Fear is to blame says shell-shocked Shrewsbury Town boss Mike Jackson
Shrewsbury Town boss Mike Jackson believes that nerves played a significant role in his side's disappointing display in yesterday's massive basement battle against Crewe.
The game had rightly been billed as a major relegation 'six-pointer' and Jackson admitted that some of his players seem daunted by the occasion.
He said: "I didn't see that coming. I knew it would be cagey, but a few players just didn't turn up.
"And that is disappointing. We had that at Tranmere last weekend and I think it's a mental thing more than a physical thing.
"It's fear. Against Stevenage a few weeks ago we didn't have any fear.
"But as the games go by the pressure builds and I think that got to them a little bit yesterday."
He added, though, that the visitors, who had started the game third from bottom of the division, had also looked nervous in the early stages.
But they settled after Town shipped two soft goals either side of half time – something Jackson conceded his players failed to recover from.
He said: "I think Crewe looked edgy before the first goal. I didn't think they were great to start with.
"We have had more attempts than them and then all of a sudden we go and gift them a corner and a set-play and the whole dynamic changes, and we didn't get back from that".
The defeat left Shrewsbury five points from safety with three games remaining.Meanwhile, delighted Crewe boss Steve Davis praised the courage shown by his team in such a crucial game.
He said: "I am pleased because there was pressure on this game, but we got the ball down and played our football and I thought we were the better team.
"That is not easy to show that courage and composure, but they did it. We had to battle at times and defend well, but I thought we deserved to win the game and we scored some good goals.
"It is a big win, especially looking at other results as well. The good thing is we are in control of our own destiny now.
"We have just got to try and win as many games as we can in the three remaining matches.
"Before yesterday it was a four-game season, if you like, so it was really important that we got something against Shrewsbury, particularly as they were two points behind us at kick-off."