Skipper Graham Coughlan insists Shrewsbury Town will not be scarred by last season’s woeful away record as they prepare for the weekend trip to Barnet.

Town have started the 2009-10 campaign in good form, beating Burton Albion 3-1 in League Two then taking Championship side Ipswich Town to penalties in the Carling Cup.

But Saturday’s clash at Underhill will be the first chance to show that they can also perform away from the comforts of the Prostar Stadium.

That certainly proved a problem last time out, with Shrewsbury winning just three times on their travels and going on a run of 20 away games without victory.

“Last season is in the past,” said experienced captain Coughlan. “There will be references regarding the away form, I’m sure, and it will come up this week.

“But we have a whole new set of players now, a new team with a new mentality.

“I don’t see that being a problem and I would be bitterly disappointed if it was something that was to linger this time.

“This is Barnet’s first home game of the season and they’ll be looking to get a win, because it is so important to win your home games in this division, but we will be prepared.”

Coughlan is also working his way through a personal disappointment, having missed Shrewsbury’s final spot-kick in their 4-2 shoot-out defeat to the Tractor Boys.

Town have now lost two penalty shoot-outs in the last month, having also gone down in the same fashion against AFC Telford United in the Shropshire Senior Cup.

The defeat has certainly hurt Coughlan, who is now hoping for the chance to put things right in the near future.

“I hope it doesn’t linger in my head,” he added. “I was obviously upset, annoyed and disappointed with it but I have to get on with it.

“I knew where I wanted to put it, but I didn’t get the connection I wanted. I skied it and it was just a badly taken penalty.

“If the opportunity arose to take another one then I would step up again – I don’t like letting people down and I’ll be keen to make amends.”

By CHRIS HUDSON