Shrewsbury Town 1 Millwall 2 - Report and pictures

Dispirited Shrewsbury Town fell to a fourth straight loss as Paul Hurst’s side’s poor form continued and relegation fears heightened.

Millwall’s 2-1 Greenhous Meadow success left Salop without a win in six and facing a daunting final five games of the League One season to keep survival hopes alive.

A goal in each half from defenders Byron Webster and Shaun Hutchinson rendered Shaun Whalley’s 90th minute goal a mere consolation.

Hurst dropped Tyler Roberts and Louis Dodds to the bench for the visit of the Lions, whose victory over Scunthorpe ended a run of five games without a win.

In their place were Freddie Ladapo and Stefan Payne - the latter starting for just the fourth time in blue and amber.

Bryn Morris replaced the suspended Ryan Yates in midfield.

Town would’ve been boosted by the lack of top scorer Lee Gregory in the visiting line-up, the 15-goal man missed out alongside first-choice keeper Jordan Archer.

Salop’s untimely run of five league games without a win had them back in the drop zone for the first time since January.

Analysis

Morison, a former Welsh international, flashed an early warning towards the Salop Leisure Stand goal as his crisp volley rose over Jayson Leutwiler’s angle.

But Shrews, buoyed on by their encouraging support on a brisk picturesque evening, edged into the ascendency.

Shaun Whalley wasted a promising opening 10 minutes into, nipped onto a fine Bryn Morris cross but sent a header over the top. Salop haven’t been creating chances by the bucket-load recently and that was a decent one.

Ladapo then broke from midfield but sent his long-range strike well over and into the Millwall contingent.

Little midfielder Ben Thompson was putting himself about much to the Meadow’s dislike, a couple of challenges had him seemingly one more away from a caution before he found himself writhing in agony on the wrong side of 50-50 with Whalley.

There was little in the contest and an opener was looking unlikely but the visitors managed to conjure something out of almost thin air with 10 minutes of the first period remaining.

A long free-kick was punted forward from midfield where Gregory was able to help it on towards defender Byron Webster, who managed to ghost in behind Junior Brown and Mat Sadler to send a finish of strikers’ quality beyond Leutwiler and into the bottom corner.

Most telling was the atmosphere around Greenhous Meadow, which seemed to plummet at the sign of the opener, Town fans weren’t inspired by what they were witnessing.

To make matters worse Joe Riley hobbled off with an injury as the goal was being celebrated and Jack Grimmer was sent on in his place.

Alex Rodman let fly from 30 yards just before the break in Town’s only other attempt on the Millwall goal.

Hurst was left with much to ponder at the break, namely when he rolls the dice to add the likes of Dodds and Roberts to the encounter, having already deployed Grimmer.

Payne’s first input was to test King for the first time 30 seconds into the second period with a sharp turn but weak finish that lacked emphasis.

Salop kept up the positive spring in their step and on 50 minutes everyone held their heads as somehow Mahlon Romeo scooped over from under his own crossbar after Whalley’s cross - if ever your luck was out…

Toto Nsiala nodded the resulting corner wide as Town built a head of steam. Controversy followed, Rodman jinked past a defender in the box before going down over a trailing leg - Shrews scream penalty, referee Mark Haywood books Rodman for simulation.

But that head of steam died down as frustration again rose with ponderous Town lacking urgency to attack.

Shrews were unable to profit from a King fumble midway through the half, Rodman’s cross to Sadler was blocked as the visitors survived and Hurst opted for Roberts from the bench.

As sub Roberts hobbled off to a sorry sight for Stephen Humphrys, Millwall doubled their advantage.

A Shane Ferguson free-kick was headed clear by Nsiala, leaving Leutwiler poleaxed on the deck, the ball was recycled and prodded in by Shaun Hutchinson. Referee Haywood was unmoved, Town facing facing the trapdoor.

They barely survived a comical roll out from Leutwiler as Junior Brown was arguing with the assistant as the Meadow looked on in disbelief.

Whalley lacked composure volleying Stephen Humphrys’ ball as Shrews looked inconsolable all over the park.

The winger’s 90th minute consolation, an error from King following good Humphrys work, came too little too late.