Ex-Premier League star eyeing FA Cup run 20 years after iconic Liverpool moment
It's almost been 20 years since Matt Taylor infamously ran the length of the Anfield pitch after scoring for Portsmouth against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Taylor came on as a second-half substitute for Pompey during the fifth round of the world's oldest cup competition back in February 2004. Within eight minutes of being introduced, Taylor lashed home an unlikely equaliser in front of the Kop and decided to celebrate at the other end with the travelling supporters.
Portsmouth ended up drawing the game 1-1 and taking Liverpool back to Fratton Park for a replay. Harry Redknapp's side progressed through to the quarter-finals by beating the Reds 1-0, although Pompey and Taylor's journey in the FA Cup came to a crushing end against Arsenal in the last eight.
Fast forward two decades and Taylor, who also played for West Ham and Bolton among others during a successful playing career, is now hoping to create more FA Cup memories as a manager. The 41-year-old is currently the boss of League One outfit Shrewsbury and they face Colchester in the first round proper on Saturday.
“As a child you grow up watching the FA Cup and seeing those special moments and how much of an impact it has on people's lives," Taylor told Mirror Football. "I remember playing in the FA Youth Cup for Luton against Wolves at Molineux, being able at 16 to take part in that game.
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"I've had some really good memories. But I'd forgotten about that goal [against Liverpool]. If memory serves me correct, I ran the whole length of the pitch to celebrate and then we won the replay.
"The competition holds a special place to me because I'd been brought up watching it and was really fortunate to play in it. I never got to a final, the closest I got was getting beat 5-0 in a semi-final at Wembley."
Matt Taylor's Shrewsbury face Colchester in the FA Cup on Saturday (Getty Images)Like Taylor, Shrewsbury have created some spectacular memories in the FA Cup, none more so than drawing 2-2 against Liverpool in the fourth round in January 2022. Salop took Jurgen Klopp's side back to Anfield for a replay, though the Reds ended up being too strong and eventually won 1-0.
But that wasn't the only time Shrewsbury have encountered Liverpool of late. The two teams met once again in the third round in January 2022 as Salop, who were then managed by Steve Cotterill, travelled to Merseyside. Despite an early Daniel Udoh strike, the Reds ended up coming out on top, earning a 4-1 success.
Taylor reiterated the importance of the competition to the club but admitted they can't think any further ahead than Saturday's game. "The players are more than aware, from my perspective, that we want to be competing in the next round of this cup, but you've got to make sure you perform against this opposition and that'll be the thing for us against Colchester," Taylor continued.
"I think the players will [want to have more FA Cup success], but more importantly I think you've got to understand the supporters. The supporters themselves know how wonderful it was for them to go to Anfield, for them to bring Liverpool to the town.
Daniel Udoh celebrates scoring for Shrewsbury at Anfield in 2022 (Getty Images)"But I'm not thinking that far ahead, my main focus, along with the players, is on the game on Saturday. We know it's going to be a very difficult game. We know there has been a change at that football club and the players have reacted positively to that. So we have to make sure before we think about anything else, we perform on Saturday against Colchester."
After replacing Cotterill as Shrewsbury's new manager in the summer, Taylor's side have made a mixed start to the campaign. They have won five of their opening 15 League One matches and currently sit 18th, three points above the dreaded drop zone.
When assessing their their start, ex-Walsall boss Taylor added: "To this point, we've had five clean sheets which is great, but what we haven't done is converted enough of the opportunities in front of goal we've created. That's not just the front players, that's everybody, so that's an area that we want to get better in because ultimately goals win games and goals change games.
"We haven't scored enough and we are constantly working as a group of staff and players to ensure that's an area we can improve. It's a vital part of football. I think there has been some excellent performances from the group.
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Matt Taylor has made a mixed start to life at Shrewsbury (Getty Images)"But to be successful in any reason, regardless of what that looks like for any given football club, there needs to be a real level of consistency both with and without the ball. Our challenge now is to up the level of consistency, because performance levels have been good in the last two games."
After a difficult start to the campaign, Colchester have picked up of late, winning their last two matches. They earned a 3-2 win over fellow strugglers Grimsby before going to Accrington and picking up three valuable points. It's a run that has moved them six points above the bottom three.
Although it's an FA Cup match and not in the league, Taylor is expecting a "difficult" test from a side that sit 26 places below them in the pyramid. "Listen, the FA Cup always brings with it a special feeling," Taylor said. "It's got a special place in English football and quite rightly so.
"Are the players looking forward to it more than any other game, I suppose you've have to ask them. From my perspective, it's the first round of a cup that we want to do well in. Am I excited? Yes. Do I think it will be a difficult game? Yes. I think with the players Colchester have, they are not in a position in the league that reflects that.
"You just have to look at their last two results in the league, they beat Grimsby and Accrington away from home. They will be coming here full of confidence. But on the flip side of that, our home form recently has been really good, so we've got to make sure we replicate that. The players will know how difficult it will be to play against Colchester in arguably the most difficult cup competition in the world."
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