Sam Ricketts: Shrewsbury Town players have set a new standard

Town put in one of the best performances of the season to take a deserved point from the Stadium of Light, where they were watched by their biggest ever Football League crowd, of 33,288.

Luke Waterfall's early header put Ricketts' team ahead before Josh Maja equalised on the stroke of half-time.

Salop defended manfully in the second period but Steve Arnold did not have a save to make. Blue and amber shirts flung in front of crosses and shots while Town were always lively on the break and could've won it.

Ricketts, whose side have the worst away record in the league, lined his team up in a more unfamiliar 4-3-3, with Lenell John-Lewis on the the left, the recalled Alex Gilliead on the right and Josh Laurent in attack.

The boss was delighted how it worked out: "I'm delighted with the performance, I asked the players to carry out a gameplan, tried to make it as clear as I could for them, and they were outstanding in carrying it out.

"We've deservedly come away with a draw, I think we had chances to score two or three more which I don't think would have flattered us at times.

"You are going to have to come here and defend, throw your body on the line, block shots, but that's football.

"I said to the players with all due respect if you want to go and win every week play Sunday League football."

After matching the Black Cats, who are still unbeaten at home, Ricketts says his players have set the precedent for the performance level.

He added: "We had bodies on the line, I spoke to the players after and said well done for carrying out the plan we requested and their outstanding discipline in doing so.

"And secondly they've set a standard for themselves now, they've showed everyone what they're capable of.

"Now it's just a question of consistently doing it."

Maja's equaliser on half-time was Sunderland's only shot on target. Goalkeeper Arnold did not have a save to make despite the heavy pressure, particularly late on.

Town players were riddled with cramp but powered on as they blocked shot after cross.

Ricketts said of the Sunderland strike: "I was frustrated, I wanted to get through to half-time. You have to accept they've got players with an abundance of ability.

"You could take one of their players and it would cover our whole squad's wages.

"I thought the players were excellent. It's so pleasing having them work so hard for themselves and their team-mates.

"If they went past one there's a team-mate to put a tackle in. We weren't just coming to defend, we were breaking into gaps and spaces and unfortunately we couldn't convert one of those into the second goal."