Set plays drills tough to recreate – Hurst

Shrewsbury were punished for slack marking from set pieces last Friday night, as Port Vale’s Sam Foley profited to send the Valiants ahead in a 2-1 defeat.

Town face the in-form Trotters at Greenhous Meadow on Saturday.

The reserve fixture, a 2-1 Boxing Day defeat, saw Shrews ship quick-fire headed goals to giant centre-half David Wheater, while Chesterfield, MK Dons and Peterborough have all punished Town in recent weeks.

But righting that will be difficult in training, according to Hurst.

“You can make too much of it, in truth,” said Hurst. “And on the training ground, realistically, unless we’re going to import some giants in to go against us, it doesn’t really matter.

“We’re set. We’re in a good position and we just lose our man (last Friday). I wouldn’t mind, and no disrespect to the lad that scored but he’s not a giant. It’s not like we’re done by Peter Crouch coming on the pitch and scoring a goal – it makes it more disappointing.

“Set plays, that’s what cost us over at Bolton on Boxing Day. They’re a massive side and unfortunately we haven’t got those type of players so we need to somehow try and combat that as well, and I just want to see us play better."

Town look to get back on track against Phil Parkinson’s Macron outfit after a run of one win in five has left them looking over their shoulders.

Hurst will hold his hands up if his side are beaten by a powerful leap and bullet header, but can’t condone slack marking.

He added: “If someone scores over the top of someone and he genuinely out-jumps them, you hold your hands up and say it’s frustrating – and you’re still annoyed.

“But you have to get hold of your man and give no free headers.”