Paul Hurst happy to see Shrewsbury Town mix it up
Paul Hurst has warned that clubs may try to ambush their attractive style of football as Shrewsbury Town's flying start to the season gathers more recognition.
And the boss is more than happy with his side mixing up their style of play and using a long ball outlet should opponents look to hassle and disrupt his side's fluid style.
Town received rave reviews for some of the football played at their second win of the season at AFC Wimbledon a fortnight ago, leading Hurst to imply that last weekend's opponents Rochdale cottoned on and arrived to break up the blue and amber rhythm.
The boss is keen to entertain supporters this season and Town's fluid style to date has supporters excited this term.
"I thought we were a little bit nervy at the start against Rochdale but then got back to playing football," said the Town boss. "I think they looked to try and press us at times and that's when, if we need to, there's nothing wrong with playing a little bit longer.
"Not hoof-ball, certainly, but don't invite pressure when it's not needed. Chris (Doig) mentioned it at half-time, the plaudits at Wimbledon for playing really good football, there's no doubt Rochdale watched that and probably came saying 'we're not going to let them get into that rhythm and we'll look to upset them'.
"They had energy and they tried to do that.
"I thought we played through it quite a bit and other times were guilty of giving the ball away, for the penalty. It's just something to take on board a little bit but I was again delighted with the players."
Hurst, working with the rest of his management team, including physio Chris Skitt – now in a more full-on strength and conditioning role – and the club's GPS data monitors, are keen to make Shrewsbury Town the fittest side in the division.
With that, and intense pre-season sessions that have continued into the early weeks of the season, could mean players going the opposite way and beginning to feel leggy or tired, particularly in the latter stages of matches.
The boss alluded to this after his side high-octane victory over Rochdale, in which they fell behind before being pegged back by their visitors. The manager insisted coaching will be tailored to ensure members of the squad do not burn out.
"I've bumped into a few fans around," Hurst added. "And the thing they mentioned was about fitness.
"We've made no secret about that and what we'd expected of them. On Saturday for the first time it looked a little bit leggy and we're more than happy to look a at that as staff and see if there's anything we can do to make them look like an extra spring in their step.
"It was only towards the end of the game, but I thought one or two looked not quite as fresh as they have done in recent games.
"It's something we'll look at. If people are running around in the shirt, irrespective of the result, you're relatively happy as a supporter – but the three points and win makes everybody's weekend better."
