FA Cup: Shrewsbury 2 Wolves 2 - Report and pictures

The clubs will do it all again in a replay at Molineux after Sam Ricketts’ Shrewsbury led 2-0 with 20 minutes to go against the Premier League side ranked 54 places above them after two remarkable second half goals.

But they were pegged back in heart-breaking style just three minutes from bagging themselves a place in the FA Cup fifth round for just the third time in three-and-a-half decades.

Memories of 2003 against Dave Moyes’ Everton flooded back as Greg Docherty’s stunner and Luke Waterfall’s header had them two goals to the good.

But Raul Jimenez got one back and Matt Doherty’s added time header hauled Nuno Espirito Santo’s men level.

A replay will bring back more memories of the 1978/79 cup run under Graham Turner, where Salop pushed Wolves to a quarter-final replay.

Shrewsbury gave everything and were superb right the way through as they continued to trade blows with the superstars up against them even as Wolves fought for a way back.

Town, in the lower reaches of League One, were superb and unfortunate to not see out the added time.

Analysis:

There was plenty of intrigue into how much Nuno would go for it at the Meadow.

The Wolves chief has his side in an extremely comfortable position of eighth in the Premier League, catching the eyes of many neutrals along the way.

While harbouring aspirations of finishing ‘best of the rest’ outside the top flight’s top six, there were calls from supporters for Nuno to give the FA Cup his utmost attention.

The former Porto chief, who played a strong team against Liverpool in round three, made six changes from the side that edged the 4-3 thriller against Leicester.

There was clear respect to the side ranked 54 places below them in the pyramid.

The side selected still contained six full internationals. There was an inclusion for Ryan Giles, born down the road in Telford and a former Bucks loanee, to make his full debut.

But in Ruben Neves, Helder Costa and Adama Traore et al, the visitors packed the punch of an aspirational Premier League outfit.

Town chief Ricketts kept the same XI that impressed in the 0-0 draw at Blackpool seven days previous.

Ricketts set his side out in a new 3-4-2-1 at the Seasiders and it helped them control the game well, if not find a way through.

There were two changes to Shrewsbury’s subs bench, including a place for new boy Romain Vincelot, signed on a free from League Two Crawley. Fellow new face Sam Smith was ineligible.

But there was a welcome appearance in the 18 for Shaun Whalley, without a start since October due to calf and hamstring injuries.

Anticipation was palpable at the Meadow from well over an hour ahead of kick-off. Wolves’ Mexican star Raul Jimenez posing for selfies with adoring fans in the dugout.

The locality of this tie meant mixed allegiances for some. A house some 50 metres from the Meadow was dressed in Nuno and Wolves flags.

In the minutes before kick-off the place really came to life. Young mascots poised to wave the players on and barely an empty seat in the Meadow for the first sell-out game since last season’s play-offs.

With the Meadow atmosphere at fever pitch, Salop carried out their manager’s pre game message, of getting out quick and getting in Wolves’ faces.

The visitors were the first to let fly, as Matt Doherty with a familiar burst from right wing-back before shooting over.

But charges forward from Wolves, all in white, were few and far between.

Shrewsbury, meanwhile, were going for it. The hosts’ tempo was superb as the fired up Meadow got right behind their every twitch, hassle and harry in what felt like a proper Cup tie.

Town used the same ambitious formation as in the north west last week, a brave call from Ricketts’ League One side but it suited them down to the ground.

Greg Docherty and Josh Laurent were showing superb support to lone striker Fejiri Okenabirhie and the trio were linking with the technical confidence of a top flight side themselves.

Okenabirhie was covering so much ground chasing down Wolves’ three centre-halves and appearing in pockets of space where he was a nuisance.

Town were boosted by the way they were attacking Wolves in the opening quarter of an hour.

Wolves were by no means totally out of the contest. Some fine last-ditch defending by Luke Waterfall thwarted Costa as Traore had sped past Mat Sadler. Morgan Gibbs-White shot over from distance before Greg Docherty put enough pressure on ex-Barcelona man Traore causing him to fire over from 12 yards.

