Paul Hurst: Reliving an exciting 12 months at Shrewsbury Town

Here's what he had to say about his thrilling spell so far at The Meadow, featuring the full 50 minute interview.

October:

LC: How was the excitement and emotion leading up to the day of announcement?

PH: In truth it was a pretty stressful couple of days. From losing my last game at Grimsby, there'd been a lot of speculation going into that and over the course of the weekend. There were a few conversations that weren't particularly great.

Shrewsbury confirmed the fact they wanted to bring me in. On Sunday there were conversations, hanging around waiting for the phone and eventually everything was agreed and I started work on Monday.

There's an early start, driving down, meeting people, addressing the players, watching training, doing the interviews, it was like a whirlwind, you get thrown in and you do your duties.

There were things like 'where was I going to live?' up in the air but I wanted to take the challenge on – it became apparent very quickly it was one hell of a challenge.

LC: Was it not until you saw things properly that you realised how much of a challenge it was then?

PH: The points difference wasn't the end of the world, but the negativity that was around – fans aren't pleased when their team is losing – but it was the manner of the losing that was very concerning.

Danny Coyne had took (temporary) charge, you get to learn more when in charge of a club and he was put in an impossible position. Knowing him now, how professional he is, I'm sure it hurt him a hell of a lot. He probably felt let down by some individuals in that period.

And watching them train, it was very clear there was a strange atmosphere. It was never going to be the happiest place in the world but it was blatantly obvious from day one we'd need some changes moving forward.

The short term goal was to get the players on board, get the best out of them and see where it'd take us.

We lost Joe Riley, one player that looked like he had the energy and drive we would require, he got injured and then you start to think 'are we going to get to January and be in a position to make some changes and give ourselves a fighting chance of staying in the league?'

It was very quickly a fear for me and Chris (Doig). After a couple of days we sat in an office at the ground and we were both sat in silence, we both knew what each other was thinking, and we were really questioning what we let ourselves in for.

That's nothing against things like the stadium and everything else with it, lots of things were positive, but the nitty gritty of it is getting results on a Saturday and that looked certainly very worrying. We questioned whether we could change it.

LC: 365 days ago, if someone with a crystal ball would've said 'look where you are now'...

PH: I'd have thought that there was something wrong with them, they needed to be taken away and put on medication.

With the best will in the world I don't think anyone could've envisaged the transformation that has taken place. How different the team looks now and the feel around the club generally, it's massively different.

We had the team photo on Monday and trained at the ground. We like going to the ground, it's a good stadium to play in, but when you're there for training there's a different feel to it.

It certainly made me reflect. It was strange doing it compared to when we first came in. It didn't seem good, it wasn't the happiest of memories, albeit I came in with optimism and hope (originally), but after a couple of days in the job you start to question your own sanity and the decisions made.

November:

LC: Your first home win in the league. Shaun Whalley's goal, the second in a 2-0 win (over Oxford), in the 98th minute, bit of nerves towards the end?

PH: At that point, in all honesty, I'd wanted to come in and make a good impression and get the fans on side. Because there were question marks over myself and I kind of understand why.

It didn't feel massively under pressure. That's credit to the chairman and Brian Caldwell. There's almost an acceptance that we weren't in good shape. As long as we could see some kind of improvement.

We didn't have the players available. Shaun's the one out-and-out winger we had, he was injured. We finally got him fit and he got injued again. It was tough, we couldn't even play the way I particularly wanted to for a little while.

It was a great moment, there was good celebrations although it was so early (in the season), Shaun running over to Skitty (Chris Skitt) to show how he felt after being in rehabilitation.

Me and Chris (Doig) has only just started getting to know them (the staff), I can remember us having a – it sounds a bit wet – but a little group huddle when that went in. It was great to get that first home league win and it certainly brings back some memories with Shaun's very composed finish after running maybe more than half the pitch.

December:

LC: I missed the Millwall game, an interesting game from what I heard, Millwall largely battering Town – but what a win!

PH: There's almost a theme here that maybe you should stay away if you missed this win as well!

We certainly had to be on the rearguard at times that day. They missed a couple of opportunities they would've liked to have done better with. Jayson (Leutwiler) made a few good saves in that game.

I never felt it was quite as bad as people made out. But it was a performance won by an excellent goal from Doddsy (Louis Dodds) after good combination play with Ivan Toney.

