Mat Sadler confident Dean Henderson can respond from abuse
Mat Sadler has backed Shrewsbury goalkeeper Dean Henderson to respond in style after a difficult afternoon at Ewood Park.
The on-loan Manchester United shot-stopper was beaten by three goals for the first time this season as Blackburn secured a 3-1 home victory.
The 20-year-old faced a torrent of abuse from the Blackburn supporters behind his goal in the second-half as Danny Graham and Charlie Mulgrew netted. Mulgrew's penalty, Blackburn's third, was followed by objects thrown the way of the goalkeeper, to which he reacted angrily.
Henderson and goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne had a pep talk after Town's fourth league defeat of the campaign.
Club captain Sadler said: "We all know that Dean has the potential to be something a bit special, we've all seen that.
"The reason why it's brilliant for young players to come out on loan is for experiences such as this, he'll learn from it.
"He'll learn a shed-load talking to Coyney and the manager.
"Fingers crossed for Hendo he will play in bigger grounds than this (Ewood Park) in the future and he'll be barracked from louder fans than he has done today.
"He has to learn. He's got absolutely everything that you'd want in your goalkeeper and he has Coyney looking after him."
Sadler, 32, wore the head bandage after the cut he picked up against West Ham. While defensive partner Toto Nsiala also took a blow to the head after coming through an earlier fitness test.
The defender added on Town's demanding schedule: "I'm not tired at all. Anyone will tell you they'd prefer playing as opposed to long weeks waiting for a game.
"I prefer to play, that's for sure. I don't buy the tiredness one, everyone wants to be out there. Yes there's bumps and bruises with games thick and fast but I'll back our mentality as the squad where, if individuals are leggy, someone will take on the mantle."
