"I cannot stomach" - Michael Appleton on Shrewsbury's defeat at Cheltenham
Michael Appleton says he "cannot stomach" the first half performance during Shrewsbury Town's 3-1 defeat against Cheltenham Town at the EV Charger Points Stadium on Boxing Day.
Hakeeb Adelakun ghosted in unmarked at the back post to open the scoring in the 14th-minute and turned provider for Jake Bickerstaff after the half-hour mark.
Isaac Hutchinson added a third from the spot at the start of the second half, after Will Boyle upended Arkell Jude-Boyd inside the box.
John Marquis scored a consolation just past the hour, but the damage was ultimately done prior to that.
"It's difficult to look beyond the first half. I've managed quite a lot of games and a lot of games, but the first half was as bad as it gets for me," Appleton conceded.
"I can take players kicking the ball out of play, having a poor touch, misplacing a cross or scuffing a shot. All of the technical sides of it, but I can't stomach a lack of intensity, application or energy.
"All of those things that you don't really have to pay for. They should come naturally and be part of your makeup.
