Paul Hurst hails Joe Riley following heroic Shrewsbury Town return from injury
Returning hero Joe Riley was hailed by his Shrewsbury boss and team-mates after returning from a horror injury to down Checkatrade Trophy holders Coventry City.
Riley's entrance from the bench with 18 minutes remaining at 2-2 was forced following the dismissal of James Bolton, but the right-back ensured it was a winning opening to this year's competition for his side as he found the top corner with a free-kick from 25 yards in the third minute of added time.
It came one day shy of four months since breaking his fibula and spraining ankle ligaments at Oxford, leaving Riley's summer packed with an intense rehabilitation schedule with physio Chris Skitt.
His winner added to goals from Stefan Payne - his third in three games for Paul Hurst's men - and a first competitive Shrews strike for Arthur Gnahoua. Town had been pegged back by the hosts in the second period.
"It's great reward for Joe after his hard work, of course," said Hurst on his match-winner, who celebrated the goal with Town physio Chris Skitt after the duo worked tirelessly in the summer.
"He's worked extremely hard. Since I've been at the club he's one that's been unfortunate with injury.
"We know he can strike a ball. We were joking, I picked the 'E' out it might have hit in the stand but as soon as it left his foot you knew it had a great chance.
"You could tell how happy he was scoring that. The little celebration with Skitty and his team-mates, which I think is important.
"The lads were praising him in the dressing room for that.
"He knows there's still some work to go but that's a little bit of a boost for him. He's got some minutes, but the strike's a bonus."
But Hurst was left somewhat displeased with his team's second-half collapse as he complained about a drop in attitude.
He added: "I'm a bit annoyed with how we performed in the second-half. I think the first-half was fantastic, when we were playing properly we looked head and shoulders above.
"In the second-half we didn't start great. Credit to Coventry on one hand but on the other we've got to be better than that with teams coming out with a little bit more intent and purpose.
"In the end we got what I felt we deserved, from the first-half certainly at least."