But we saw some desire it that game, I think, that was the biggest thing. There was a real togetherness to see the result out. A much-needed victory. That game probably helped the players, you've got to start somewhere and that game had a togetherness.

We played a system we wanted to, Ryan McGivern was in at left-back, we had to cope with his injury (broken collarbone), it was a big victory at Millwall where there's an atmosphere.

It was something of a surprise. I remember getting on the coach after and seeing the chairman with a big grin on his face, almost like 'what's happened there?'

It was nice to reward the fans that travelled, it's hard to stick with your team when things aren't going well. That was a good day for us.

LC: Had you started to believe (in survival) by that point? Did that win help to believe?

PH: You hope so. I was just pleased to see some fight and desire in the performance and a little bit more energy. That was one of the games Junior (Brown) did particular well in, playing left wing and working back.

Very quickly the idea was to get to January and I knew changes would occur. I didn't go to the chairman in January saying 'can I make changes?' We were very clear that was realistically going to be the plan. How many wasn't a definite.

The lads we inherited had the first opportunity.

What we haven't spoke about is that, by this stage, Antoni Sarcevic had left the football club, Moha had left, Andy Mangan had left. We were trying to put our stamp on the club. Mangs was different, he had an offer to work with Micky (Mellon) back at Tranmere. But Sarc didn't seem happy at the club and, with Moha, I couldn't see a way forward there.

That laid down a bit of a marker to the players too. If they wanted to be part of it then get on board with what we're trying to do and the majority did that.

January:

LC: You got to January, made the changes you wanted to and one of them (Freddie Ladapo) made the difference pretty early on (back-to-back winners against Bradford and Oldham)

PH: Yep. Freddie came in and had a smile on his face, had an energy, along with other changes that we made.

They made a big difference to us, there was a different feel, team spirit improved, there was more togetherness. Three had left, another five left in January and eight came in, overall we'd balanced it in terms of numbers. The squad was much-improved.

You're always gambling in the loan market, they're not your players, you're banking on someone seizing the opportunity and buying into it even if it's not their parent club.

Freddie certainly hit the ground running. He made himself an instant hero with a couple of goals and – I think they call it dancing, a few moves I can only dream of making.

Then, realistically, there was a feeling we could get out of the trouble we were in and keep that League One status we desperately wanted.

LC: After the home defeat to Fleetwood on January 2 you went on an unbeaten run, climbing out of drop zone.

PH: I think we were showing more resilience as well. The goalscorer catches the headlines but we kept clean sheets. We'd all agree now, looking at this (current) season too, Toto (Nsiala) coming in made a massive difference to us defensively.

We weren't conceding as many set-plays which we identified as an issue. I don't think I have to be seen as a good, bad or indifferent manager to recognise that, most had seen it was an issue.

It always helps if you keep clean sheets, you've always got a chance of nicking a goal in a game. The feeling was much better.

The Fleetwood game (1-0 defeat) was the fourth match (against them). We'd got bored of playing each other, Toto should've been allowed to play but because it was over the new year, some people in certain positions decided they didn't want to work and we weren't allowed to play him, which was a frustration.

Although there were still some players that weren't mine – there are still one or two – it felt like a squad we wanted to work with.

February:

LC: I picked out the win at Scunthorpe for February, where Tyler Roberts and Freddie combined so brilliantly. Town were top of form table, fans were thinking they were out of it. Scunthorpe had been unbeaten at home for a long time, what a win...

PH: It was a long time. They were probably in the top two at the time, with a very proud home record, it looked a massive test, it was.

But I don't think we nicked a win there, there was a little pressure late on but it wasn't a fluky win, the lads played extremely well. By this point we had got belief but to go somewhere like that, with that record they had, if we needed any indication and a real game to prove it – that was probably it.

We did lose the next game, at Peterborough, where we had the man (Stephen Humphrys) sent off but Scunthorpe was a massive effort. A really good goal too, Tyler playing a major part and Freddie's good finish.

I never ever felt we were safe, it was too competitive. When you've taken a team and changed its results around, you probably know around the corner there's going to be a more difficult period and we're going to move onto that month next!

We were in a good place then, the players were enjoying the hard work needed to get the results.

March:

LC: February finished with the 4-3 over Charlton, a type of match not seen too often under yourself! In March there was the Vale game – I remember being a massive disappointment, you keeping the players in a while afterwards, a big away following, quite a disappointment?

