Shrewsbury Town flying high but will remain grounded, says Mat Sadler
Mat Sadler insists Saturday’s victory has already been forgotten about as Town aim to follow it up against Southend tonight.
The club captain reveals that Paul Hurst’s men have their feet firmly on the ground despite an incredible unbeaten start to League One.
Wigan were high-flying Town’s latest victims. Shrewsbury defied the odds in front of a roaring home crowd to down the Latics, who are promotion favourites.
Attention quickly turns to another Montgomery Waters Meadow clash, as faltering Southend make the long midweek trip to Shropshire.
If Town remain unbeaten tonight, they will match the club record seven opening league games unbeaten from the 1894/95 campaign in the Shropshire & District League.
The Shrimpers haven’t won since the opening day. But Sadler explains that Saturday’s memorable success is only worthwhile with another win to back it up.
“It was a good result against a team who are fancied,” said the 32-year-old. “It was a nice yardstick to measure where we are.
“But there are so many things that get thrown your way throughout a season. We have to back the result up by getting a good result tonight, that has to be the mindset.
“The message has to be that we go again. If I was stood here after a bad start, I’d be saying exactly the same.
“It’s a good start, that’s all it is. I urge the fans to get down again and continue being as vocal as they are.”
Sadler, ever-present in the heart of Hurst’s defence after being rejuvenated in the position, is a key cog on and off the field.
And he echoed the manager’s wishes to raise expectations and not be satisfied by scraping for League One survival. “I want to raise standards at the club,” he added. “I want to make it so we’re not happy with bouncing between Leagues One and Two.
“So we’re not joyous in a promotion from League Two. I want it so we’re looking up and having a bit more belief in what we are as a football club.
“The chairman works so hard in raising our profile and giving us all the things we need.
“The club and the town should believe more in ourselves and we’re here to raise the standards and make the belief show.”
But, while the early points haul provides a welcome buffer between Town and the sluggish starters, Sadler is keen to stress no medals are handed out in the autumn.
The defender said: “The season goes until May. There will be no points counting, nothing like ‘we need to get this, that or the other’.
“There will just be pure focus on tonight. Fans can get carried away as much as they like, but you win absolutely nothing in September.
“You might win a couple of pats on the back but that’s not what we’re here to achieve.”
“There will be no getting carried away, you can tell that from how I’m saying it.”
A boisterous home crowd roared Town over the line against Wigan. Sadler hailed the backing, adding that it should not be understated
“When we were definitely under the cosh, there’s no doubt about it we can hear the support and the crowd getting behind us,” he said.
“I think they can see we need that pick-me-up. Don’t underestimate how that makes you walk a little bit taller, re-focus your mind to make you sharper.
“They’ve been brilliant since the gaffer’s come in. They’re right behind us, we hope to continue giving them something to cheer about.”
