West Ham vs Shrewsbury Town: Ben Godfrey aims to dish out a Hammer blow
Ben Godfrey is confident that Shrewsbury can prove a test for whichever side David Moyes opts to field at the London Stadium tonight.
The tough-tackling midfielder, who celebrated his 20th birthday yesterday, enjoyed one of his most eye-catching displays in blue and amber as Town impressed against West Ham last week, writes Lewis Cox.
The Norwich loanee went toe-to-toe with Hammers midfield giants Cheikhou Kouyate and Pedro Obiang as Town were much the brighter side in a goalless draw at Montgomery Waters Meadow.
Moyes is likely to ring the changes tonight as he focuses on pushing his resurgent side further up the Premier League table. An impressive 4-1 victory at Huddersfield last Saturday means they have lost just once in eight league outings and have climbed to 11th.
Godfrey is not worried about who Moyes fields and is instead focused on stamping his authority on his top-flight opponents once again.
“One hundred per cent we would back ourselves even if West Ham put out a strong team,” said the popular loanee.
“We’ll be in the same mindset, confident, and trust that we can do it again. We’re an athletic team. When it comes to an athletic battle we back ourselves all day, and I back myself all day.
“On the ball will take care of itself, we’ve got quality in the side. Yes, they’re Premier League players but we’re a decent side as well.”
Godfrey won plaudits as Town’s star man in front of the watching nation as he shone in front of the BBC cameras on Joe Hart’s recent homecoming.
“It was nice for me to have a good game when it was broadcast to the whole country,” he added.
“But it’s gone now so we have to go to their place and do it again. I think, naturally, you put more pressure on yourself with the cameras there but you just have to try and block it out and play your normal game. You’ve got to look past it.”
Godfrey spent his 20th birthday with the Town squad as they travelled to their London HQ by coach yesterday. The players enjoyed a gentle training session this morning as they prepared for the tie.
The York-born Canaries man laughs off the fact he is no longer in his teenage years, instead insisting he has long since felt a mature footballer.
He added: “I’m not a teenager any more. I don’t want to get any older to be fair! Hopefully it can be another good year for me and I can learn plenty more.
“I haven’t felt like a young footballer in years. I never get treated like one. The lads treat me like I’m their age, a bit older, and I’d like to feel like I act a bit older on and off the pitch.”
The Shrewsbury Town birthday tradition will have to wait, though.“I can’t bring a cake in the day before the game,” he said. “I’ve got to wait until at least tomorrow or Thursday.
“It’s nice to go down there around my birthday. It’s a massive occasion and the reason why you play football – to play at these stadiums and against these teams, we’re going to enjoy it.”
Godfrey featured in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers, which ended an unbeaten run of 10 games and was just the fourth loss of Town’s league campaign.
He is determined not to dwell on the reversal and remained philosophical, as he referenced Manchester City’s conquered unbeaten record.
“Everyone loses at some point, we saw that with Man City, that’s football,” said Town’s No.4. “Sometimes games come around where not a lot of you perform and you get beat.
“We learn from it and it’s important we move on to getting three points in the next league game against Doncaster.”
