Analysis: Shrewsbury pay heavy price for the lack of a cutting edge

Both sides battled the elements as Taylor alluded to after the game saying: “The wind had something to do with that, it was blustery.”

But, the wind didn’t help Salop find the back of the net, something which they’ll feel they should have done.

When Taylor Perry found himself through on goal in the 32nd minute, everyone inside Croud Meadows anticipated what was likely to be the opener of the game. But, the midfielder was unable to convert as Lukas Jensen denied him a goal.

There were bound to be some tired legs on the pitch for Salop, after a busy schedule, with the defeat to Lincoln being the fifth game in 15 days. As Taylor said: “A lot of the players out there today have played a lot of minutes.”

The Town boss is looking forward to a week ahead with no interruptions as Shrewsbury prepare to face Fleetwood Town on Saturday, and will hope for his side to bounce back from the home defeat and test the opposition goalkeeper more.

Throughout the game Shrewsbury found themselves in good attacking positions, but missed the killer pass and struggled in the final-third.

“We can’t create the chances we created today, one on one’s and make the wrong decisions,” said Taylor. Ultimately being wasteful in front of goal cost Shrewsbury at the weekend. Perry looked to test the away side first, but fired high and wide in the 12th minute, and this foreshadowed what was to come.

Imps forward Reeco Hackett followed by doing the same for the away side - in what was Lincoln’s only real opportunity of the first-half – before Ryan Bowman and Daniel Udoh were also off-target.

The home side dominated possession in the first 45, and worked hard pressing their opponents to regain it when the ball was lost. Carl Winchester and Perry linked-up on the right-side numerous times, while Tom Bayliss’ genius back-heel nearly led to a Salop goal.

Taylor said: “In those situations I’d expect us to be braver. Lincoln sat off us and allowed us to play in the first half, but the second half was completely different.”

Chey Dunkley led by example with his tackles sliding in to regain possession, and Nohan Kenneh was busy and involved heavily in play. The midfielder won the ball on several occasions and battled hard in the middle, before falling victim to Taylor’s side needing attacking players on the pitch after they went behind, and so was substituted.

Joe Anderson scuppered Tyler Walker’s opportunity for Lincoln, showing great defensive play and composure at the back.

“We didn’t get going,” said Matt Taylor about his side’s second-half performance. Lincoln City enjoying a better second half than the first.

Marko Marosi was solid and acted as a brick-wall when he called into action, denying Ethan Hamilton with a diving save ten minutes into the second-half.

And, the Salop fans were thankful for his actions once again in the 72nd minute when Lasse Sorensen found himself through on goal. Joe Anderson’s slip gifted the Lincoln City wing-back a chance to give his side the lead, but Marosi denied him and the Imps.

At the other end of the pitch Udoh created space and could be seen moving in-behind frequently as the forward man tried to create opportunities. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old found himself with the ball at his feet in wider positions after finding no luck or way through in the middle.

It was a quiet half attacking wise for Salop and for the match-winner on the opening day of the season Ryan Bowman who found himself isolated and didn’t feature on the ball in abundance.

Town looked to find an equaliser late-on as they were willed on by the fantastic home-support, but their 88th-minute corner found only Jensen’s gloves, which summed up the second-half display.

Captain Chey Dunkley came closest when his header into the floor was held by the opposition goalkeeper and defensive partner Morgan Feeney’s shot in the dying embers was deflected into the safe hands of Jensen.

Salop were unable to find their goal, as Lincoln found theirs as a result of a defensive error. As Town boss Matt Taylor pointed towards, one error cost his side dearly in the end.

Unable to clear the ball, Hamilton inflicted the blow on the home side from inside the box and the first home loss of the season on Shrewsbury.