PH: If I can just speak about that Charlton game, it was probably everyone's game of the season, it was like a basketball game, we looked a real threat.

I can remember looking at the stats after the game, with the running stats I like to keep an eye on, that was the highest that we did.

We then played Coventry on the Saturday, and hindsight is a wonderful thing, but having won a game of that magnitude with the way we played, I should've probably made changes.

We didn't have the energy to beat Coventry, we played out a 0-0, the way we played on the day – it started with a long delay as their lad had a bad knock – but it was a good point for us in truth.

The March was bad, but we only had four league games, two defeats and two draws, but probably more against the teams we were fighting to stave off relegation and maybe games we felt we'd have more games of winning.

But as we know it's not played out on paper.

Port Vale, being a local derby, was a big disappointment. It was a horrible night, you've then got all weekend to stew on it. I remember driving home – conditions were terrible – I got sent some strange route by the SatNav and passed fallen trees and all sorts, it summed the night up for me.

We had a few harsh words after that. It was disappointing because we didn't perform until making substitutions late in the game that had an impact, Doddsy scored a good goal but couldn't quite get the equaliser.

Thankfully that was one of a few lows that we've had to encounter since coming here.

LC: Being a big derby, did you get the feeling they didn't show nearly enough for that kind of game?

PH: Because we were both down there scrapping, I never really got that feel that it felt like a derby on the evening. I don't know, because it was that windy and rainy, it's a big vast ground, big pitch.

Although we took a good following and I could hear them there didn't seem that intensity there, it was one of the few real disappointments we had. If we needed it – and I don't think we did in fairness – but it made people think 'are we going to be OK?'

Maybe we could refocus, a few harsh words were spoken, and it was all done with the right intentions, to keep everyone together.

From memory it was about making everyone understand the importance of every game. That game felt like one we'd let slip. Not at our best to get anything out of it.

LC: Were you worried then that that you'd let all the good work prior slip?

PH: It's difficult. I can't say exactly how it felt. I remember the drive home, walking the dog the following day, I'm pretty certain I had a conversation with Mat Sadler on the phone about the feel and moving forward.

It wasn't one of the better moods I'd been in from my time at Shrewsbury. I'm not sure whether I really felt we weren't capable of staying up still.

When you're in the mix it's hard, but reflecting on the run we'd been on from being a poor side to then getting the results, it still doesn't mean you're brilliant straight away.

It takes time, keeps things interesting, that's one way of putting it, but I thought we'd certainly got a chance. We had to remind ourselves where we were to appreciate the hard work to at least have giving ourselves a chance and to change that mentality around.

April:

LC: We all acknowledged the run-in was difficult, and only one moment that would sum month up. Before that win against Southend, there were defeats and draws. Southend were going for the play-offs, maybe not the one you'd think would be the win?

PH: In the local paper there'd been a run-in of where we'd pick up points and where we might not. It never works out like that, or very rarely.

We knew it would be a massive game, but our home form had been very good on the whole. We had that slight comfort of being at home.

The Rochdale win earlier in April was a big one. Stef (Payne) got the goal and Junior gets the winner against Southend.

We were better than them on the day, no doubt about that. Yes there were maybe some hairy moments because of the situation – that was the penultimate game, the last home game – we weren't absolutely safe, mathematically safe afterwards, it was a bit of a strange one with the interviews we'd done and lap of the pitch, thanking fans.

Deep down you think you should be fine. Although it was only one game, if results had gone the way they needed to for us to have lost it (relegation at Oxford on the final day) then perhaps we deserved to go down.

There was a lot of relief and smiling faces, at home we'd done well. We needed to, we were too – not fragile – but we couldn't bank on our away form to get us out of trouble.

They were big ones at home. That was just the start for me, I'd called for more vocal support from fans after taking charge and they responded. Between that, the bond between the players and fans growing, it helped us having a very good home record and pick up big victories.

LC: Junior told us in an interview recently, tongue-in-cheek, that he doesn't let the staff forget that moment. 'Remember what I did'.

PH: He might've been having you on unless he's been telling it to the other staff! We know he can be a threat.

You look at that image, it looks such a strange picture, he's in the six-yard box, there he's on his actual belly, it was a funny one.

I could see he was going to head the ball, I knew he wasn't far out but it's strange how from the touchline you don't see the ball going in the net.

