Shropshire Star

Omar Beckles satisfied with Shrewsbury Town defensive display

Published

Defender Omar Beckles was content with Shrewsbury's defensive display after hosts Peterborough edged a 1-0 victory yesterday.

Summer signing Beckles, in for the ill Mat Sadler, put in a strong defensive showing alongside Toto Nsiala but could not help leaders Town make it a record-equalling 16-game unbeaten run.

The ABAX Stadium clash was just the ex-Accrington man's second league start for Paul Hurst's Shrewsbury. The towering defender has been biding his time behind the in-form Sadler and Nsiala.

But Beckles, who earned plaudits from his boss after the defeat, was pleased with the manner in how his side succumbed to their first defeat.

"It's bitter. We don't want to lose full stop, let alone the run that we've had," said the 26-year-old.

"We wanted to try and make a bit of history and continue building on that run. It's a shame to run but I feel like we did it in the manner that we would to - going down with a fight and leaving nothing in the tank.

"The boys did all they could do the get the result.

"It was a wondergoal. You never really get goals like that flying in. They sat back and made it hard for us."

Beckles was part of two changes to the visitors' defensive, with Joe Riley switching to the unnatural position of left-back to cover for Junior Brown – who will miss the rest of the season after injuring his cruciate ligament.

The centre-back added: "I felt like we coped well. Towards the end we looked a bit exposed going for the goal but first-half we kept them at bay other than the wonder strike.

"We started well in the second-half. When you're going forward they're going to go on the counter but I felt like we did against that attacking team.

"Hopefully we can build on that because defensively it was alright, it was a good game."

Boss Hurst maintained his side were heading in the right direction despite finally relinquishing their remarkable unbeaten run.

He said: "We're on the right track.

"There'll be lots more challenges ahead and while we hold that top position or even close to it, teams are going to try and find that extra bit of effort and drive to beat you. Today was not quite meant to be.

"I'm sure we'll get a mention in terms of losing our record. If you want to keep calling a start, it's fantastic. Even in defeat we showed and made Peterborough have to work for that, let's be honest.

"The fans have come in their numbers, the away following must be up, the home following is certainly up. I'd like to think although they've seen a defeat today they'll want to keep coming to watch that team.

"They're a big part of it."