Elliott Dickman hailed his team’s character as they sealed their place in the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup.
Lee Connelly stole all the headlines as he scored a brace to maintain his hot-streak of form, netting his eighth and ninth goal in just 12 starts either side of George Hassall’s header.
Elliot Embleton rammed home a third to give the Black Cats a crucial two-goal cushion before Michael Woud pulled off a memorable penalty stop in the dying embers to ensure Sunderland advanced.
Speaking post-match, Dickman paid tribute to his players desire and in the same breath highlighted Connelly’s goalscoring prowess.
“Shrewsbury made it difficult for us and they frustrated us a little bit,” he said.
“They did that well and they have done their club proud because they have come here and had a good go.
“It’s important when you do have a set back like we did that you regroup and show that you trust each other.
“That was the main message we gave the players because when we had the ball we wanted to play some nice stuff but when we didn’t we had to work hard.
“Lee is a natural goalscorer, he works hard and has a good eye for goal,” he continued.
“It just seems to fall for him in the box and he has that natural talent to put it in the back of the net which is one of the hardest things to do.
“He has done smashing for us in the games and he has done well to get two goals again.”
Sunderland under-18s will face Wear-Tyne rivals Newcastle United in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.
