Risk and reward from the bench pays off for Sam Ricketts and Shrewsbury

Salop rescued a dramatic and crucial late point after forcing ex-Wolves man Adam Hammill into an own goal for a share of the spoils Ricketts insisted his side deserved.

Struggling Scunthorpe – under caretaker boss Andy Dawson – led midway through the first half, but Shrewsbury broke through for a point that lifted them to 14th on 47 points, remaining four clear of the drop zone with five games to play.

And their late joy was partly owed to the decision to bring on attackers Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Tyrese Campbell.

“While losing I made an attacking sub, you’re always a little wary then – if you make an attacking sub it loosens you defensively,” said Ricketts.

“Then I made another attacking sub, but we were on the front foot and controlling the game. They had very little, especially second half.

“To have the attacking threat on the bench to change the game is really important like Aaron and Tyrese did.”

Town finished the game with three strikers and could have found themselves at risk on the counter-attack.

Amadi-Holloway was involved in the equaliser as his lunge for Shaun Whalley’s cross appeared to distract goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.

When quizzed as to whether he felt his side were taking too much of a risk, the Town boss replied: “As long as we still have balance behind the ball, so I’m not playing gung-ho.

“I’m not playing long-ball – if Aaron comes on, we’ll play direct, but I see that as a pass.

“I don’t play long-ball, we try to get crosses in, that’s why we leave Shaun high and wide, because we want to use his quality getting crosses in and it worked really well.

“It’s really pleasing when you do make attacking changes.

“You are taking a risk because you weaken yourself defensively, but you make the changes and the players carry it out and you get your just rewards.”

“It was always in my mind to finish with three up top, Aaron in the middle, Ty one side and Fey (Okenabirhie) the other – a gamble, but we were the ones pushing. Aaron has great attributes. He can be unplayable and he had a real impact, same as Tyrese.”