Bernard McNally: Shrewsbury show they are up for the fight
The real positive from Shrewsbury's back-to-back Bank Holiday draws was that they didn't taste defeat – that's a big thing at this stage and Paul Hurst will take strength from it.
They didn't play very well against Walsall but ground out a result, showing strength of character. Then going to Northampton, getting a well-deserved point, again showed there is plenty of character in the side and that they're still working and fighting for every point.
Saturday's visitors Southend are on the verge of the play-offs. We've got to hope that Shrewsbury put in a great home performance. Let's face it, Town will be the underdogs. I hope that can play into their hands, it takes a bit of pressure off.
Fans will come and be thinking that getting a win will be a sensational result, a draw would be a great result.
More pressure is on Southend, that could help the group of players psychologically.
Hopefully with the support of the home crowd, the players are able to do something that, on paper, doesn't look that likely.
I'm sure that Paul will be telling his players that they are the underdogs and for them not to sit back, to be positive. I think Town have proved at times that when they all perform – and 11 perform, you can't be carrying passengers – they can be a match for the top teams.
We had a manager with Northern Ireland called Billy Bingham and one of his favourite sayings was that 'we might be able to carry one player, with absolute pure luck we might be able to carry two but if you have to carry any more than that then you're snookered.'
Now is the time when Town can't afford to carry anyone. Players must give 100 per cent, they can't afford anybody under par. Individuals have to step onto the pitch ready to strain every muscle, track back and be fully tuned in.
The other major boost was the return of Abu Ogogo. I was absolutely delighted to see him back in the starting line-up. He showed in 90 minutes at Northampton what's been missing at times recently.
He can get around the field and break play up, restarting it by giving the ball to the more gifted attacking players. But he can also go box-to-box which is a great trait to have.
It's fantastic, he's one of the main players for these final two games that you'd want in your side – it's a tremendous boost. It sums him up as a player and person, he's a very fit and athletic guy and maybe he has a quicker recovery rate than others.
If ever we needed someone to come back and give a glimmer of light, he did that on Monday and hopefully he can help get the result against Southend.
The supporters' backing has cranked up recently and I do think the fans appreciate it's been a tough situation throughout.
They understood there had to be change and when Micky Mellon left a lot of the fans were pleased and they can see the strides the team have made. They're seeing there's effort and commitment in the players.
