Paul Simpson has challenged his Shrewsbury Town players to use yesterday’s promising second half showing as the benchmark for the remainder of the season.
Town made up for a lacklustre first half performance with a much-improved display after the break as they peppered the Notts County goal.
And, while a failure to make the breakthrough left them having to settle for a fourth draw in five outings, Simpson is eyeing more of the same attacking football on show in the second 45 minutes for the remainder of the season.
“It would be good if we could get that standard - the players showed what they are about,” added the boss, after his first home game in charge.
“All we are trying to do is encourage them to pass the ball. I want us to get it out to wide areas and I want us to get crosses in.
“It’s not making excuses for anybody but it can be difficult at this stage of the season because the pitches are really dry and bobbly.
“We are fortunate enough to have a very good playing surface so we have to take advantage of that trying to get the ball down and create opportunities, and that is what we spoke to the players about at half-time.”
Yesterday’s stalemate moved Town closer to guaranteeing their League Two future, and they now lie 11 points clear of both Mansfield and Wrexham, who are becoming cut adrift at the foot of the table.
But Simpson - who remains on the look-out to add at least one further loan signing to his squad before the deadline on Thursday - is refusing to take anything for granted.
“We are edging closer (to safety) but there is still a threat hanging over us, as there is a lot of clubs,” he added.
“The thing is that the teams down there are playing each other and they are all going to take points off each other.
A strong Town reserve team - including trialist defender Martin Riley - is in action at Oteley Road tonight, as they host West Bromwich Albion (7pm).
The line-up is: Scott Bevan, Luke Jones, Colin Murdock, Martin Riley, James Meredith, Chris Humphrey, Darren Moss, Jimmy Ryan, Tom Moss, James Constable, Guy Madjo.
By James Garrison
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4 Comments
it matters not which half was good, bad or indifferent, what matters is that town had 55% of the play and no one could score. did we have the right players up front, is the right man in charge, get a grip, otherwise the delights of grays stafford and forest green are calling
Did you go to the game Devon?
devon - Your negative comments are undermining the team. Give the nee manager a chance. He has only been in the job “five minutes”. I really wonder with so called supporters like you why we bother to have a football team. Either support the team and manager or take your negativity to some other team. Who needs rival supporters knocking their team when we have so called fans such as you.
sorry to offend anybody but i am not trying to be deliberatly negative, it is down to a lack of confidence in the squad and i hope the new man can turn it around