Adam El-Abd would swap Shrewsbury Town cup run for league safety

Town have enjoyed wins against Middlesbrough in the Checkatrade Trophy, Barnet in the FA Cup and Huddersfield in the EFL Cup this term.

But they are rooted to the foot of the League One table with just three wins from 20 games.

And the centre-half, who signed from Bristol City in the summer, admits he would happily exchange the three cup victories for nine points in the standings.

The captain, who has featured 21 times this season, helped Paul Hurst's side to a fourth clean sheet in seven games in the goalless draw against Port Vale on Saturday.

He said: "We'll be going again to prepare for the cup game which is obviously a break from the league and we'll be giving it our all to stay in the competition.

"But I'll be totally honest, the three wins we've had in cup competitions I'd change for league wins and be out of all the cups.

"We've got to realise that the league is the most important thing. It's all very well to play nicely in the cups, which we'll try to do on Saturday against Fleetwood because we owe them one from the previous game.

"Fingers crossed we can build on the Port Vale performance and go one better in getting the win."

The attitude of Town's squad was much-improved against Vale following the dismal 3-0 defeat at Fleetwood last Tuesday. But Egypt international El-Abd says the spirit shown in the derby must be repeated in every one of Town's remaining 26 League One clashes.

"We've got to understand the position," he added. "There was a good atmosphere and intensity against Vale but it must be the minimum now. Every game's a derby game for us. That's it – fact.

"We've kept four clean sheets in seven. Signs are there that we're becoming more solid. If we can build on the positives we can get ourselves out of trouble.

"There's a long way to go and panic buttons have not been hit."