SHREWSBURY Town boss Paul Hurst felt his side more than matched Rovers during the 1-1 draw at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

But he felt the big turning point was the chance missed by top scorer Stefan Payne moments before Tony Mowbray made the triple change which brought about Rovers finding an equaliser.

Payne was denied by the legs of Raya after being played through by Jon Nolan as the hosts looked to build on the 1-0 lead given to them by Toto Nsiala’s goal just before the hour mark.

But despite conceding a late equaliser, Hurst was proud of his players who maintained their unbeaten start to the league season.

“It’s perhaps a sign of how far we come because I’ve got a dressing room in there that feel as though they’ve been beat,” he said.

“I think for large parts we more than matched Blackburn.

“Obviously, their subs had a bit of an impact and they had a good spell at the start of the second half, but ultimately Stef’s chance was a big one and we need to get that bit more of a cushion in the game to help them save their legs slightly.

“Forget what league position they are currently in, we played a good team there and more than held our own, so it’s another day where there’s very promising signs.”

When asked what aspects he was pleased with, Hurst added: “I just like the energy and the honesty of the team.

“If anything we are slightly naïve and it was a bit like a cup tie at times, but when you are 1-0 up it’s a balance between not being so defensive that you don’t commit men forward, but you don’t become stretched.

“Maybe we slightly get it wrong at times, but the enthusiasm is absolutely fantastic and we’ve got an honest group of players that I’m enjoying being manager of – I just hope that can continue.

“I saw that Exeter had been beat, so in terms of the Football league we are the last team unbeaten and that’s an achievement in itself.”