Analysis: Luck deserts Shrewsbury as they run into a spot of bother

The most obvious one is the decision made by referee Charles Breakspear to award Pompey a penalty when the scores were level at 1-1 just before the break.

As a coach, supporter or player, the one thing you do not want to do is concede right before the interval – it changes the whole feel about a game.

But that is exactly what Shrewsbury did here, but there was very little they could do about it.

Carl Winchester was the man penalised for allegedly fouling Kusini Yengi in the box – but replays suggested there was no contact between the players, and it looked a harsh decision.

Yengi threw himself to the ground dramatically and at first glance, it looked like a stonewall penalty. And actually, it was not until several replays later, which were sped up and slowed down, that multiple journalists and media outlets could decide in the press box that there appeared to be no contact.

So what chance has a referee got when he gets one chance to look at it in real time?

Elliott Bennett made one comment post-match about Yengi smiling at him when he accused him of going down too easily, which seems a little like a guilty conscience.

You could argue what does it matter?

The game ended 3-1, and Pompey were comfortable for those last 10 minutes or so.

But actually, Shrewsbury competed well for 77 minutes until Colby Bishop’s third.

And that is where those fine margins come in.

After half-time Salop had two good chances to draw level, and they failed to capitalise on them – and when you play against a team that will be in the Championship next season you get punished.

Which is exactly what happened. The chances went, and the hosts were ruthless with theirs.

It feels like a positive to feel deflated and disappointed leaving Fratton Park, a place where only two sides have won this season, feeling as though you have not got what your performance deserved. But Town gave a good account of themselves on the south coast and things could have been very different had the key moments gone a different way.

When you got to a place like Fratton Park, against the division’s best side, you must start well – and it is safe to say Shrewsbury did the opposite as they were behind inside two minutes.

Connor Shaughnessy’s dangerous cross from the left was put into the danger area, and Chey Dunkley turned it beyond keeper Marko Marosi and into his own net.

The first half-an-hour felt a bit like an exhibition match with neither side doing anything of note, but out of the blue Town were level.

It was a superb team goal as Dan Udoh crossed the ball, and Taylor Perry played it back to Jordan Shipley, who calmly slotted it into the corner on his return from suspension.

Bishop was the man to score the aforementioned penalty, which should never have been given.

He had scored 18 times before a ball was kicked on the south coast, and he made that 19 when he sent Marosi the wrong way as Pompey regained the lead.

John Mousinho’s team are close to securing promotion after a hugely successful season having not lost since January 13 in League One.

They were well tested by Town, who had two great chances to draw level. Firstly, Tom Flanagan headed wide from eight yards out.

But the best opportunity fell to Dan Udoh. He capitalised on a short back pass from Marlon Pack and as he raced through he was denied by Pompey goalkeeper Will Norris.

The home fans were restless inside Fratton Park as they watched their side struggle to create anything of note against a stubborn Shrewsbury team.

But Town were made to pay for not taking their opportunities when Bishop got his second of the afternoon.

Former Town loanee Christian Saydee, who came on as a second-half substitute, was the provider as he lifted the ball over the top for the striker to convert beyond Marosi.

It was not a game anyone would have expected Town to get anything out of, but nonetheless, given the way events unfolded, it could have gone a very different way.