LEAGUE’S SURPRISE PACKAGE KEEP AT IT
Latics are punished by Nolan
LIFE at the top is still a breeze for Shrewsbury and their manager Paul Hurst, following a hard-fought win at Oldham which takes the surprise package of the division five points clear.
Jon Nolan struck a second-half winner after Latics striker Eoin Doyle, who was sent off in added time for collecting two bookings, had hit the post with the goal gaping.
Oldham, who drop back to the foot of the table, had cancelled out a Stefan Payne opener through Craig Davies’ header.
And despite closing out a seventh win from eight games played, Hurst is focused on maintaining the early-season momentum ahead of Saturday’s big home game against Blackburn Rovers.
“Momentum is a big thing and we have seen teams in the past who got themselves on a good run and were hard to stop,” said Hurst.
“Who knows how far we can go? We know there will be a defeat at some point and probably a drop in results, but we are enjoying it at the moment.
“We’ll just try to keep it going for as long as possible and we know it will be another massive test in our next game against Blackburn.
“We’ve beaten an Oldham side who have been improving and have just had two really good results away from home.
“This was a very hard-fought win and both teams had moments throughout the game when they were the better side.
“It ebbed and flowed and I’m sure Oldham are wondering how they didn’t score when Doyle hit the post, but all credit to the players for digging in.
“Craig Davies was a handful for Oldham and will give a lot of defences a hard game, but it’s a superb away win.”
Payne converted from close range after Joe Riley’s cross was only palmed out towards his path by Oldham goalkeeper Jack Ruddy. As George Edmundson tried to clear the danger, five-goal ex-Dover man Payne bundled in and appeared to suffer a broken nose in the process.
Oldham levelled when a sweeping move ended with Gevaro Nepomuceno crossing for Davies
to power in a header at the near post for his fourth goal in as many outings.
John Sheridan’s side took control and Doyle, who was initially booked for a dive and picked up a second yellow in added time for a foul, stepped round goalkeeper Dean Henderson but could only hit the inside of the post after he latched on to a smart Davies through-ball.
Davies headed over when wellplaced before Nolan took advantage of a Peter Clarke clearance that was charged down to finish with a smart low left-footed finish.
“We didn’t start the game well and were a bit flat,” said Oldham boss Sheridan. “They scored the goal and for some reason, that gave us a kick up the backside.
“We were the best team for the remaining 25 minutes of the first half and got back in the game with a good goal.
“We were the side looking to go and score that second goal and after half-time, we were on top of the game.
“If Eoin Doyle scores, then it’s a totally different outcome I feel.
“We created some good chances. They did too towards the end but that was when we threw people forward chasing the game and the result.
“Both of their goals were again, very poor. Ours was a good goal.
“When you are at the bottom of the table, some things just don’t go for you. I am not looking for excuses.
“The performance was ok considering who we were playing. Shrewsbury have started the season really well and deserve respect.
“Probably other than the first 15 minutes and the last ten when we were chasing it, we were the better team.