‘What an interview this is’ – Gareth Ainsworth has been praised for what he said after Shrewsbury lose to Charlton.
Thierry Small scored in the 96th minute, a blow to Salop who thought they were coming away with a vital point.
The result leaves Ainsworth’s side sitting bottom of the League One table, 20 points from 26 games, and are 7 points from safety, but have a game in hand.
Charlton meanwhile are 10th with 40 points from 26 games played, and 2 points from the playoff places.
🎥 #Shrewsbury head coach Gareth Ainsworth speaks to @studunn21 on 📻 @BBCShropSport following the 1-0 loss in stoppage time at #Charlton #BBCFootball | #Salop pic.twitter.com/careRUsgtZ
— BBC Sport Shropshire (@BBCShropSport) January 25, 2025
Ainsworth said to BBC Sport Shropshire: “Do you know what? It’s not as tough as you think because of the performance. Listen. I will back every single player in that dressing room 100%.
“They gave me everything. Absolutely everything today. And all those fans, you don’t deserve that today. You do not deserve that. Results, you know, I’ll tell you the result on me.
“Don’t have a go at these players. They were blooming brilliant today. They gave me absolutely everything. The shape they’re nailed, the chances were few and far between for Charlton and really were, you know.
“Jamal’s made one fantastic save from a header. But that’s what he’s there for. You expect him to make that now. We’ve had a great chance at the other end, and then they’re gonna score with almost the last kick of the game. You know, it’s it’s heartbreaking.
“But listen, I’m not down. I’ll pick these boys up. Everyone will be like, oh, no, doom and gloom, and I know the results mean we’ve gone bottom again.
“But listen, we are so in this fight. We are so in this fight, and because of performances like that, I say, I said to the boys, you play that out every week, you’re not going down because we’ve got teams to play that we will be when we play out.
“Look at the gulf between the two clubs here. Look at this place. I mean, look how much money they spent on their squad. This is football, and we have to try and find a way to match this.
“And you know what? We so nearly did today, and we almost won it. It was it was I’m so positive. I’ll be back on Monday. Got Stockport on Tuesday. Might have to change up a few. There’s a few cramping up legs going because they’re giving everything.
“This is a different place now, and I’m so proud of those boys today.”
Interviewer: “It was remarkable stoppage time period, wasn’t it, actually? What very much a case of what might have been.”
Gareth: “Do you know? You you it happens in football. You know? We have a fantastic breakaway. We are a counter attacking team, you know. There’s no there’s no bones about that.
“We have to be because we can’t we’re not good enough to control games and and and no. We haven’t worked on it enough, and and there’s different systems been employed and and all sorts going on, and I’m going right. I’ll make us, more secure at the back, 100%, and then sacrifice a little bit going forward, but we still be scoring in nearly every game I’ve been here, and that’s brilliant.
“Today, we were just short of it, you know, and, it was it was one of those moments. Our set pieces were good.
“We had a great breakaway move at the end. We just didn’t trouble that keeper enough really, and and and they didn’t trouble us. You know, there was no chances.
“Right at the end, there’s one chance, and the boy took it. You’ve gotta say, you know, it’s a great chance, you know. He’s a top quality player. He’s been Premier League clubs and loans, and he’s end up at Charlton. These could be in the Championship next year at Charlton Athletic. This is Charlton Athletic, Premier League team.
“Shrewsbury Town came here today and gave him a right score, a right scare, and I’m so proud. And every single fan that’s driving up that motorway because this is a long way, by the way. Took me 4 hours yesterday to get that bus. Every single fan that goes home, please please spread the word in Shrewsbury. We gave it our all today, and we were so close. And you know what? We didn’t really deserve to lose.”
Interviewer: “Your team did work so hard. What about that defensive performance as well, Nsiala coming back in for his first start for a while…”
Gareth: “I don’t single people out. Obviously, in interviews, you’ve singled Toto out there, and I’ll say he’s imperious at times. He really was. He started the game superb. They are he’s not fit. He hasn’t played a lot of games, cramping up, and, you know, had to take him off. He what he wasn’t gonna keep up with the pace towards the end there. But everyone, every one of them, you know, they’re learning. Josh Feeney got a hell of a play, you know, and learning his trade and and against some really quality players here today.
“But do you know what? I am so proud of this team. I’m so proud to be the manager of this team. Whatever happens whatever happens, Shrewsbury fans, you’ll be proud of us because we will scrap and fight and never give up, and it’s really hard to be a team that never gives up. My team doesn’t give up.
Interviewer: “There is still a long way to go in in terms of games, but the fact you have gone back to the bottom of of League One tonight, is that is that frustrating? Is that tough to to take in some ways?”
