Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury Town 1 Blackburn Rovers 1 - Report and pictures

Shrewsbury Town remained clear at the top of League One as they extended their unbeaten run to nine games with a 1-1 draw against Blackburn, writes Lewis Cox at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

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The highest home crowd in more than two years saw Town push the heavily backed and promotion favourites Blackburn all the time, leading for most of the second-half only to be pegged back six minutes from time.

The boosted attendance of 8,202 - the best since Town won promotion against Plymouth in 2015 - roared their side home in one of the most memorable games under boss Paul Hurst as Town went nine games unbeaten in the third tier for the first time since 1995.

Despite Rovers equalising late on, Town, riddled with cramp from their outstanding work ethic, pushed and pushed for an even later winner.

But the home crowd were delighted with what they saw, worshipping this phenomenal run and achievement from Hurst and his squad.

Analysis

Joe Riley, who started the previous two games against Southend and Oldham after recovering from his broken leg, dropped out of the reckoning with the returning James Bolton filling in at right-back.

That was the only change from Hurst, who was aiming to guide his side to a fifth straight League One success.

Riley was not in the match day squad, but he was warming up around the Montgomery Waters Meadow pitch before kick-off. He was alongside midfielder Bryn Morris, who was out stretching his legs on the home pitch for the first time since returning from a knee operation.

Rovers were were without the talented Chris Conway or young West Bromwich Albion youngster Rakeem Harper, who is in on loan.

Town would equal a 22-year third tier club record if they avoided defeat against Tony Mowbray’s side. Fred Davies’ Town went on a nine-game unbeaten run in the old Division Two between January and March 1995.

With around 7,500 tickets sold on the eve of the clash against ex-Premier League champions Blackburn, it was clear that the town and county have caught the Hurst and Shrewsbury bug.

The first 10 minutes went like lightning. The tempo matched the buzz in the air created by both supporters and the two sets of players looked dangerous while bursting forward.

Dominic Samuel missed with a header when he should have done much better in the early reaches, but Town were giving as much as they got. Shaun Whalley’s fizzed cross was somehow cleared and skipper Abu Ogogo had a strike blocked before Ben Godfrey fired over.

Despite looking lively as the broke clear of Blackburn’s two-man central midfield line, small errors left the door open for the visitors on occasions.

But Rovers showed some indecisiveness of their own. Ogogo did superbly well to chase a lost cause and send a first-time cross in that defender Elliott Ward almost sent into his own bottom corner following miscommunication.

By the midway point of the opening half all of the momentum was with the hosts, who were playing it around their high-profile visitors at times.

Some eye-catching periods of possession were pulling Blackburn one way and the other, with Ogogo just unable to connect to a surprise cross following some delightful interplay. Whalley then lashed a left-footed effort towards the far corner that was blocked at the final moment.

A high Bradley Dack header down the other end did little to curb the deluge and Shrewsbury went closest yet.

Whalley’s corner was woefully punched up in the air by Raya and the commanding Nsiala reacted better than anyone else. Climbing to head on to the Rovers crossbar.

Smallwood’s header wide was a rare opportunity on goal for the visitors, but Town were comfortably on top in the midfield battle, while the Rovers’ backline looked far from settled whenever faced by Shrewsbury’s attack.

Both sides were shooting towards their own supporters in a fascinating second 45 minutes. Shrewsbury were sent out far earlier than their Lancashire foes, but it was Mowbray’s side that came out the traps the better.

Derrick Williams went within inches of scoring the goal of the season as the left-back’s piledriver flew an inch wide of Henderson’s top corner.

The Meadow breathed a sigh of relief as Henderson comfortably claimed a free-kick from the dangerous Mulgrew.

Moments before Nsiala broke the deadlock, Mat Sadler was caught in possession and lashed out at his team-mates - demanding more from everyone.

Seconds later another chapter of the fairytale was being written, Whalley’s set-piece was not dealt with. Rodman recycled it into the box, Raya made another woeful attempt at clearing his side’s lines - under pressure from Payne and Nsiala - he was nowhere and there was Town’s big Congolese defender to tap home.

And with that the momentum swung firmly the way of the home side. The boosted home crowd, who had provided a stunning backing all afternoon, continued their favourite tune about sitting top of the league.

Town’s work levels shifted up, if possible, yet another gear as they were seemingly fuelled by the passion from the stands.

They were comfortable and, if anything, looked the side to score again. Their flying confidence was summed up by one stunning moment in particular as Nolan and Payne interchanged on the halfway line to swap passes and burst clear. Payne checked inside and his finish was well-saved by Raya.

The Meadow was bouncing. Both Whalley and Rodman passed up decent moments in the box when they looked odds on to shoot.

Rovers rolled the dice with 20 minutes remaining, they sent on all three subs and two were looking dangerous as they combined. Marcus Antonsson crossed well for Chapman who sent his powerful header straight at Henderson.

It felt edgy like a cup tie but the visitors kept going. With six minutes to go they hauled themselves back into it.

In front of a passionate away end, the talented Chapman reached the byline and cut the ball back where Dack was on hand to finish under Henderson. Cue scenes in the away end.

It was a kick in the teeth for the home side, who had Nsiala and the impressive Bolton down with cramp, such was their effort.

The winning run was ended, but the unbeaten lives - deservedly so - to fight on to another day.

This remarkable story continues on to Doncaster on Tuesday night in Yorkshire. With Town leading the pack by three points.

Key moments:

5 - Rovers should lead. Elliott Bennett’s right sided cross finds Dominic Samuel unmarked but can only plant his header a foot wide of the upright.

11 - Abu Ogogo’s strike in the box is blocked before Ben Godfrey lashes over from distance.

21 - Ogogo chases a lost cause, crosses in and Elliott Ward and David Raya mix-up ended with the former almost putting it in his own bottom corner.

24 - Bradley Dack heads over at the far post for Blackburn after climbing above James Bolton.

26 - Shaun Whalley’s left-footed strike is destined for the far corner but is deflected wide.

31 - Crossbar! Toto Nsiala finds the woodwork after Raya’s awful punch doesn’t clear a corner.

35 - Dack does well on the right byline to lift a cross in but Richie Smallwood can’t get enough on a tough header and sends it just wide.

45 - Whalley sends a purely struck strike a foot over from outside the box after his low free-kick is just about cleared at the near post.

51 - Derrick Williams almost scores the goal of his life as his 30-yard piledriver whistle wide.

55 - Henderson catches well from Charlie Mulgrew’s free-kick.

57 - TOWN GOAL!!! Toto Nsiala breaks the deadlock. Whalley’s cross is not dealt with and David Raya gets nowhere near a cross under pressure, leaving Nsiala free to finish from close range.

65 - Payne is so unlucky! Superb break between him and Nolan, checks inside and is denied by Raya.

84 - Blackburn goal. Harry Chapman has been really lively and cuts it back for Dack who fires under Henderson.

Teams:

Shrewsbury Town (4-1-4-1):

Henderson; Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler, Brown; Godfrey (Adams, 92); Whalley (Dodds, 96), Ogogo ©, Nolan; Rodman; Payne (C Morris, 85)

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Beckles, John-Lewis, Gnahoua

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2):

Raya; Caddis, Ward, Mulgrew ©, Williams; Bennett (Antonsson, 71), Evans (Whittingham, 71), Smallwood, Dack; Graham (Chapman, 71), Samuel

Subs not used: Leutwiler, Hart, Downing, Travis

Referee: David Webb

Attendance: 8,202 (1,619 away fans)

Star man - Ben Godfrey

Position in the table - 1st (23 points from nine games)