‘Pushgate’ equaliser helps tame the Shrews

SHREWSBURY manager Paul Hurst refused to blame the officials as his side conceded two goals to slip out of the top two for the first time in four months.

The Shrews appeared to be coasting thanks to goals either side of halftime from Mat Sadler and Carlton Morris but after Matt Baudry capitalised on some sloppy defending, Rovers salvaged a point with a highly controversial equaliser.

Manchester United loan keeper Dean Henderson appeared to have no problem claiming substitute Issam Ben Khemis’ cross from the left but, in sodoing, was adjudged by the assistant referee to have stepped over his goal-line, with an alleged pushwaved away.

“If I was a Premier League manager I would be whinging about their equaliser,” said Hurst. “Dean Henderson was fouled, then, adjudged to have stepped back over his line with the ball. We don’t think it was a legitimate goal but, we’ll take it on the chin, accept the referee’s assistant gave what he saw and get on with it.

“It’s about goals and small margins and we seemed to come out on the wrong side of a bit of bad luck, certainly a very controversial decision, which means we haven’t taken all three going there.”

The Shrews took the lead on 20 minutes. A Shaun Whalley corner from the left was headed down by Alex Rodman and Sadler was first to react, toe-poking the ball home.

On 34 minutes, Ian Lawlor produced a superb save to deny Rodman. Doncaster’s first effort of note came four minutes before the break. James Coppinger dummied debutant Luke Hendrie but his near-post shot was smothered by Henderson.

A minute after the restart, another superb save by Lawlor denied Aristote Nsiala. The home side were not to be denied. On 52 minutes, a Nsiala knockdown was met by Morris who swivelled before rifling the ball into the net.

Having conceded at Shrewsbury a number of teams have been seen to fold their tents and head for home. Not so Rovers.

On 62 minutes, the home defence failed to clear a Coppinger corner from the left and substitute Baudry headed home, before the equaliser came 12 minutes later.

“The referee’s assistant gave the goal straight away,” said Darren Ferguson. “He didn’t hesitate which tells me he had no doubt. First half we weren’t good enough. Credit to the players, they came back.”