By the reaction of the fans, it was a big goal for us, a 1-0 victory that was a relatively popular scoreline for us. It would've been nice to get another one and make it a bit easier but the lads played well and thoroughly deserved the victory.

May:

LC: When the season finishes, you get the chance of having a couple of weeks to yourself, going on holiday with family – how could you relax and how did you see the job on your hands to rebuild?

PH: Once our status as a League One club was confirmed, that influences one or two decisions, players you target etc.

But overall the decisions had been made prior to the end of the season. You go through the period of speaking with players, the bit that's not nice when you're releasing some of them. Then trying to retain a couple of the lads, which we managed to do.

The players I wanted to stay stayed. They got a sense of enjoying working under myself, that we would hopefully have a better season and squad in place, a better feel around the place.

There were also some conversations with players still under contract that I didn't see being part of my plans. That's just trying to be honest, not going behind their backs. We try to be honest, it makes for a few awkward conversations but it's better to do that and be up front with them.

Over the next couple of months near enough everyone's situations have been resolved in one way or another. There's a couple we'll have to look at revisiting in January but in the main the squad dramatically changed.

In the rebuild we had to be patient, yourselves (the press) were asking 'are we signing anyone?' and we were never going to be able to throw money at people for them to think 'there's no point listening to anybody else I'll just sign for Shrewsbury Town'.

Patience was certainly our friend and that was a route we had to go down.

LC: The first signing was Arthur Gnahoua, who joined in late May. Not a big household name that fans knew, but a symbol of the players that came. Lower leagues, played non-league, the mantra and ethos was young and hungry wasn't it?

PH: Without a doubt. We needed people that were certainly more athletic. The squad needed a burst of energy, enthusiasm to it. Some you're forced to go down a certain route because of competition for other players that you would like to bring in.

But it fitted nicely with what we were looking at. I've said before about myself, Doigy and the other staff we inherited, across the board we're a very young staff with lots of energy, we can relate to the players quite well. There are some things I'm not on the same wave length as them – but I'm not sure I'd want to be!

Every one of them can speak to the players and have something in common along the way. Certainly a common thing was that I think we're all hungry for success and to better ourselves.

That was part of the drive to bring players in and look at, but they have to be able to play as well.

Maybe I have myself to blame slightly, as we've moved forward – talking about fitness and things – we've actually got some good players as well in fairness to the lads. I've been surprised by some of the football we've been able to play. I thought we'd have to win games in a different manner than what we have on a few occasions.

June:

LC: Jon Nolan came in as another of the early signings, he was given a three-year deal. I think you said something along the lines of 'he'll be a key player for us' to fans who maybe hadn't heard of him. It's unfair to pick players out, but already a firm favourite with three goals and his displays?

PH: He was someone, from memory, where I'd just said 'he's a good footballer'. That's kind of him. Added to the fact he is mobile, with a good engine and we felt he could add goals to his game – he's certainly added to his tally from last season!

He's been compared a lot by Shrewsbury fans to Ryan Woods. I think they're very different in fairness, albeit both very comfortable on the ball. They could perhaps compliment each oither in a team. The ginger hair's the obvious comparison.

He's done extremely well for us. As many of the new signings have. When you do look at it, a couple that I'd retained from last year, or ones we'd brought in (in January) have stayed in the team. People like Sads, Junior, Toto, Shaun Whalley more often than not. There was still a little core of lads who'd started to get much better results than we had done before.

July:

LC: You'd been away to Portugal, which was a big thing fitness and bonding wise. Then went into friendlies – AFC Telford and Brackley aside – you probably didn't expect four wins from four Championship clubs. Another picture example of someone fans hadn't heard of making an impact against an ex-England captain....

PH: A lot was made of John Terry. It was his first game for Villa, I remember Sky being there, being sat in the coaches' room, coming over to the stadium – it was just nice to be able to take part in a game John Terry was part of – that's how it felt!!!!

What was very pleasing, certainly in a couple of the games, because they were local, was having good crowds in.

Myself and Chris don't like the term 'friendly', we don't like 'pre-season', you can get games that are 'nicey-nice'. I'm not sure if the teams we played enjoyed playing against us!

It was key for us. I can't say we knew we were going to get the results against these teams but we wanted to bring standards to our performances individually and collectively. Pre-season was the first opportunity to do that.

We had a fantastic week away in Portugal, that was really good, there were still a few lads brought in after that. The ideal scenario is you go with everyone in place, but that helped.

