Analysis: Shrewsbury Town defeated, but not deflated

And now, for the first time this season, we can look forward to how this sensational, table-topping Shrewsbury Town team will respond to a setback.

A defeat had to come. Paul Hurst’s men did not quite have the staying power to match Arsene Wenger’s invincibles of a bygone era. But make no mistake about it – this will not be the start of a downward spiral for Town.

The 1-0 defeat at London Road, courtesy of that early Maddison pearler, halted Town in their tracks just one game before the visitors could equal the club record 16th unbeaten Football League clash – and in a week that boss Paul Hurst marked his first year in the job.

While Town’s ranks were deflated as the final whistle pierced the ABAX Stadium, there was also a telling sign of yet more togetherness growing in the Shrewsbury group – you win together, you lose together.

That could be sensed too in the boisterous away following, another good number of 622 Town fans were almost louder than their 5,000 Posh counterparts come full-time.

The supporters, marvelling that their beaten charges still sat top of the league, appreciate the thrills of this incredible season and are not about to down tools after one defeat. One narrow loss, where a sensational, goal-of-the-season contender finally chalked up a ‘one’ in Town’s loss column.

While Town were far from their thrilling best of this season, they showed enough passion, desire and drive to try and break down a resolute home defence.

It was not their day. The final moment would not click, but the setback can and will make Town stronger. There was an appreciation between fans and players after the final whistle. Indeed, many supporters announced on social media that they felt more confident at a remarkable promotion push after the defeat.

‘If that’s what it takes to beat us, then I’m more confident than before’, was the message.

They are hardly wrong. Far from parking the bus, Peterborough – a team not shy of spending or promotion aspirations – had to dig in and defend for their lives.

The hosts were all hands to the pump and on another day one of Town’s late attacks would have yielded an equaliser.

On another day they would have taken something from London Road, a point at least. They were beaten but by no means out-played.

Town had to do it the hard way if they were to equal the record set by 1994’s title-winning heroes.

The gut-wrenching injury news to Junior Brown in the week was a body blow. That was further impacted by the surprise omission of Mat Sadler, who awoke with an illness on Saturday morning. Two of a settled back four dropped out. Not ideal preparation.

Omar Beckles and Joe Riley did stellar jobs. You sense that Riley, filling for long-term absentee Brown at left-back, could be getting himself used to the left-sided defence berth.

Town were perhaps a little less switched on at the back but that is understandable with the changes. Hurst explained that the game was not lost because of no Brown or Sadler.

There is a possibility, due to the FA Cup this weekend and the potential postponement of the following Saturday’s game with Charlton due to the Addicks’ international commitments, that Town will not play again in the league for three weeks.

It means there could be a long time to stew on a first defeat.

But make no mistake, this squad will return to work today more than ready to banish the ‘new’ feeling of a loss. They will put it behind them and go again.