AFC Bournemouth striker Christian Saydee marked his full debut for loan club Shrewsbury Town by netting his first goal in the Football League on Saturday.
Saydee restored parity for Steve Cotterill’s team with a finely-taken effort in the 19th minute at Vale Park, cancelling out Ellis Harrison’s early opener for the hosts.
His clever backheel found Rekeil Pyke before Saydee latched on to his teammate’s cross and applied a composed finish past Vale goalkeeper Jack Stevens from around ten yards.
Shrewsbury, bidding for a hat-trick of wins in League One, were condemned to a 2-1 defeat when Harrison headed home in the first minute of stoppage time.
Saydee was named in the starting line-up for the first time having impressed when coming off the bench in the victories over Forest Green and Exeter City.
Shrewsbury are managed by former Cherries frontman Cotterill who gave an assessment of Saydee to their club website: “I knew there was going to be a time when he hit a bit of a brick wall and that’s all part and parcel of getting him up to speed but he played very well for his first outing.
“We’ve got to make sure we get him fitter. Coming on as a substitute has helped him and he had an impact on the game whereas the substitutes really haven’t had an impact today when you want that bit of freshness.
“I think we’re still getting up to speed with some of them (the new signings) and we’re disappointed with the defeat. There’s not a lot we can do about it now and not a lot we can do when they score in the 91st minute.”
Saydee has made six appearances for the Cherries, including five as a substitute, and scored his first career goal in a 5-0 win against MK Dons in the Carabao Cup last season.
The Londoner could again lock horns with Port Vale when Shrewsbury host them at Montgomery Waters Meadow in the Papa Johns Trophy tonight.
Pictures courtesy of AMA.
