Schumacher's Shrewsbury Reaction

In the next few days, the funfair in Central Park will pack up and head to its next location.

However, the biggest thrill ride in town remains the one that has its base in Home Park, with occasional stops around the country.

The latest sideshow saw Argyle roll up to Shrewsbury Town, go behind to a Killian Phillips, but come back from the brink of oblivion to fight back and win thanks to a Joe Edwards equaliser and a Callum Wright winner in stoppage time.

“It's just like a rollercoaster, isn't it?” said Argyle boss Steven Schumacher, with the beaming eyes of something who screamed with terror riding Nemesis Inferno then asked to do it all again.

“This game's going to be the death of me, but it's brilliant.

“We had to work really hard for it. We knew Shrewsbury would be depleted, they’re suffering big time from injuries and suspension at the moment, but credit to them, they made it really hard for us. They defended really well.

“It's always hard when teams put 11 men behind them the ball, trying to break them down. They get the first goal, which makes it even more difficult for us. But credit to our players, once again, we stuck to the plan, didn't get impatient and start booming balls forward, which suits them. We kept on probing and thank God we got over the line.”

Shrewsbury made life extremely difficult for Argyle, particularly after the taking the lead. As they dropped deep, essentially with everyone behind the ball, there would have been a temptation for Argyle to play direct balls into the area, but the ‘gyles went with guile, and in the end patience was a virtue, and yielded the perfect reward.

“You’ve got to try to work little angles and work your way into the box,” said Schumacher. “That can be frustrating at times if it doesn't work, it doesn't come off. But two opportunities that we did do that and got into the box, then we scored.

“Niall Ennis wriggles his way out of a tight situation in the corner, produces a brilliant cross in the box and Joe's in a good position. Then Macaulay Gillesphey: he's calm, he doesn't just lump it in there. He feels it in there, Callum Wright is on the back post and scores a brilliant goal for us.”

Edwards’ goal was his first of the season, his 18th in a Green shirt, and as precious as any. Schumacher was rightly proud of his captain not only for getting off the mark, but for his tireless performances as he leads by example.

Schumacher said: “He's the captain. He's almost like another member of staff because he gets it. He's the one that we look to for leadership and inspiration. I think the last two games have been great games for him. I thought he was our best player tonight and he deserved his goal. That's what you need big players for in the team.

“He's not the only one that we've got in there, there are leaders. They're all doing a brilliant job, hence where we are in the league and we just need that to continue.”

Argyle boast as good a home record as any team in the land, which they will look to for inspiration as they now face three home games in succession in the penultimate of the Sky Bet League Two season. However, the win at Shrewsbury took the winning run on the road to four, the first time they have won four in a row away from home since January 2020.

For over 1,200 members of the Green Army, Wright’s winner meant elation, and more scenes of ecstasy followed at the final whistle, reward for the players’ persistence and the fans’ patience.

“The away victories are so important. Any victory at this stage of the season is so important,” said Schumacher.  

“We've been to some difficult places, haven't been free flowing, but we've ground it out, battled and showed that we can compete and we can mix it up. We've also showed moments of quality like we've had tonight.

“We got over the line: that's the most important thing.

“It's exciting. We're buzzing to be in the mix with it all. We're sitting on top of the league and it's in our hands.

“[The Green Army] have seen their team tonight put in 100% effort against a stubborn team that were difficult to break down, but we kept going.

“So many of them here tonight on a Tuesday, having to travel back wherever they're going, all over the country, but they’ll go home happy. They’ve seen another massive three points, and to do it in the last minute away from home - it doesn't get much better than that.”