Close: Portsmouth were given scare by Shrewsbury
Ben Close admitted Pompey were given a scare by Shrewsbury.
But the midfielder hailed the Blues’ defensive solidity following their victory at New Meadow.
Kenny Jackett’s troops moved up to third in League One with a 2-0 success against the Shrews.
Close and Brett Pitman were on target for the visitors either side of half-time.
However, relegation-threatened Shrewsbury dominated the opening half-hour and should have really made their pressure count.
Pompey keeper Craig MacGillivray making a superb save to deny Shaun Whalley, while Lee Brown made an excellent block to thwart Scott Golbourne’s effort.
Close saluted how the Blues remained resolute when under pressure – and how his side punished the Shrews at the other end.
He said: ‘We expected Shrewsbury to be good.
‘They’re fighting for their lives, were on the front foot and gave us a bit of a shock and a bit of a scare.
‘But luckily we rode through it.
‘We defended well, came out the other side and then hurt them at the other end.
‘For us to come out with a win is pretty pleasing.’