Gareth Ainsworth issues defiant response after Shrewsbury's late heartbreak at Charlton
Gareth Ainsworth refused to be downbeat after Shrewsbury Town's heartbreaking late loss against Charlton - with the boss adamant his side did not deserve to lose.
Salop looked like they were going to take a point back to Shropshire until Thierry Small scored with the final kick of the game to earn Nathan Jones' side all three points at The Valley.
The Town head coach's side were on track to keep their first clean sheet away from home all season as they headed into stoppage time, but they were ruthlessly punished, and Ainsworth's wait for a first away win goes on.
Town arrived in south London on the back of a terrific victory in the cross-border derby more than a week ago - which meant they were just six points off 20th-placed Northampton.
But the defeat, their 16th of the season, means they return to the foot of the League One table with the gap stretching to seven points.
Speaking after the match, Ainsworth refused to be negative, saying how proud he was of his players for their effort over the course of the 90 minutes.
"Do you know what, it is not as tough to take as you think because of the performance," he said. "Listen, I will back every single player in that dressing room 100 per cent.
"They gave me everything today, absolutely everything. Those fans did not deserve that.
"I will take the result on me, but do not have a go at these players. They were brilliant. The shape they nailed.
"The chances for Charlton were few and far between. Jamal (Blackman) has made on fantastic save from a header, but that is what he is there for.
"We have had a great chance at one end, and then they go and score with almost the last kick of the game. It is heartbreaking.
"But listen, I am not down. I will pick these boys up. Everyone will be like oh no, and there will be doom and gloom, but listen, we are so in this fight because of performances like that.
"I have said to the boys. If you play like that every week, you are not going down because we have got teams to play that we will beat if we play like that.
"Look at the gulf between the two clubs here. Look at this place. Look at their squad. This is football, and we have to try and find a way to match this, and we so nearly did."
