Giles fires Shrews to opening-day win over Pompey

Posted Sunday, August 04, 2019 by PA

A stunning strike from Ryan Giles delivered three opening-day points for Shrewsbury as they beat Portsmouth 1-0 in Sky Bet League One.

Giles, making his debut on loan from Wolves, arrowed a 30-yard shot to the top corner of the net midway through the second half.

Portsmouth’s cause was not helped by Ross McCrorie being shown a late red card.

Pompey started brightly, with home goalkeeper Max O’Leary gathering a low drive from McCrorie.

Shrewsbury went close when Steve Morison got the better of defender Christian Burgess and hammered a shot just over from the edge of the penalty area.

The hosts took the lead in the 68th minute, when Giles collected a free-kick played short to him and, from distance, sent a fine shot past Craig MacGillivray.

Pompey went in search of an equaliser and John Marquis was denied by a timely clearance from Ethan Ebanks-Landell.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 81st minute when McCrorie received a second yellow card for a challenge on Donald Love.

Ronan Curtis fired a late chance over as Shrewsbury stood firm to collect three points against a side beaten in the play-off semi-finals last season.