PNE boss Simon Grayson was delighted with the man of the match display by Irish youngster Alan Browne after the Lilywhites’ fourth consecutive home win.
The 19-year-old former Cork man jointly claimed the George Banks Jewellers prize with hat-trick hero Paul Gallagher and the North End gaffer was full of praise for his No.31 after the game.
“There was a driving performance in midfield from young Alan Browne and it was certainly worthy of a man of the match performance today,” he said.
“It wasn’t in question who should get it. Gally played well and got his hat-trick, but Alan Browne was driving us on. He was getting on the ball, running past people and contributed to the penalty and the free kick that Gally scored from and he put in a fantastic all-round midfield performance.
“The lad has got enthusiasm, he’s got fantastic qualities and we are really pleased with the progress he has made.”
North End made it 15 goals in four home games along with 12 points from 12 to move into the top four in Sky Bet League One, but the manager admitted he was still searching for perfection.
“I have said to the players after the game that I am delighted with the victories and the goals, but there are certain things we can still do better,” continued the Lilywhites’ chief.
“If we did one or two of the things we did today against better opposition, no disrespect to Shrewsbury, then in the Play-Offs we would be punished.
“That might be a little bit unkind on the players and our performance, but we are trying to be perfectionists.
“The performance of the individuals within another good team performance was excellent again though today.
“We have looked like we could score a lot of goals at home all season, even in the games we have drawn or on a rare occasion lost. We have never been short of creating chances and putting our opposition on the back foot, we have just not been clinical, but we can’t complain about 11 goals in the last two home games.
“The players are getting into the areas that we have been demanding of them, like the wide players getting into the back post, and we saw that with Lee Holmes’ goal and Paul Gallagher’s first goal today.”
However, he was still pleased to continue to build momentum ahead of the Play-Offs: “To score five goals, get another three points and make it four consecutive home victories is pleasing for us.
“It was a hot day out there, we passed the ball okay and got the two goals in the first 40 minutes and I just thought we needed to up the tempo in the final third to really get that killer instinct that was slightly missing.
“We gave them a lifeline with what was a poor goal to concede, but we came out with a good tempo in the second half and were worthy winners in the end,” he added.