Gavin Cowan hails Shrewsbury ‘mentality’ after hard-fought win at Eastleigh
Substitute Isaac Fletcher netted an 87th-minute winner for the League Two side.
Shrewsbury manager Gavin Cowan described his team’s performance as “really professional” after they beat National League Eastleigh to book their place in the second round of the FA Cup.
The Shrews had been pegged back by Will Randall after George Lloyd’s first-half penalty, before substitute Isaac Fletcher netted an 87th-minute winner.
Cowan said: “Really pleased. These days are always difficult, we spoke a lot in the build-up to this about our mentality and I thought lads were impeccable in their preparation, the way they went about the game and how it was relatively comfortable.
“Then they got the goal, I was really disappointed with that, maybe their only shot on target they’ve had all game, but we can’t leave things to chance.
“We’ve got to be more ruthless, put games like that to bed early, but I’m really pleased with the lads’ attitude, mentality, and I think it goes to show how far the club has come.
“It’s a reflection of how far we’ve come as a team, as a group, the culture and the expectation that we’ve got. It’s another brilliant performance, a really professional performance.”
Eastleigh manager Matt Gray described the defeat to League Two Shrewsbury as “very frustrating”.
He said: “Very frustrating really, I don’t think there was anything in the game, a very close cup tie.
“We work our way really well back into the game and I think we looked the ones in the ascendancy to go and get the winner, but just a poor goal from us not clearing our lines and it allows them to put a ball in the box and, unfortunately, we exit the cup.
“We’ve got some good players, they’ve got some good players, and it was a very toe-to-toe cup tie, but just frustrating really we didn’t come on the right side of it because fine moments have edged their way.
“In the first half there was odd moments for them but it was very even to be honest, and I’m really disappointed with the goal we gave away. Second half I thought we played well and we were on the ascendancy.”