Doherty’s at the double to tame Shrews

WOLVES 3 SHREWSBURY 2

WOLVES may be on song in the Premier League but this was a tough night against a Shrewsbury team managed by a former favourite. Sam Ricketts captained Wolves to the League One title in 2014 and he nearly claimed an upset on his return to Molineux. Ivan Cavaleiro sealed Wolves’ place in round five, but Shrewsbury had led 2-1. Wolves have swept aside Leicester, West Ham and Everton in their last three Premier League games but Shrewsbury, 60 places lower in the football pyramid, tested Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. Ricketts set up his League One team expertly and they led in the first half through James Bolton and Josh Laurent — the first time Shrewsbury have scored twice away from home against top-flight opposition since March 1966 at Chelsea. Wolves had to rely on Matt Doherty to edge through. The defender (above) scored twice and set up the winner. ‘Happy with the performance? I’m not,’ Nuno said. ‘But it was job done. Some players did well but I expect more from them also.’ Ricketts said: ‘I can’t ask more of my players. They pushed a very good side all the way. They gave every ounce of sweat right till the end.’ Doherty brought this tie to Molineux with a 93rd-minute equaliser in the first game and only 78 seconds were on the clock here when he scored again. He fired in from close range after Willy Boly had knocked down a cross from Morgan Gibbs-White. Shrewsbury drew level 10 minutes later when Oliver Norburn’s corner found Bolton, who headed in. In the 39th minute came a moment John Ruddy will want to forget. There was little danger when Laurent struck a gentle shot from 20 yards, yet Ruddy let the ball slip through his fingers and it dribbled over the line. Rain was falling and the ball bounced awkwardly, but it was an awful error. Doherty bailed his keeper out by scoring a second in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time. Jonny Otto sent over a deep cross that Shrewsbury keeper Steve Arnold failed to hold under pressure from a couple of Wolves players. Doherty nodded the ball into the empty net and referee Lee Probert waved away Shrews appeals for a foul. Just after the hour, Doherty’s pass enabled Cavaleiro to weave past two defenders and roll a finish under Arnold to bring relief to Nuno.