Nuno’s men established a foothold in the even contest as the opening half wore on but they were finding it difficult to break down an organised, resolute and committed Shrewsbury.

Town’s on-loan Rangers man Docherty was closest out of everybody to netting. His 25-yard piledriver swerved and dipped in the curling wind and caused all sorts of trouble for John Ruddy who just about parried it away five minutes before the break.

The second half was not two minutes old before the Meadow erupted like it hasn’t for a long, long time.

It began with a Neves slip in the middle of a greasy midfield. Okenabirhie, predictably, picked his pocket and charged forward.

The Wolves defence parted and Docherty peeled off to the striker’s right, a perfect pass played it into his path - and from that moment on there was only one thing in Shrewsbury’s favourite Scot’s mind.

He set himself, with Wolves defenders nearby, and arrowed a bullet through Ruddy and into the far top corner. It was unstoppable - an absolute piledriver fitting to grace any game.

The Meadow erupted into a sound decibels higher than anything witnessed in recent times.

Bedlam ensued inside the blue and amber sides of the stadium. Glory for Shrewsbury, Ricketts and Docherty.

But there was no question the goal woke up the sleepy visitors.

Almost seconds later Neves’ deflected strike slipped an inch wide before the Portugal star couldn’t match Docherty’s brilliance, shooting well over from the edge of the box.

The Cup tie, intense and loud in the first half, became something else in a phenomenal second period.

Arnold, at non-league Barrow last season, pulled a rabbit out of the hat with his stunning close-range save from Costa’s header. It was an ‘I don’t believe it’ moment.

Town weren’t happy defending though, they broke and Docherty’s run and cross brought a flap from an unconvincing Ruddy.

The electric tie would not die down with so many impressive blue and amber performers - Laurent, Docherty, Okenabirhie and others - shining at the heart of a side who kept going.

Nuno sent for £35million-rated striker Jimenez who somehow sent his first touch wide of the post while unmarked in the box.

Shrewsbury were breaking at will, causing all sorts of problems and worked a couple of corners, showing they weren’t ready to sit on their 1-0 lead.

Ollie Norburn was taking his time over one - he was passed a mysterious note via Grant from boss Ricketts - tucked it into his shorts and sent the kick in.

It went deep and there was defender Waterfall, storming on to the perfect delivery for a bullet header that gave Ruddy no chance.

The noise was deafening. It was even louder than the first goal. The Meadow was bouncing.

After huge celebrations, a huddle of Town players calmly read Ricketts’ note in front of fans. Whatever the message was it did the trick.

Nuno this time sent on Ivan Cavaleiro and Joao Moutinho was to follow. But not before the visitors halved the deficit with 15 minutes remaining.

A smart low cross from the right was shoveled home by Jimenez with an impressive first-time finish, giving hope to the 1,500 supporters from the Black Country behind that goal - some of whom had been embroiled in angry exchanges with Town’s Block 19 in the corner, with a heavy police presence.

Ricketts was able to send for Whalley, who came on to an exceptional reception, as did the departing Okenabirhie.

Town were, understandably, growing tired as the minutes dragged on slowly.

Wolves tried and tried, with several Traore runs coming to nothing. The visitors were almost out of ideas - even after the officials somehow awarded six minutes added time.

But not quiet, another Traore run and this time the cross was good. Up popped Republic of Ireland full-back Doherty with a tie-saving header to break blue and amber hearts.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (3-4-2-1):

Arnold; Beckles, Waterfall, Sadler ©; Bolton, Norburn (Vincelot, 87), Grant, Haynes; Docherty (Amadi-Holloway, 90+5), Okenabirhie (Whalley, 80), Laurent.

Subs not used: Charles-Cook (gk), Sears, Eisa, Angol.

Wolves (3-4-1-2):

Ruddy; Bennett, Coady ©, Saiss; Doherty, Neves, Dendoncker (Jimenez, 59), Giles (Cavaleiro, 72); Gibbs-White (Moutinho, 79); Traore, Costa.

Subs not used: Norris (gk), Otto, Vinagre, Kilman.

Referee: Roger East

Attendance: 9,503