Our young inspirational reporter and massive Shrewsbury Town fan Corbin gives us his thoughts on our away defeat against Portsmouth.
“My first ever visit to Fratton Park to watch Shrewsbury play against the might of Pompey another ex Premier League ground. A very wet and windy day with Storm Dennis, we were worried as we travelled on the coach down to the game as whether it would go ahead but when we arrived it was raining heavy and a little windy. A pre match meal at the busiest McDonalds m ever was very welcome to get out of the weather and then our walk to the ground in the rain, we walked the wrong way and ended up amongst thousands of home fans who were all very friendly and helped my Dad and me get to the away entrance by which time we were both soaked. Dad stood in a massive puddle and got his feet very wet but I couldn’t stop laughing as his trainers squelched. One advantage of going the wrong way was I did get to pose outside the famous black and white building at the home end entrance.”
“We got to our seats 15 minutes before kick off, Sam Ricketts was looking for an end to our winless run of 2020 and had made changes again Max O’Leary back between the sticks, Sam Hart, Pierre, Ebanks , Williams in and Beckles moved to right back. Edwards, Goss and Laurent in middle with McAleny and Udoh leading the line.”
“For such a big ground and 18,000 fans in the ground it was us 300+ fans from Shrewsbury singing and making all the noise with the help of the drum and me starting some songs off. The game kicked off with us wearing our winless white shirts.”
“It took us around 15 minutes to get going as Pompey hit the front foot first with a scuffed shot but Max saved easy and then a high and wide effort over the bar. McAleny started pulling the strings going forward as he looked most likely to score our first goal with his driving intent his shot was blocked and Laurent on the follow up also had a shot blocked, then from a corner we wasted Pompey counter attacked and Ro Shaun tripped his man on halfway and was shown a yellow card, just two minutes later Ebanks Landell went in the book for another late challenge. Two of our back three were one bad tackle from having an early bath with 70 plus minutes to go, this didn’t faze us as we moved forward. McAleny again with a neat one two with Laurent but his shot saved as it nearly snuck in the corner. Beckles had a header shortly afterwards blocked, we had a free kick right on half time and Goss whipped it in and Ebanks Landell put it wide as the half time whistle went.”
“Our thoughts at half time were upbeat and positive we have arrived at an unbeaten at home Pompey side and matched them stride for stride despite it being 0-0 we felt we had the better of the half.”
“We made a substitution at half time, Ramsey for Hart in a like for like change. We started straight on the front foot forcing a corner and the game began to be disrupted by niggly fouls that the referee started to become whistle happy but then Udoh ran at their defence drawing a foul on edge of the box, Sean Goss stepped up and beat the defence and keeper with a near post effort that hits side netting.”
“McAleny pulling the strings again stings the gloves of the keeper and a minute later Dave Edwards missed with a shot wide, we were very much in this all we needed was a goal. Ebanks Landell with the next chance which went narrowly over but then as in so many games this season we switched off and at the other end a cross from a Pompey sub on the field only 7 mins swings a ball in one of the smaller players on the pitch heads it past O’Leary 1-0 to Pompey on 64 minutes.”
“From this point on our game seemed to go down, we added reinforcements 3 minutes after the goal Lang for Udoh but our best player on the pitch McAleny the one who was our biggest threat and very creative maked way for Cummings. Some fans understandably frustrated with Ricketts for not taking a risk and taking a midfielder or defender off for that extra man in attack but then his tactics have been questioned so much this season.”
“The changes to our front line made little difference as Pompey started dominating we perhaps in chasing the game started leaving pockets of space for Pompey to expose. More chances came for Pompey as they pushed for number two only Beckles with a shot over the bar any real effort we had but then the referee who hadn’t missed much waved away a foul on Goss, the ball forward fell to Marquis and his shot seemed to bobble in front of O’Leary and it was 2-0.”
“It was tough at 1-0 down with our lack of goals but 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go almost impossible, but we never gave up a goal in last part of game could give us at least a point. Callum Lang tried to create a goal himself but the defender clearly shovels the ball away with his arm, we all screamed penalty but it was waved away, Lang the chased after the referee and was booked for his protests. As the game entered injury time Laurent went on one of his marauding runs but his shot was saved in the top left corner by the keeper to keep the score 2-0.”
“The ref blew his whistle and the game was up, our winless run is now 10 league games and our only win of 2020 was against Bristol City in the Cup.”
“We left empty handed but promised much more to many of us its obvious we need a goal getter but sometimes effort gets rewards and for all our huff and puff we didn’t do enough and when half chances fell our way we were just unlucky or not clinical enough. This poor form needs to turn around and for the first time since Christmas we have a good week between league games when we face Doncaster at home next Saturday and quickly followed by another Tuesday night game at home to Tranmere. If we get four points from those two games it will make a lot of us a lot happier than our very long journey home from Portsmouth.”
“My Man Of The Match was Conor McAleny, a forward almost playing as an attacking midfielder but he isn’t sulking and for 67 minutes he was by far our best player, most things went through him, his link up play is really good and he knows where the target is just a shame Rickett’s doesn’t share us fans visions and keep him on pitch longer as defences tire who we face.”
“So now the questions are building with no answers in sight the obvious one is Sam Ricketts the right man to get us out of this? Or does he get yet more time? It’s a difficult decision for our Chairman but for us fans we have to put up with it, for now Sam seems to try and deflect the poor feeling with our form talking about the future but managers are judged on results of here and now and many a manager has lost his job for less. Time will tell but we will follow the Town through thick and thin, whoever is the man directing the ship!”
“Love & Peace, Corbin”
Thanks to Corbin for his thoughts on the game against Portsmouth.
Corbin Davies
“Going Down The Oteley Road”
https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/
Going Down The Oteley Road 