Town lack spark to ignite stalemate

There can have been few seasons in Shrewsbury Town's history where so much has been expected, yet so little has been delivered.

Fitting then that the final Oteley Road chapter of the campaign proved as low key and uninspiring as Saturday's goalless stalemate with Chester.

A non-descript affair as a campaign to forget finally draws to a conclusion. For Paul Simpson, this week surely can't pass quickly enough.

He will, of course, remain professional to the end and will attempt to drag a performance and result out of his squad in the final game of the season at the home of his former club Rochdale, themselves preparing for a play-off campaign Town fans began the season expecting their club to achieve at a minimum.

But chances are Simpson's thoughts will already be focused on the major rebuilding operation he is determined to oversee.

For it is unlikely the weekend's events will have paved the way for a u-turn from a manager who is steadfast in his belief that sweeping changes are required.

In so many ways, the final local derby of the campaign provided a 90-minute snapshot of Town's season.

Just as Shrewsbury started with a bang with four victories from the opening six games back in August, so the home side made promising enough starts to each half against Simon Davies' strugglers.

John Danby was forced into a full stretch save from a Kevin McIntyre drive at the start of this derby, while a hat-trick of chances went begging within five minutes of the second half getting underway.

The most clear-cut of those was provided by a tantalising cross from Chris Humphrey, drilled along the corridor of uncertainty between Danby and his defence and awaiting the most simple of tap-ins from an on-rushing player in blue-and-amber.

It was the type of delivery a natural finisher thrives on. But, with no Town player prepared to gamble on a run inside the six-yard box, the opportunity went begging.

In arguably their best spell of the match, the dangerous Humphrey also forced Danby to parry a 20-yard effort around the post, while Ben Davies would have been disappointed to make only a weak connection with a shot when space opened up for him in the box against his former club.

But just as Shrewsbury's season has faded away alarmingly, so they increasingly flattered to deceive as this encounter wore on, excitement levels only briefly raised when Guy Madjo headed a gilt-edged chance over the bar from another Humphrey cross with just five minutes remaining.

That would have been enough to earn Shrewsbury only their third victory of 2008.

But, truth be told, it would scarcely have been deserved on a day when their play lacked energy, spark and tempo and clear openings were at a premium as they failed to find the net at home for the eighth time this season.

On the positive side, Shrewsbury can reflect on a clean sheet, something only placed in serious jeopardy when the dangerous Paul McManus struck the post in the 10th minute after his shot from the left edge of the box had the beating of Scott Bevan.

That apart, there were few scares for the hosts, but the sense of anti-climax was all too clear as supporters were again left frustrated by a below-par display.

That has become an all too familiar feeling over the last nine months and is something Simpson will be desperate to overturn when his regime begins in earnest after next weekend's final act at Rochdale.

By James Garrisonnextpage

Shrewsbury's Dave Hibbert crosses the ballnextpage

Marc Tierney puts in a challengenextpage

Shrewsbury's Guy Madjonextpage

Darran Kempsonnextpage

Ben Davies closes down on the goal