Pre-season was very hard on the players but we can see the rewards that they've reaped since. In pre-season we looked a decent outfit, the issue being – I've said before – being involved in pre-seasons that go great and then when it really matters it doesn't go the way you want, and vice-versa.

It wasn't a guarantee by any stretch of the imagination. I've spoke to a few people since that saw us in pre-season. They felt that something was probably happening at the football club that was a bit unusual and that we might not be a bad side at all.

August:

LC: I nearly went for a picture of Lenny (John-Lewis') celebration at the end of Northampton on the opening day. Stef's second debut, sent on as sub against Rochdale, the winner with his first touch – another example of things going well for new boys.

PH: It was. I thought you'd have picked Lenny's in fairness. It was one moment but maybe it gave everybody the belief and confidence to get such a late winner, that I think we deserved.

But in fairness to Northampton, the way they set up there weren't too many chances.

I remember the goal, the way you celebrate and then you think 'oh what are you doing?' They very quickly got a free-kick to put in our box and you think you'll look silly after celebrating what you think and hope is the winner.

That really set us off. The performance levels, results are obviously great, but the levels were outstanding. We were stood out on the pitch at AFC Wimbledon saying 'I can't believe how well you played in that first-half'. The same for a lot of the games in fairness.

Was the Oxford match in August? Even with the 4-0 against Bristol Rovers in the first-half, I thought that the performance at Oxford, for such a long period against a good side, was outstanding.

That was Ben Godfrey's first game. We didn't rest on our laurels (with transfers) thinking that's done. The opportunity was there, he someone I was keen to bring in – credit to the chairman – he let me do that bit of business.

We lost Dan James who went back to Swansea. It was a fantastic start to the season, albeit I didn't want to say it was a start!

We played some good football and very quickly gave fans a glimpse of what they might see in the team they can now relate to and now have as their team and want to come and watch us.

Since then we've had some really good gates at the stadium. At the minute it's all going very well.

LC: On deadline day you were working hard on one or two deals. You didn't quite get what you wanted – do you still feel you could've done with the one more – especially with injuries that've happened?

PH: Two more I think! You always want to get better.

Ben's situation proved that. He was someone I was interested in, but there was a new manager at Norwich, he'd gone away in pre-season, he wasn't sure if he'd be part of it all.

When that came around it was something that I felt would be too good to turn down. I knew the player was interested in joining, we had reports from the two lads we'd got from the club already, and we'd tried to sign him previously.

I think he's appreciating that he's got a manager and assistant manager that are keen and like what they see.

I had a good chat with him recently and he's loving his time here. He's played a major part for us.

The players know I can't change too much between the windows. But I'd like to think they'll know I will change come January if I don't feel people are doing their jobs.

Going back to a balancing act. You need players in a place where they can express themselves and also stay motivated.

I'm not a massive one for this 'he knows he's going to play every week, therefore it gets the best out of him because he feels comfortable'. I don't want them to feel comfortable. I want people to want to be the best.

I think we've had that for large parts of this season and with each player. But also credit to the players that haven't had as much game time because they're the ones that set the tone of training.

If they want to sulk because they're not in the team it can have a knock-on effect on other players and the togetherness this group of players have got is something special, for me.

I hope that they remain that tight group I think they are. I have to play my part in that, making sure the ones that aren't getting the minutes are appreciated – which they certainly are.

Whether it's myself, Doigy, other staff, senior players, we have to make sure they know that. That will keep us in good shape.

September:

LC: Good times rolled into September. Think of big games with Wigan and Blackburn, the club went top of the league, but I've picked out Doncaster with Arthur getting on and scoring his first goal that late...

PH: That night was special for Arthur. That's an image of me telling him well done at the end of the game but the abiding memory was in the dressing room after.

I was saying about how we haven't scored goals from outside the box after looking at some stats. I asked Arthur 'was it inside or out?' He came back, probably the most he's spoken here, saying 'I think I touched it just inside' and the lads just burst out laughing.

They were absolutely buzzing for Arthur.

What struck that night, and it wasn't a risk because I did it for the right reason, but I felt we needed to change the team around. We'd had a Saturday to Tuesday where I didn't feel we'd had the energy. I thought Doncaster seemed a decent sized pitch, they move the ball round well, I thought we needed a few changes.

