Should have been 3-0 up after about 15 minutes. As well as the goal Collins and Wright missed good chances. Torquay then largely ran the game for much of the first half and Smith made one important save. Morgan also scuffed a shot when well placed. Second half we were presented with a goal which Collins finished superbly. More comfortable from then on and should have scored at least one more on the break. Just about good enough today without reaching the heights. The central midfield looked a tad jaded and with the injury to Hazell we definitely neeed more defensive cover.
As said above, I didn't think we played at our best, but still won. Torquay are, for me, not likely promotion contenders this time around, but certainly a physical side who can take points off any team. A proffesional-looking result, and a good performance from the back four on the whole. I thought the second goal was a great finish from Collins, and now he is surely going to start against Southend. Morgan was a little disappointing imo, didn't create much, won some headers but saw nothing come of them. Ainsworth was dangerous again, and I believe set up both goals (definitely the first, possibly the second). I also thought the referee was ****e. Awful. Hazell should've walked for a two-footed tackle as the last man when he got none of the ball, but only got a yellow, but almost every other single decision went against us: Collins was penalised for being pushed over on the edge of the area, and Ainsworth ran in, picked up the ball with no opposing player within 10 yards, and no advantage had been played for any foul, and the ref incomprehensibly blew for a foul. They did had a non-penalty appeal when Howe lost control of the ball and hurled himself to the ground; at least one decision the ref got right.
Rene Howe tried his very best to wind up our defenders. The penalty shout was the worst dive i've seen in ages and his rude geture to the South stand was disgracefull. He could have been booked a few times over before he went off for a needless foul on Hazell, who himself was fortunate to only get a yellow a little earlier. There is quite often a pantomime villain who the crowd get at, but most of them ignore the crowd and use it to their advantage ,not gesture them when the refs not looking. Anyway a good 3 points, not the best of performances but wins against The Gills,Vale and Torquay is a good sign. I am looking forward to the game at Southend ( but not so much the bus trip!) and hopefully bringing back another three points.
Totally disagree about the potential sending off of Hazell. The Torquay forward had pushed the ball well wide of our goal and would never have immediately had a goal scoring opportunity. In fact everyone who was listening in to the commentary on Radio Shropshire at the match burst out laughing when Steve Cross said it was a sending off offence.
Yes he did do a rude hand sign but the officials didn't seem to see it . I didn't think Hazell deserved a red card but the way the ref was throughout the game ,I was surprised he didn't send him off.
As most people have commented, Shrews looked a little tired today which was understandable considering the monumental performance at the Emirates earlier in the week. Town could of quite easily been out of site after 10 minutes, but then struggled to gain any momentum for the remainder of the half and could quite easily gone in level at half time. Howe was a disgrace. He should of been booked for diving and should of been sent off for the obscene gesture. An overweight player who is no more a professional footballer as I am! I just hope McDonalds had enough burgers to satisfy his appetite! Second half, Town finished the job without much trouble. Torquay's Goalkeeper stitched his defender up by giving him an awful pass. Collins dispossessed him a stuffed the ball into the net with aplomb. The Hazell foul was, in my opinion a booking, nothing more, nothing less. Howe finished the game getting a second yellow for a petulant kick at Hazell. All in all three points gained job done by the most exciting, ball passing team I have seen at Shrewsbury for along time. Long may it continue!
