Shrewsbury seek answer to scoring struggles
At first glance, Gary Deegan might appear the wrong man to ask about how Shrewsbury Town solve their lack of goals.
While Town are looking for answers after failing to find the net in three consecutive games, the tough-tackling midfielder's own wait for a goal stretches back more than three years, to August 2013, when he netted late on in Northampton's 3-1 win over Newport County, writes Matt Maher.
It should come as little surprise, therefore, that the 29-year-old is eager to end both droughts in one strike at Millwall tomorrow. Deegan echoes manager Paul Hurst when admitting the team's lack of goals is a problem where everyone must look for solutions, even defensive midfielders.
"We are all a little bit guilty of not chipping in, it's not just down to strikers – we don't score enough goals from midfield as well," he said.
"If we could share the workload a little bit more it can take the pressure off people like Ivan Toney.
"We will take any goal that comes our way to get us off with a win."
Town's players clearly feel they were unfortunate not to find the net during last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Fleetwood in the FA Cup, a game in which they hit the woodwork no fewer than three times.
"I know it is a cliche but when you are down at the bottom these things don't seem to go for you," said Deegan. "When you get in those positions you have to be clinical. You might only get one or two chances in a game but you have to take them.
"It is coming. I know I have been saying it for a long time. It is all about how you react.
"It would be easy to put your head down and think 'here we go again'. We haven't done that."
Five points adrift of safety at the foot of the table, Deegan knows a win tomorrow could instantly change the outlook, even if the task facing Hurst's team looks formidable.
After a shaky start, the hosts have lately begun to resemble the team many tipped for promotion at the start of the season. Deegan, at least, can call on the experience of recent success against the Lions, having been part of the Southend team which won 2-0 at The Den last season.
"We went there with a mentality we are going to the lion's den and I think we have to have the same tomorrow," he said.
"Playing Millwall is always tough but we have nothing to fear. We have gone to big grounds already this year and held our own.
"There is nothing to fear there. We are all in League One. Why not? It's 11 men against 11 men. We are confident we can go and get something out of the game.
"We have had five clean sheets now in seven, we have stopped those silly goals going in.
"If we can start creating and put the ball in the net – that is the next step."
After Millwall, the road gets no easier for Town, who play four of the next five away from Greenhous Meadow.
More than half the season might still remain yet, even so, these are a big few weeks.
"I think the performances are there and the results at the moment don't reflect that," added Deegan.
"We know the position we are in but we are only one or two wins away from putting something together.
"You can't worry about other teams. We have to concentrate on ourselves. I think that is what the boys are doing."