I did that, some would say it was a gamble, it was great to get a victory and see stats back up what I'd hoped would happen but there's never guarantees, otherwise we'd do it every single time.

October:

LC: I had to go for a Bristol Rovers picture even though I missed the game! Following it I could scarcely believe the side were 4-0 up at half-time. What were you thoughts at that point?

PH: You want them to guard against complacency. If we'd scored four in one half, Bristol Rovers are capable, albeit it shouldn't happen. There was a reminder to a couple of players that they weren't at their best – that's me being truthful – but we'd looked a massive threat.

We scored some very good goals, I think the keeper should've done better with the second from their points of view but we looked a good side. The game started relatively even but we got in front and showed confidence levels.

There was one spell of play just before half-time where it was like watching a team from a much higher league. You're standing then and thinking 'what are they doing? What's going on? They're not my players!'

The message was 'make sure you keep a clean sheet'. Whether that's deemed as negative I don't know, from my point of view that's keeping people focused.

For the next 20 or 25 minutes of the second-half we did that pretty well. For the remainder of the game, once subs had occurred, it did just play out and we did the job.

As much as I want to push for every minute of every game, in some ways that's probably better with another game coming up – plus on the back of a long trip to Plymouth.

With another game coming up we stripped it right back so we could go again against Fleetwood, a different game altogether.

That picture's great, with passion, togetherness. I love the fact, as late as it was so you naturally get that reaction, if you watch the TV footage of Toto's goal last Saturday, you see all of the players sprinting off together.

And in the dressing room afterwards, the reaction from players not involved, I said it on the day – I love that. That togetherness can't be put on, it's not a front.

We're now in a position, a third of the season in, where the players have realised that they're in a really good place.

They're challenging themselves as well as the obvious challenges that we as staff put to them.

They still need managing, they still need a little reminder – I think they did a couple of weeks ago – but I have to say the group are good. They understand the opportunity in front of them and how well they have done.

But it is such a competitive league with a number of clubs that would expect to be in the play-offs at the minimum.

Ourselves in particular, and Blackpool are doing well, stand out like a sore thumb when you look at the other teams.

There's obviously one or two that are quite a bit below where, with two-thirds of the season left, they expect to be next May.

We've got to guard against that. We had positive results last season in January and February and then a month not go the way we wanted, that can quite easily happen here and it could be for longer or the odd game.

Nothing is sorted in October, that's for sure, other than we've made people sit up and take notice.

It's the players that are the biggest driver in that with their performances. It doesn't matter what we do in the training ground, (it's) when they step over the white line - (they might) freeze or cannot be bothered or might do their own thing.

They've bought into what we wanted them to do. They're getting their rewards and as staff we are by watching them and seeing your working carried out.

The fans are massively put into that too. Everyone involved in Shrewsbury Town is excited, some at one level getting carried away, others like myself are keeping feet firmly on the floor and still genuinely targeting that 50-point mark.

But it's a good place to be and generally we're really enjoying it. It's an absolutely dream start – I'm comfortable with saying start now and who knows what these months will have in store for us. It's certainly some months we can look forward to a lot better than where I first came in and prior, where the sole target was 'have we got a chance of staying up'?

We've got a chance of a few things that we could talk about in terms of targets but I don't want to put anything on that until we get to 50 points and see how many games are left, how the table does sit.

I'm aware of where we are but I'm still not one that sits and stares at the table at this point because it's pointless.

But eventually I will, when we get to that point, have a real look and see what is realistic.

Overall

LC: What's been the best performance, do you think? I know that's quite difficult, given context?

PH: It might sound silly given the results we've had this season, to talk about a draw, but it's probably Oxford. Wimbledon's first-half was very, very good, but that was on the back of their extra-time game and they couldn't make many changes. We still had to beat them and they showed second-half they had energy.

It took them a bit of time to get going and we looked very comfortable on the ball.

Going to Oxford was probably, if you talk about teams that'll be right up there, that was the biggest test of the season to date.

To go there and almost say 'we're here, bring it on' – the lads played so well and could've had the victory with Carlton's goal – or lack of goal – that went over the line.

They showed spirit again going behind away from home to make sure we had a journey home having took something from the game.

But the best game as a spectacle, for neutrals or whatever, was probably the Charlton game because of how many goals were in it, good goals as well, the emotion of being in front and behind and winning – but it wasn't the best performance overall – if you let three goals in there's probably something not quite right.