Gareth: “No. When turned up, we were bottom, but we were way further off it than we are now. We’re bottom on, I think, you know, the point where they give us a goal difference. I think Crawley would have gone bottom.
“Do you know what? We’ve been bottom a long time. We’ve been below the line a long time this year. This seems just above that line haven’t been in there yet. That’s tough, you know? That’s tough. You’re looking down all the time thinking, we don’t wanna go below that. All we wanna do is scrap our way above that line. I think we’re in a good place because we can get above there. That’s all we’ve gotta do. If we go down, everyone goes, yep. That’s what the season looked like. I’ll say, no. There’s teams above that line thinking, oh my god. I hope we don’t drop below that line. Believe me, they will. One of them will because usually they’re gonna get out of this.”
Interviewer: “Another tough away game coming next as well, Stockport on Tuesday. What are your thoughts?”
Gareth: “Listen. And another tough home game, Mansfield at home, you know. We’ve got some real tough games coming up. I think Boltons, Rotherhams and some real tough games against clubs that are huge, big monies, big investors spending money. You know, the strikers that we’re looking to try and bring in or defenders we’re trying to bring in or midfielders we’re trying to bring in. And they’re just way out of our league. They’re commanding all sorts of wages using this league because League One has gone through the roof this season. We’ll do it our way. We really will. I’m so proud of them today. And I won’t have a bad word said against this team because, you know, they’ve been through the mill this season. I just want them to keep playing the way they are. I keep believing because performances like that will be good enough to keep us up.”
Interviewer: “And just finally, we can’t possibly do an interview at this time of year without asking the the usual question. Are you close to anything happening in in the window in terms of maybe in time for for Stockport on on Tuesday?”
Gareth: “We’ve been close on a couple of occasions, and other teams have come in and and blown us out of the water. And that’s what happens, you know, when you’re below that line in League One, it’s tough to attract players and other teams can go, come to us. We’re not below the line, and we’ve got a little bit more money for you. That’s really tough, you know. Not a little bit more, a lot more. And I’m like, okay. Next one. We’ll move on to next one. That’s what you have to do. It’s gonna be right player, right price, right time, but I’ve always done good work on that last week, you know, because a lot of people gamble early, show their hands early. We can’t we can’t do that. We can’t gamble early. We haven’t we haven’t got the the the structure to do that. So, hopefully, the food chain will start moving and people will go to this club and he’ll be surplus and they’ll go to that club then somebody will be surplus. That might be the one we pick up, you know. We’ve got them ready. We’ve got them ready to come. It’s just whether we can get them over the line. So working really hard. But you know what? I think it’s really rude to my boys to talk about transfers after that super performance because every one of them deserves to wear that shirt. Great effort today.”
‘What an interview this is’ – Twitter users reacted with Gareth Ainsworth praised for what he said after Shrewsbury lose to Charlton…
@ghcooke56: I have to say that, as a Shrewsbury fan since 1964, I am enormously impressed by Gareth Ainsworth and his enthusiasm and demeanor. It’s easy to see why the players are motivated by him. Let’s hope we can hang on to him long term!
@NeilBright: From a Charlton fan, you’re be fine guys, you were very unlucky yesterday, you didn’t take your chances, we took ours, have to mention Gareth’s class, not just as a manger, after such a bitter defeat, he stayed out and shook hands with everyone of our lads, go well and good luck
@salopcast: Our gaffer
@ftfcknappers: What an interview this is. He knows how to motivate a football club, honest , hard working and down to earth bloke.
@daleskitt: Whatever happens at the end of this season, we MUST not lose this man.
@SamPoole2006: Going to need some results and fast to stay up (that’s obvious). But I hope no matter what Ainsworth is here for a long term project
@Salop1977: 4.5 hours there, watching us miss a 95th sitter to concede 50 seconds later and 3.5 hours back home would usually mean my weekend is ruined. Because of this fellas positivity it no longer is, Up the Town 🔷🔶 #Salop
@Danbro_01: He was one manager I definitely would have liked bringing in before we started to get to the likes of jones and duff etc. his energy and passion is incredible. Especially his structure of his sides. Youse should be able to stay up with him in charge
@Salop1977: It’s a tough ask but at least he’s given us a bit of hope!, I was surprised we got him, he must like a challenge! Good luck for the rest of the season, cracking scenes in your end when the winner went in, proper club.
@TheLeftyScot: Relegation or not come the end of the season, what a gaffer we have to take us forward – you can see why the team are running through brick walls for him! 🔵🟠 #Salop
@pacificpaddy: Gutted about today and we just can’t catch a break with other results 😥 But great to have such a positive manager, no snapping at Dunny or long face. GA must be a joy to work with. Combines a passion for the game with a sense of perspective, rare combination in football. #Salop
@MattFentonImps: Class from Ainsworth 👏
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