Town boss hits back on Mat Sadler criticism
Shrewsbury Town manager Micky Mellon admits he is annoyed by criticism of Mat Sadler – and insisted any broadsides should be directed at the team as a whole.
Sadler has been singled out by supporters online recently, particularly after Saturday's 3-0 League One defeat at Coventry City.
The left-back got away with two penalty appeals and was then booked at the weekend. He was partly at fault for Rochdale's first goal in the 3-2 reverse at Spotland.
On Tuesday night, he was one of only three survivors in the 2-1 defeat at Fleetwood in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, with Jermaine Grandison and Larnell Cole, and was part of a three-man defence.
Some fans have called for a return of the popular Mickey Demetriou, who is on loan at Cambridge until January, but Mellon is keeping faith with Sadler.
The Town boss said: "It annoys me because it wasn't just him. I love all my players and I want to be fair to them all.
"Collectively – and Mat Sadler is included – they can all do more. Against Coventry we kept the ball reasonably well but I don't think we ran hard enough at times off the ball.
"What did I think of Sadler's performance? Is it right for me to single out someone's performance?
"I thought the first appeal against Sadler should have been a penalty by the way, but which goals was he at fault for?
"I'm not trying to skirt around the question, but I was disappointed with lots of things on Saturday."
Mellon added: "For the first goal at Rochdale, Mark Ellis should have jockeyed instead of diving in because if you go to ground, you must win the ball. So there are a few people culpable."
