Bernard McNally: Shrewsbury FA Cup loss should not eclipse Millwall win
Last Saturday's win at Millwall was definitely a more important result for Shrewsbury Town than the FA Cup replay defeat at Fleetwood on Tuesday night.
Going to such a difficult place like Millwall and getting three points will give Shrewsbury such confidence and self-belief – particularly the way Millwall got at them and put them under pressure.
It was their first win at the Lions since 1965 and that's great – I remember playing Millwall who had a young Teddy Sheringham and Tony Cascarino and they absolutely smashed us!
Town needed the points and it moves them that step closer to safety. One more win could possibly get them out of the bottom four.
Paul Hurst has four men in defence, is playing a standard 4-4-2 and the stats are proving he's doing what's required. They've gone three league games without conceding.
Louis Dodds has two goals in two games so players in attacking positions are igniting too, whereas maybe things were a little stale before.
Paul, the staff and players deserve credit for closing the gap to survival, which is now just two points. The old saying is 'keeping hold of their shirt tails'.
Now Town could get out of the drop zone against Bristol Rovers at Greenhous Meadow on Saturday.
Rovers are doing well in ninth having come up last season but Town are on the crest of a confidence wave – even after losing the replay at Fleetwood in dramatic late circumstances.
It's time to build on their run. If you get a few good results you don't want to spoil it with a bad one.
The manager has really turned it around. They haven't conceded at home in four games under Hurst. I'm a big believer of a back four and maybe the players are happier with that.
Aside from going out of the Cup, the only mark against Town was captain Adam El-Abd's red card and 10th yellow cards of the season for Ivan Toney and Gary Deegan.
All three will now miss two games. It's the second time El-Abd has been sent off and it's something that Paul will address. Being the captain, maybe at times you have to show a little more restraint.
Town played some fabulous football in the first half at Highbury Stadium, the manager said it was the best they've been in his tenure, and clearly he's keen for his side to move the ball quickly. You have to see a pass and make it. If you dally for a second too long the moment's gone.
If you can adopt the quick passing, sort of like that old Barcelona side, you don't half make space and chances.
El-Abd's suspension and Ryan McGivern is injured in defence while Toney is suspended and AJ Leitch-Smith injured in attack. Deegan is also out and he's been great under Hurst.
It's that old adage that other players have their opportunity and they have to try and take it. It's frustrating when you get into a routine, but you have to get on with it – football is never straightforward.
