Cup tie like watching paint dry

Morrissey once sang about a ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’ and seventy minutes into our cup tie with Hereford on Saturday, I was rewriting the popular track with a working title of ‘Football Supporter in a Coma’, writes our Shrews Blogger David Craig. Yes, I was that bored.

In blogs gone by, I have made passing reference to Salop’s previous inability to keep clean sheets. Well now we can’t get enough of them. Three in four games to be precise. Magic.

Sadly, at the other end, we now cannot, as the popular saying goes, ’score in a brothel’. Against the Heffers, and in recent games against Wycombe and Swindon, Salop have lacked a bit of creative genius to unlock a defence.

I hear moans and groans from my fellow Riversiders that what we need is a goalscorer. Let me stand on my soapbox and proclaim, that I do not think this is the case. What we do need is a central midfielder, or a winger who can unlock a defence with a cunning pass/cross/through ball. Surely it’s not too much to ask?

Ben Davies, pictured, is capable of this quite wondrous ability, but stuck out on the left flank, he doesn’t have much opportunity. Peters had bought the, ahem, extravagantly named ‘Joe Keith’ on loan from the Orient to help us in this task, but quite laughably he has now slung his hook after just two games. We’re still paying him until the end of the month though. Jokeshop.

Saturdays game was so dull to watch, that I even wished Sammy Aiston was back at the Meadow. For all his lack of ability in the crossing and shooting departments, Aiston was one of few players in recent years who actually gave me a slight buzz of excitement when they had the ball, as he embarked on another psychotic run at the full back.

Yeah, he gave the ball away a few times, but I like to be entertained for my money, and Sammy did do this. I just wish a Salop player from today’s squad would do the same occasionally.

Anyhow, it’s a replay at Edgar Street next Tuesday, which hopefully will be a 3-3 draw with Salop winning 14-13 on penalties. I can dream.

At least I can take comfort in the fact that it can’t be any worse than the first course.

Saturday sees the blue and amber brigade travel take on Wimbledon. Wimbledon now play in Milton Keynes and have a really rubbish pseudonym that I won’t repeat. Yet again, this fixture has to be classed by all Salopians as ‘tricky’.

I’d take a point, hell I’d even take a goal, but I fear the worst. Then again, Hereford won there a few weeks back so anything’s possible I guess. At least if we do lose, we can take comfort that Jester City come to the Meadow next week, now they are dire.