Michael Appleton says Shrewsbury Town must continue their progress in possession after showing clear signs of improvement during Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw away at Wycombe Wanderers.
Having taken over from Gareth Ainsworth last week, Appleton has made it clear he wants his side to develop a more composed style with the ball. Despite being held to a goalless draw at Adams Park, the head coach was encouraged by the performance and believes it is something to build on.
Under Ainsworth, Town had begun to pick up points but often favoured a more direct approach. Appleton’s early tweaks were evident midweek and, while still a work in progress, he sees signs of progress in the way Salop are now approaching games.
“We’ve just got to keep progressing”
Appleton praised his side’s ability to play through the thirds and highlighted the effort required to adopt a more possession-based approach – especially against high-flying opponents like Wycombe.
“We just need to keep progressing and keep improving bit by bit. I thought in our defensive third and the middle third, we were excellent in terms of our passage of plays.
“I think we can be a little bit better in the final third, but that’s just technique and sometimes down to possibly ability at times.
“But there’ll be moments, and we’ll have better moments where we have longer periods of sustained pressure. And when we do that, that’s when we’ve got to take the chances.”
He also reflected on Saturday’s heavy defeat to Birmingham, where Town lost 4-1, but said he was pleased with the bravery his players showed against Wycombe.
“I just thought we could have been a little bit braver with the ball. I know we played a top team, huge budget, great players, but we still could’ve been braver. And on Tuesday, they did that in abundance.”
Appleton also noted the physical toll of playing more expansively, explaining how it impacts players differently compared to a direct approach.
Writer’s view
Shrewsbury’s performance at Wycombe wasn’t spectacular, but it was significant. Appleton has come in with a clear philosophy, and his team is already starting to reflect that. Adapting to a more possession-heavy style will take time – and fitness – but the commitment shown midweek is encouraging. With patience, the style could bring long-term benefits and a more sustainable approach for Town’s future.
