Gary Peters will demand his Shrewsbury Town players win their “individual battles” to help overcome direct Dagenham and provide supporters with much-needed early festive cheer tomorrow.Town go bidding for their sixth home win in 10 games at Oteley Road when they take on Dagenham & Redbridge for the first time in the Football League.
Shrewsbury are desperate to avoid losing further ground on the play-off places as the hectic Christmas period approaches.
And Peters admits last week’s defeat to Notts County has placed extra significance on tomorrow’s game.
“The performance for a long time was good last week but we didn’t get the result and that just adds to the pressure to win the next one,” he said.
“We have seen Dagenham and they are a direct side who had a great win against Wrexham (3-0) last week.
“They will enjoy playing at our stadium more than most because they have been playing in the Conference and have been used to going to the likes of Leigh RMI.
“We need to win our individual battles first and if you don’t, you can’t think about getting the opportunity to play.
“We know they will be direct but we had to go that way last season because of the (Gay Meadow) pitch so we know how teams play like that and we know how to play against it.
“We started off getting good results at home but we weren’t playing that well and hopefully now we can get both the performances and the results because you can sneak up the table with a good Christmas period.”
Peters is remaining tight-lipped over his selection for tomorrow but it will be a major surprise if there were wholesale changes from the side which slipped to defeat at Notts County.
Winger Marc Pugh has returned to training and will be pushing strongly for a place in the 16, but will probably have to start on the bench.
Andy Cooke is almost certain not to be considered as he is likely to require a reserve game before contemplating a first-team comeback following an absence of four months due to a serious hamstring injury.
7 Comments
Doesn’t sound as if it will be a game for the purists!
Another case of Peters underestimating and criticising opposition before the event.
Wait for the excuses. It’s a man’s game, Peters!!!
3 points is 3 more points, go for it town floreat salopia
We are probably only 2 or 3 games from the dreaded vote of confidence followed by the inevitable.
I personally don’t like teams with 2 names so I hope we take them apart and give them a football lesson they wont forget…or sneak a 1-0 with a dodgy penalty.Up the Town !
well done gp and the squad. at last the goal feast has arrived. onwards and upwards, bring on christmas, a hearty floreat salopia to you all up there in my beloved Shropshire
the only knockers of gary peters should be in 38d cups eeiiaddio we wone the cups. perhaps the few critics may now be silenced