Graham Turner backs Shrewsbury Town strikers

Shrewsbury Town boss Graham Turner today backed his quartet of strikers to re-discover their goal-den touch – despite the recent shortage.

Town have found goals hard to come by over the Christmas and New Year period, finding the net just three times in their last six games.

But Turner insists he retains full faith in the attacking options at his disposal at the Greenhous Meadow in nine-goal leading scorer Marvin Morgen, Terry Gornell, James Collins and Tom Bradshaw.

The Town boss said: "Having been in the game a long time, I know sides go through spells during the the season where the goals are flowing and then suddenly you can hit a lean spell, as we have done now.

"More alarming than not scoring would be not creating chances, but we are creating them.

"For instance, in the last two games we have had a good number and haven't been able to take them.

"I've still got faith in the four strikers we have got.

"We've a balance of experience, pace and strength, so I'm not unduly worried.

"Sometimes it's confidence and sometimes you can have a bit of bad luck.

"Against Northampton, their goalkeeper had an outstanding afternoon.

"Then, against Middlesbrough, one or two opportunities went begging which we really should have done better with."

Turner also added that the team's emphasis to re-discover their early season goal ratio shouldn't fall solely on the strikers.

He said: "We have also got to look at getting goals from other areas of the team.

"Any successful side needs a proportion of the goals to come from midfielders, defenders and set plays.

"We have got to make sure we achieve that through the second half of the season."

Meanwhile, the Shews chief insisted he is only seeking to bring in players who can significantally improve his starting line-up during the January transfer window.

"We are looking for somebody to strengthen the starting line-up and that's the criteria we have.

"That's where our search is directed and it's difficult."

See also:

• James Wallace snub a blow to Shrewsbury Town

• Middlesbrough boss hails Shrewsbury Town Cup fight

• Longer loan hope for Shrews defender James Hurst