Late penalty “a bitter pill to swallow” – Ricketts

Shrewsbury manager Sam Ricketts declared his side’s defeat to a late penalty as “a bitter pill to swallow”.

The Shrews are now two points and one place above the relegation zone after Graham Carey netted an 89th-minute spot-kick following Anthony Grant’s poor challenge on Ruben Lameiras.

“It looked like a penalty. It was a clumsy challenge in fairness. We could have dealt with the first ball better,” lamented Ricketts.

Town appeared to be heading for a deserved draw until the penalty after skipper Olly Norburn had followed up his own penalty to score on the hour following Matt Macey’s initial save, cancelling out Freddie Ladapo’s eighth-minute opener for his 16th goal of the season.

“We didn’t start the game well, we were 1-0 down and the character shown by the players to turn the game on its head was good,” added Ricketts.

“We played some really good football at times, got into some good situations, got one goal and had to be more clinical.

“We had really good opportunities to get the second goal and go on and win the game but the final pass, final shot, we weren’t clinical enough and you leave yourself open for a break at the other end, a foul and a penalty in the dying minutes.

“The late penalty is a bitter pill to swallow. We have played worse than that and got something out of games.”

Argyle are now 12th, but still looking over their shoulder as they are five points above the bottom four.

Manager Derek Adams said: “Our first half performance was excellent. We probably should have been five or six-nil up at half time and been out of sight.

“But we gave away a free-kick right after half-time, a corner and a penalty not long after and they were able to get back into the match without really troubling us until then.

“But the way we passed the ball and created opportunities, it was a better performance from us tonight.

“Ruben won the penalty and Graham took it very well. There was a lot of pressure on him but he was composed and dispatched it very well.

“As I said, it was vital we got the three points because we were playing a team around about us, so that was important.”