Shrewsbury Town notebook: What we learned from test against West Brom

Quality told - Shrewsbury Town were never expected to dominate Championship side West Brom.

There were positives to take and plenty of lessons to learn, but this was always going to be a valuable experience for Shrewsbury Town as they faced a quality Championship outfit in West Brom.

Salop were not expected to come away with a victory against the Baggies, but the afternoon provided Gavin Cowan’s side with the chance to test themselves against high-level opposition and experience spells of intense pressure.

Here are some notebook thoughts from throughout the afternoon…

Injury returns and absentees

George Lloyd returned to action after suffering a knock during Shrewsbury’s trip to the Isle of Man.

However, Jack Price was missing with an inflamed heel after featuring in last Tuesday’s win over Everton Under-21s, while Jay Snook was also absent after being forced off early in that midweek friendly with a tight hamstring.

Tempers flare!

It may only be pre-season, but the competitive edge was clear as tempers flared between Joe Gbode and Isaac Price during the first half.

Salop boss Gavin Cowan was quickly on hand to step in and separate the pair, ensuring the situation did not escalate any further.

Defending

Cowan had spoken before the game about the opportunity the fixture would provide to work on Shrewsbury’s defensive organisation, with his side likely to spend periods under pressure - and that certainly proved to be the case.

Town spent large spells camped inside their own half, with the majority of possession belonging to the visitors. There were some positive moments, with Will Boyle often on hand to clear his lines, but it was a difficult afternoon against a talented West Brom side.

There were mistakes, but those are the moments Cowan’s team will learn from. As the manager has explained, his players are still adapting to the style and demands he wants from them, particularly in challenging match situations.

The goals

West Brom had created a number of opportunities before eventually making the breakthrough, and it had been coming.

Harry Whitwell produced a superb finish to open the scoring, curling the ball into the top corner after Salop were punished for a loose pass at the back.

The second goal arrived in unfortunate circumstances, with Byron Pendleton slipping as Jimmy-Jay Morgan took advantage and produced an excellent chip to double Albion’s advantage.

Shrewsbury responded well and had moments of their own, with Isaac Fletcher reducing the deficit after being picked out by Tom Sang. It was great to see Fletcher show his instincts inside the box and take the opportunity when it arrived.

A Barrow supporter previously described him as a ‘fox in the box’ following his arrival at Shrewsbury - and that finish showed exactly why.

However, Albion continued to look dangerous and restored their two-goal advantage before the break, with Morgan arriving at the back post to convert.

Diakite went close to adding another, as did Whitwell, with Heggebo heading home a fourth to complete a comfortable victory for the visitors.

Flashes

There were moments throughout the afternoon where Town showed they could threaten their Championship opponents.

Fletcher was a constant threat and took his goal well, while Gbode was involved in some promising build-up play and headed over in the second half.

The forward showed a willingness to run at his opponents, with his bravery, aggression and direct approach earning appreciation from the home supporters.

Those glimpses will be something for Cowan and his players to build on as pre-season continues.