Paul Hurst left hurting by Shrewsbury Town discipline

The League One high-fliers inflicted a first defeat in five on the Town chief, but were boosted as referee Darren Deadman sent both Jim O'Brien and Abu Ogogo off in the first period.

O'Brien's dismissal, midway through the half, came as Deadman awarded the hosts a spot-kick, with Dan Lafferty hitting the ground, the spot-kick was saved by the impressive Mark Halstead.

But the damage with done with the Scottish midfielder sent off, despite the ball deflecting in a different direction in the tackle.

Salop have the worst disciplinary record in League One, having six players sent off this campaign.

New league rules state that if a player makes an intentional challenge to win the ball, he should not be sent off.

the penalty and the red card, I've just watched it back and it's from a wide angled view, you can clearly see the ball change direction nowhere near where their player would look to touch the ball.

"My understanding of the ruling is that if he's saying it's a deliberate foul - how can it be a deliberate foul? From that picture it looks like he clearly wins the ball," said Hurst.

"If he does give the penalty, which he did, it's got to be a yellow card - I don't know if he understands the rules, I'd have to ask.

"Then you're obviously up against it, but again the frustrating thing is that we concede from a set play of all things."

After the Blades netted a second, fellow midfielder Ogogo was sent off for a lunge in first-half added time.

"The second one, from my view I can't tell," the boss added. "He certainly obviously catches him but intent? Are we trying to take tackling out of the game? I don't know.

"I need that to see zoomed in to see where his foot is. Looking at it, he couldn't wait to get his red card out."

Despite a barrage of Sheffield attacks in the second period, Salop - mostly thanks to a memorable afternoon from Halstead - clutched on to the two-goal deficit, which was halved 18 minutes from time.

After making barely any forays into the Blades half, a fine cross from Junior Brown was expertly steered home by Sheffield Wednesday fan Louis Dodds - who celebrated by acknowledging the home crowd.

Shrewsbury could not quite summon the unthinkable, but United, unbeaten in 13 and having climbed to second, breathed a huge sigh of relief at full-time.

Hurst said: "I was asking for men out there and to show me that they're determined to keep the ball out of the net, knowing full well that they'd have chances.

"We had to do everything we can to make it as difficult as possible. Along the way you need a little bit of luck and your keeper to make some saves. But the players through their bodies on the line and worked incredibly hard.

"We managed to get a goal and some people may see it as a moral victory in that second period with a fantastic goal from Louis Dodds. I've been aware of him for a long time and he's showed in training and when it matters with a fantastic finish.

"But it's so difficult to get men up the pitch."