Paul Hurst: Stay positive and patient at Shrewsbury

Town, mired at the foot of League One, head to Millwall on Saturday seeking a win which could cut the gap to safety.

Just three league victories all season has left Salop stuck in the bottom four since September.

Yet Hurst, who replaced Micky Mellon as manager the following month, finds cause for encouragement in improving performances and a sturdy defensive record which has seen his team keep five clean sheets in the last seven games.

The boss feels supporters are behind his team and hopes that remains the case as they try to fight their way out of trouble.

He said: "I hope the fans are behind us and backing us and, to be honest, since I've come in all I've had is positivity.

"Last week we had the community celebration awards and obviously people want to speak with yourself about the team and football. It was positive.

"We've got to try and keep that going. What I would say is – and I'm not trying to hide behind anything – ultimately we've come to a team in the bottom of the league that has won hardly any games all season.

"It's not suddenly going to be all free-flowing. At times we have played some good football, other times it's about being dogged.

"The biggest thing for me is being hard to beat until we can introduce some more to the group already here and then hopefully some confidence will come."

While Town's defence has become more stubborn, they have still struggled for goals and are the division's second lowest scorers. Saturday's 0-0 FA Cup draw with Fleetwood was the third game running they have failed to find the net.

Hurst said: "We've got to be willing to put the hard work in, which the players have, and make us solid. The clean sheet record suggests we're getting there. And at the other end, again, we've created chances."

Neil Harris' Millwall, beaten play-off finalists last season, have recovered from their own tricky start to the campaign and currently sit eighth, having lost just one in nine.