Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury analysis: Salop endure rare bad day at office

Wigan, Shrewsbury and Blackburn all drop points – what price would you have got on that ahead of the weekend?

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It was a bad day for the top three, but there are other sides in League One enjoying superb runs of form.

Paul Hurst’s men ran into one of the sides to watch in the final third of the season. Plymouth Argyle were fully deserving of their three points at Montgomery Waters Meadow. Tomorrow’s trip to Fleetwood now can’t come soon enough.

An afternoon that started well, thanks to Carlton Morris’ sixth-minute opener, turned into a rare one of disappointment for Shrews fans in this most enthralling of seasons.

Wigan’s defeat at improving Southend and Blackburn’s 2-2 draw against Oldham meant that Shrewsbury did not relinquish their top two spot.

But the 2-1 defeat also meant Town were unable to take advantage of a rare Wigan defeat – just their fourth of the season and a first since November.

Whether it’s relief that promotion rivals did not gain points or disappointment that Town were unable to take advantage depends on whether you view things with a glass half full, or half empty.

You would imagine for boss Hurst it is a bit of both.

Plymouth, clearly on the crest of a wave after one defeat in 11, showed just why they have climbed from the foot of the table into the top half.

James Bolton of Shrewsbury Town and Ryan Taylor of Plymouth Argyle (AMA)

Derek Adams’ men were bold and in the faces of a Town side who have swept aside most this season.

Plymouth’s 4-3-3 contained Town and the Pilgrims won the battle in midfield, while powerful forward Ryan Taylor did a fine job up against Town’s defenders. Hurst admitted his team were slow to second balls and beaten in the air. There are not many times the manager could have accused his men of that this season.

Shrews did not seem to have any answers as, from 20 minutes onwards – when Craig MacGillivray superbly kept out Graham Carey’s penalty – the hosts did not recover from Plymouth’s aggressive display.

Hurst labelled the equaliser ‘a joke’. Town have built their successful season on a rigid defence that has repelled most thrown their way.

But one long punt forward beat both centre-halves – and a central midfielder not known for his scoring prowess, Jamie Ness, easily wandered through and netted with ease.

Hurst demands high standards and that moment fell well below what has come to be expected. Defenders Toto Nsiala and Mat Sadler, so solid all season, got in a mix.

Town, for once this season, were unable to rally after Argyle’s equaliser and the visitors were in the ascendency.

Several players impressed inside the first 25 minutes, including Jon Nolan, Alex Rodman, Max Lowe, Carlton Morris and Nathan Thomas, but faded badly after bright openings.

For Thomas, who tried desperately to force the issue on his home debut, it just would not come off.

The half-time break did little to halt Plymouth’s momentum and their match-winning effort just after the hour was deserved.

Town responded with precious little, Thomas’ header immediately after was as good as it got. There was little support from the stands as Town fans seemed resigned to a rare bad day at the office.

Crucially, those around did not take advantage. After Fleetwood, more form sides in Rotherham and Gillingham come to Shropshire. Brace yourself, the run-in looks a tough one.