Sam Ricketts: Shrewsbury Town showed 'endeavour' in draw

Shrewsbury twice led at the Highbury Stadium through Shaun Whalley and Jason Cummings but were pegged back three minutes from time by the hosts.

Josh Morris scored the late equaliser after Lewie Coyle had made it 1-1 just after half-time.

The Shrews boss, whose side now turn their attention to the mouth-watering FA Cup tie against Liverpool next weekend, was impressed with his side's resolve to take retake the league after being pegged back.

"We showed some quality and plenty of endeavour. The second goal, from Jase, is well worked and well taken as well," said Ricketts.

"We had loads of endeavour but unfortunately just couldn't quite get over the line when generally this year we have done.

"If you look at the game earlier on in the season you see we're improving and it's taken a real late goal from Fleetwood to get themselves a point.

"I think the game was there for the taking in the first half. We allowed them to get a foothold in the game through a little bit of our doing.

"We had real good chances on the break to score a few times and then eventually we did to go 1-0 up.

"In the second half there was loads of endeavour and drive. They get back in the game and we come back strong again.

"Jase hits a great goal and you're just going to hope you go on and win."

Ricketts continued: "(the response) is the biggest thing. We've showed character on a number of occasions, I always talk about the work rate and togetherness as a team.

"We come away from home and get pegged back but then show resolve. It would've been easy to go under with their supporters getting on top to push the home team forward.

"We rode that out and had some quality in the final third to get that second goal."

Ricketts said on Jason Cummings lively cameo, where he looked to have bagged the winner: "Jason was looking really good, he's been really sharp in all the appearances recently."

But the Town boss felt his side paid for a busy recent schedule and that Joey Barton's hosts took advantage of fresher legs at the death.

"First and foremost if you look at us we've had a really busy period, a couple of midweek games coming into today with the Doncaster game re-arranged," Ricketts added.

"Fleetwood certainly didn't play this week, we're on the back of a real busy period, I don't know if that played a factor.

"They were fresher and brighter in the last couple of minutes, it wasn't anything else, I think that was about it."