Shrewsbury Town manager Matt Taylor was brutally honest following his side’s thrashing at Blackpool on Saturday in an interview with Shropshire Star.
The words were very fair given the context of the game, with Shrewsbury embarrassed 4-0 at Bloomfield Road. Two goals either side of the half time break would give the hosts all three points, with Salop having very few chances all game.
That was just one of two League One games over the weekend, with Stevenage running out as 1-0 winners against Lincoln, some normality will return next week with every side back in action following the international break.
Although results around them would be no problem, Shrewsbury have played at least a game more than the eight sides below them, with six of those having two in hand. Currently four points ahead of the relegation places, those games in hand could certainly hurt Salop’s league position.
It has been a dismal few weeks for Taylor’s side, with just three points from their last five games, next Saturday they welcome Port Vale to the New Meadow in a game where fans will be hoping for a much improved performance.
Just one point splits the two sides currently and although Vale have two games in hand, they have also seen a decline in performance in recent weeks. Taylor will be expecting a bounce back and didn’t shy away from criticising his players after losing to Blackpool.
“It is an unacceptable result.
“The goals that we have given away, without having the time to back over them, are not anywhere near good enough.
“We have got to get back to the clean sheet mentality that we had earlier in the season. We have got to be better away from home. Fact. End of.”
Shrewsbury have won just one away game so far this season, against relegation threatened Fleetwood and although their home form isn’t much better currently, it is a serious cause for concern.
The side will no doubt be put through their paces on Monday with Taylor saying:
“It is not good enough. We will look at that. I will tell you one thing we will be putting that right come Monday when the players are in, I can tell you that for nothing.”
A better performance next Saturday is an absolute necessity and Taylor himself could soon be on the hot seat if results do not pick up. With fewer games on over the international break, results are certainly exacerbated but the performance is very worrying.
The players will certainly be worked hard during the week in order to improve, and a loss next weekend could put the Shrews into the relegation picture.
Writer’s View
With all the teams below them having games in hand, Taylor will be tentatively looking over his shoulder at the results of those below. The team do look fairly lacklustre at the moment and do not look likely to improve on their 12th place finish last season.
It’s never easy losing 4-0, but it makes it even worse when you are one of just two games over the weekend. Teams will be looking to take them on every week currently, and with the second worst goal difference in the league, something has to change.
Senior Editor
