Sam Ricketts hails impact of Shrewsbury subs after win over Coventry

Posted Sunday, December 15, 2019 by PA

Sam Ricketts saluted match winner Shaun Whalley after he marked his return from injury by hitting a stoppage time winner as Shrewsbury beat Coventry 2-1.

Whalley was introduced at the break and completed a turnaround when he smashed home a volley from a cross by fellow substitute Ryan Giles to score his first goal since February.

Coventry took the lead in the 26th minute when Jordan Shipley headed in an inviting cross from Jamie Allen but Shrewsbury pulled level midway through the second half when defender Scott Golbourne turned the ball home from close range.

“I can tell you when his last goal was – it was Bristol Rovers away, so I’m delighted for him,” said Shrewsbury manager Ricketts.

“He’s a great lad, he loves football. He’s certainly got some ability and he obviously made an impact today, bringing him on at half-time.

“I’m just delighted for him to get on the scoresheet, for him to get the goal, but obviously the three points for the team and the supporters.”

It was a day when all three subs played their part in Shrewsbury’s victory as Jason Cummings, the third man sent on by Ricketts, was also involved in the move which led to the winning goal.

Ricketts said: “I think you have to say this year that when the subs have come on they’ve all been superb, they’ve all made an impact.

“The amount of times subs have come on to score a goal, or set a goal up, or added certainly some defensive qualities to the team, they’ve all certainly made an impact when they’ve come on, so that shows the team spirit, the togetherness, which is abundant in the squad.

“It’s a great atmosphere amongst the players and that then transmits on to the pitch.”

Coventry manager Mark Robins felt his side were jaded following their FA Cup replay win at Ipswich in midweek.

“A disappointing result, undoubtedly,” said Robins. “I thought first half we’d done okay, second half we didn’t.

“We didn’t get a foothold in the game and we gave the ball away in poor areas and then we looked tired and understandably so.

“The goal was a good goal. The goal aside, I thought in the first half we were okay. We passed the ball, we were doing okay.

“The change at half-time with Whalley coming on, that makes a difference for them, and then Ryan Giles coming on with the quality that he’s got at the death, were good changes for them.

“I think that the quality and the legs that they had in the wider areas against our full-backs who looked tired probably made the difference for them.

“Having said that, we still had chances to hit the target, to get in the box, to pull the trigger, and we didn’t.”