Brian Barry-Murphy happy with Rochdale’s performance at Shrewsbury

Posted Sunday, August 18, 2019 by PA

Brian Barry-Murphy praised the character of his Rochdale side as they extended their unbeaten start to the season with a 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury.

Dale defended well to register a first clean sheet of the campaign and they ended the match strongly, with Callum Camps having an effort ruled out for offside.

“I haven’t seen the video, but the lads obviously thought it was a goal,” said boss Barry-Murphy.

“For me, I was just pleased with the way the players continued to attack in the later stages of the game when it would have been easy to settle for a draw.

“We showed great courage and great resilience in defending our goal and then I thought we were the dominant force the last stage of the game.

“Although it had been a really even and tough game for long parts, we really came into our own towards the end of the game and looked strong at the finish, which is hugely pleasing for myself and testament to the players really.”

Camps and Stephen Dooley were both denied by Shrewsbury goalkeeper Max O’Leary.

Barry-Murphy added: “I was delighted with the application of the players and the courage they showed in defending as a team.

“I thought there were parts of our game today that weren’t up to the level skill wise that they have been in recent weeks.

“But there’s different ways to get a result and our lads found a way today.”

Shrewsbury’s Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Steve Morison both forced first-half saves from Robert Sanchez.

The goalkeeper also stopped a Shaun Whalley effort after the break, with Fejiri Okenabirhie firing the rebound wide.

“I’m delighted with another clean sheet,” said Shrewsbury manager Sam Ricketts.

“A point is a good point in the right direction. We are in the very, very infant stages of what we’re trying to do.

“You probably saw it took 25, 30 minutes to actually see what we want to see, but we ended the first half how we want to play.

“But with so many new players in, it’s really hard. We’ve got players coming in today and playing more or less on their first day, so to get that integration and understanding is going to take some time.

“But I think you saw for a brief little spell of everything what we’re trying to do and we look very good when we do that.”

Ricketts gave a debut to former QPR midfielder Sean Goss and also introduced Norwich loanee Louis Thompson from the bench for his first appearance.

He said: “I thought Gossy did very well. He’s done a pre-season and I thought he did well. I think you saw glimpses of what he can do.”