STEFAN MAKES IT SO PAYNE-FUL!
SHREWSBURY boss Paul Hurst was given a standing ovation before kickoff but knows he was not as popular at the final whistle after his side’s last-gasp win.
Hurst was returning to the Millers, where he played 494 times across 15 years, for the first time and the New York Stadium faithful showed their appreciation.
But Hurst ensured there was no room for sentiment as his table-topping side stole all three points deep into injury time when Stefan Payne slammed home from close-range.
What made it even sweeter for the Shrews was that they were playing with ten men following Abu Agogo’s red card, which came shortly before Rotherham’s Richie Towell cancelled out Jon Nolan’s early opener.
“There were a few that didn’t like me as much as the game went on,” Hurst said. “I had a fantastic career here. I enjoyed my time here and I was fortunate to have success here.
“It was really nice to see people. The ovation I got was very warming but in the second half, I was every name under the sun.
“But one thing I know why they liked me is that I was competitive.
“My job on this day was to be Shrewsbury manager and win a game of football.
“That’s what it’s about. I didn’t feel it affected me. It was just nice.
“It’s a great three points. I am proud of the players. The commitment and attitude to it. I am delighted by the efforts.
“When they score late on, you stand there and think you’re going to be the hard luck story.”
It might have been a different story had Kieffer Moore stuck away a 13th-minute penalty but Dean Henderson pulled off a fine save to keep English football’s top-scorer, who Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy said he will recall in January, on 13 goals. The penalty had been awarded after Toto Nsiala bundled Towell over.
Then, two minutes later, Nolan drilled home across goal after breaking through a static Millers defence.
Agogo took an early bath in the 53rd minute when he went through Shaun Cummings and when Towell drove home a midrange rebound in the 76th minute, there looked like being only one winner.
But Payne struck from a corner to give Hurst the last laugh and leave Millers boss Paul Warne feeling sick.
“It’s really difficult to take. I presume we had more shots on goal, more possession; all the key indicators were ours but we’re on the end of a defeat,” he said.
“I take positives from the fact that we went toe-to-toe with the team top of the league but are disappointed we lost.
“We’re eighth an lost narrowly to top-of-the-league. I don’t think there is a lot wrong. “The first goal is important and if the penalty is scored when we are on top, then I think we would go on and win it.”