Mellon’s feeling so much sweeter...
MICKY MELLON was delighted his side laid to rest the ghosts of last week’s Gillingham horror after edging to victory at Oldham.
Josh Law gave the hosts a first-half lead with a neat free-kick, and while Jason Brown levelled with a header before half-time, the Shrews went 3-1 up thanks to an Ivan Toney penalty and a Joe Riley strike.
Though Ousmane Fane was then sent off for Oldham, Lee Erwin rifled one back for the hosts in the closing stages after a corner was not cleared and Freddie Ladapo hit the bar from close range in added time.
After letting slip a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to the Gills, Mellon was glad to have the points in the bag this time.
“Coming into this game after last week was always going to be difficult. You are not human if you don’t carry some anxiety about it,” said the Shrewsbury manager. “The result last week is bound to have gone through their heads.
“It was all about getting a result here and moving on. There was a lot we could have done better, but it was about the result and showing the quality we needed to come to a place like Oldham and get three points.
“We have played much better and lost, but we had to play the conditions which weren’t easy and we got over the line. Maybe we will fight to play entertaining football another day.”
Right-back Law’s 22yard effort opened the scoring and Oldham thought they would get a chance to double the lead, but penalty appeals after Peter Clarke was brought down in the box were waved away.
Riley crossed with his left foot for Brown to deftly flick one in off the crossbar and after Charles Dunne hauled down Toney as a corner kick came in, the Shrews striker picked himself up to net from the spot. Riley fired home inside Ripley’s near post from the right side of the box and Fane was dismissed by referee Andy Haines for a late lunge that brought him a second yellow card, but despite the late drama Shrewsbury saw the game out. “Every decision went against us, but what can you do? I can’t change the decisions, so we just have to get on with it,” said Oldham boss Stephen Robinson.
“We were brave and went 3-4-2 at the end. We were the better team for the whole game and played with a bit more intensity when down to ten men. We showed a lot of drive and passion but decisions change games.
“Referees have the hardest job in the world. But if you are not going to give the first one you can’t give the second one. It’s as simple as that.”