Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts had been telling Luke Waterfall he was due a goal
Sam Ricketts felt towering defender Luke Waterfall was 'due a goal' before his header that put Shrewsbury ahead at Sunderland.
High-scoring defender Waterfall netted his fourth goal of the season and first since a dramatic double at AFC Wimbledon on November 3 and sent Town fans behind the goal into raptures at the Stadium of Light.
Before scoring on half hour in the 1-1 draw, the centre-half had already passed up a golden opportunity from close-range in the very early stages.
"I don't think I said it to Luke but I said to the staff he's due a goal. He's very good in the air, especially going forward," said Town boss Ricketts.
"So I was delighted for him, it capped off an excellent first 30 minutes.
"We've been really poor away from home recently, early goals have gone against us, so we had a clear strategy for the first 15 minutes.
"Not only did we carry that out, it carried on for 25 or 30, it really nullified their threat and the crowd and we deserved going 1-0 up."
Waterfall felt that Shrewsbury could have been good value for three points had they not conceded the equaliser just before half-time.
He said: "It's always good to score a goal but it was an important one for the team.
"It got us 1-0 up, a foothold in the game and gave us something to hold on to. We're disappointed with the equaliser just before half-time.
"If we could have held on till half-time maybe we could have gone to get all three points."
The defender added: "He (Ricketts) has been saying to me the last few games I'm due a goal. I like to think I'm a threat when I go forward.
"I had half a chance in the first half and another with a scramble at the end, I could've had a couple but it's better when they're on my head!"
"It's pleasing to score but more pleasing to get a good valuable point."
