves was given a shot straight from the off alongside Carlton Morris.

Town boasted a noticeably strong bench, with the likes of Louis Dodds, Shaun Whalley and Bryn Morris all options from the sidelines.

Visiting Burton named an almost full-strength XI as they warmed up for a second season in the Championship.

And Nigel Clough’s side settled the better, looking dangerous through wing-backs Lloyd Dyer and Lucas Akins. The former delivered a decent cross, touched on by Henderson, before the Manchester United shot-stopper was then out quickly to deny Matt Lund with the rebound.

Town’s first sighter came through Arthur Gnahoua, as the summer signing fired wide left-footed following Jon Nolan’s nice reverse pass.

As a quiet first-half entered its mid-point things began to get heated. Burton were less than impressed with an Abu Ogogo challenge on Sordell near the halfway line.

Five minutes later Sordell let the Town skipper know how he felt about the challenge as he flew into Ogogo, catching him almost knee height. The Shrewsbury man reacted furiously and a 22-man clash ensued.

Local referee Rob Lewis moved quick to flash Sordell a red card. Clough and his backroom staff were livid and seemingly questioning Lewis’ option to not allow the visitors to replace their dismissed striker - as is sometimes the ruling in friendlies.

The red mist was hovering but it was an innocuisious moment that resulted in a sad sight for Burton’s record signing Liam Boyce moments later. He fell under a nothing altercation only to receive heavy treatment before being stretchered off.

Alex Rodman, who has enjoyed a positive pre-season in blue and amber, flashed a low cross across goal as Town put one of just a few intricate moves together in the opening period.

Bryn Morris was sent on for Ogogo at the half-time switch as Burton again emerged with 10 players.

The former Middlesbrough man wasted little time stamping his authority on proceedings, knocking some glorious passes around the pitch, including a superb 60-yard switch to Junior Brown.

Town were showing intent in the final third, struggling for the final ball, but enjoying more of the play than the 10-man visitors.

Clough was adamant his side should’ve had a spot-kick on the hour as Toto Nsiala recovered to challenge Akins for the ball after his slip had let the frontman in. It seemed a realistic shout.

Town went closest yet to threatening the score sheet with 20 minute remaining. With a flurry of subs introduced on the hour mark, Whalley’s corner was met by Lenell John-Lewis at the back post. His header fell to Dodds, who swivels and cracked the post from close range.

With the game petering out, Jake Buxton’s error was pounced upon by Town and Whalley was caught by the defender as he tried to recover.

Whalley stepped up to hammer his penalty down the middle, his second spot-kick goal in a week to edge Town ahead.

The hosts finished with a flurry as John-Lewis found Dodds well but the No.10 sent his finish agonizingly wide of Stephen Bywater’s far post.

Town and Hurst can be very pleased with wrapping their pre-season schedule up with another victory against higher-ranked opposition.

Teams:

Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2):

Henderson; Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler, Brown (Jules, 60); Rodman (Whalley, 60), Ogogo © (B Morris, 45), Nolan (Adams, 78), Gnahoua (James, 60); C Morris (Dodds, 60), Ennis (John-Lewis, 60)

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Shelis

Burton Albion (3-5-2):

Bywater; McFadzean, Buxton, Warnock ©; Akins (Naylor, 78), Murphy (Palmer, 66), Akpan (Mousinho, 60), Lund, Dyer (McCory, 78); Boyce (Sbarra, 45), Sordell

Referee: Rob Lewis

Attendance: 1,676 (81 Burton fans)