Shropshire Star

Paul Hurst pleased to see Shrewsbury win without skipper Abu Ogogo

Paul Hurst was delighted as his Shrewsbury side silenced the doubters that said they could not secure a win without skipper Abu Ogogo.

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Town returned to the top of League One with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon without their suspended captain and his injured midfield partner Ben Godfrey.

Top scorer Stefan Payne struck the game’s only goal in the second period as Town held on but were reduced to 10 men late on as Bryn Morris was shown a second yellow card.

Hurst knew that the victory without inspirational skipper Ogogo will boost morale and stop doubts creeping into the minds of his players.

“I’d read the press reports going into the game saying ‘we don’t win when he’s not in the team’,” said the Town boss.

“I spoke on Friday with the players before we showed them the Wimbledon video. It was like when we got to Wembley, I knew if we didn’t beat Walsall, then rightly or wrongly you were all going to say ‘you’ve got to Wembley, is that on your mind?’

“On Saturday it would have been ‘you’ve lost, Abs is out of the team’.

“Ben has obviously been a big loss for us as well.

“But it’s pleasing for me that I can turn around and say ‘no – we’ve won’. If not then questions are asked.

“I accept you’re only reporting what you see and what has happened but that can seep into the players’ minds. And they might think ‘we’re not going to win games because certain players are missing’.

“It’s great for everyone.”

Hurst reflected on the ‘amazing’ scenario as his lost Morris to a one-game suspension, the third central midfielder to become unavailable in three games.

“I’m going to have to come up with something (for Friday at Rochdale),” he added. “It’s quite amazing to be in this situation.

“You look at it in January and think ‘another out and out midfielder?’ But Bryn’s had to be extremely patient to get an opportunity because of the form of the other three.

“If we’d have added another one to the mix is that too many and a waste of finance? But I feel for Bryn having waited his time, looks like he’s going to get a run of games and now missing one.

“Some thinking to do before Friday.”