Boss’ frustration at ‘blatant foul’ and Shrewsbury Town penalty appeal

Gavin Cowan bemoaned a series of moments “not going our way” as Shrewsbury Town’s difficult start to the season continued.

Town suffered a fourth defeat in their opening five League Two games at Fleetwood Town on Saturday, with both Fleetwood goals coming after contentious moments.

The hosts opened the scoring after goalkeeper Will Brook was penalised for holding onto the ball for too long, allowing Fleetwood to win a corner from which they took the lead.

Cowan was frustrated, though, after what he described as a “blatant foul” on Josh Davison as the striker challenged for the resulting ball into the box.

The Town boss was animated again in the second half when Arkell Jude-Boyd went down inside the area following a challenge from behind as his side sought a way back into the contest.

“It’s hard, because if I say what I want to say, then I’m probably getting more than a slap on the wrist,” Cowan said when asked about the penalty appeal.

“But I just wonder and I question if a player drives into the box and he’s tackled, so there’s contact and the lad doesn’t touch the ball. In my world, the rules now are so all over the place, that constitutes a penalty.

“He doesn’t just brush against him, there’s clear contact. If he tackles him, that’s fine, but it’s either a goal kick or a penalty.

“And if he makes contact with Arkell, then it’s a penalty. But again, at the moment, it’s just not going our way.”

Shrewsbury conceded late in both halves to suffer defeat at Highbury Stadium.

Brook was helpless for Fleetwood’s second, with the shot taking a significant deflection after Luca Hoole was beaten on the byline.

“The longer the game goes on, from a mentality perspective, the lads have got to try and stay resilient,” Cowan added.

“I think Luca needs to do better in the corner. Ched Evans just kicks it against his knee - Luca tackles him, it comes off his knee, it comes through and they pull it back.

“Then not only that, Will’s probably set to save the shot if it’s a clean shot and it scuffs it into the ground. That is just the way it’s going at the moment.”