Salford pile on misery for Askey
ANGRY Shrewsbury fans led a foul-mouthed tirade against manager John Askey yesterday after National League Salford achieved one of the biggest results in their history.
Supporters chanted ‘Askey Out’ and ‘ **** off Askey’.
The similar-sized budgets of the two rendered the 33 places between the teams as nothing.
Ollie Norburn’s opener for Shrewsbury in the 25th minute was cancelled out within two minutes by Salford captain Adam Rooney.
A report last week claiming Askey was set to be sacked but that compensation had to be agreed was strongly denied by the club’s chief executive Brian Caldwell.
Rooney is said to be on an estimated £4,000 a week – more than Shrewsbury’s top earner on about £2,500, despite being two divisions apart.
Askey believes supporters need to put the result and opposition into context.
“Of the last eight games we’ve won four, drawn one and lost three. Supporters have got to understand Salford are not the normal National League team,” he said.
“I’m not making any excuses, we should have won. People will always make comments but it’s not up to me to judge whether they’re right.”
Salford manager Graham Alexander said: “We want to create memories and this is the highest-ranking opposition we’ve played.
“We can hold our heads quite high after this but it won’t be any easier when we play them again.”
Midfielder Norburn put the Shrews ahead when he controlled a cross from Fejiri Okenabirhie and drilled low through a crowd of players.
Salford hit back when Rooney nodded home Daniel Lloyd’s corner after Daniel Whitehead’s volley was superbly saved at pointblank range by Steve Arnold.
The second-round draw will take place tonight at 7pm live on BBC2.