Paul Hurst left fuming following Shrewsbury Town defeat

Town suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time under the Shrews boss in what he admitted was the poorest display of his reign so far.

Three cheap goals contributed to Town's downfall at Highbury Stadium and Hurst shared choice words with his charges at full-time, including his disappointment in their attitude.

The boss said: "It was not good enough and not acceptable. I felt sorry for the fans that travelled.

"I think we've had enough bits of play around their area but as soon as it went 3-0 we had too many that decided it's too much hard work and it becomes a job and a chore and ultimately for me that is not acceptable.

"That is 100 per cent the first time I've seen that since coming. I said on Saturday there were things that annoyed me but you take things into context.

"It surprised me to a degree because I was hoping we were all on board and trying to make it difficult for them but it was far too easy. There's a point where you have to be a man and play through difficult times.

"A career's full of that, if you can have a career. I've said to the lads there that we're struggling at the wrong of the table in League One and I don't know where some of the players will end up – it's their careers.

"The disappointment for me is that I'm now the manager and I'm part of that. You've got to make the opposition work so much harder."

Hurst went four games unbeaten after taking over the Town managerial role, including three wins and three clean sheets, but Saturday's Bramall Lane reversal was backed up by a chastening evening in Lancashire.

The ex-Grimsby boss suggested his positive start at the helm had ground to a halt and that he was seeing his squad's true character.

"It feels like the honeymoon period's over and I'm seeing a true reflection of the team after we had the initial uplift," he added.

Meanwhile, on-loan Stoke City winger Moha Choulay was returned to his parent side earlier in the day.