We will have to be better, warns Shrewsbury Town chief Paul Hurst
Paul Hurst has told unbeaten Shrewsbury they must improve if they are to extend their run at Oldham tomorrow.
The leaders edged past Southend on Tuesday night to extend their advantage at the top, but had to survive a second-half Shrimpers onslaught.
Hurst has warned that tomorrow’s performance against the improving Latics, who are unbeaten in two after losing their first five League One games of the season, must be better if Town are to continue as pacesetters.
Shrewsbury struggled to keep the ball in the second period against Southend and the boss is looking for a more complete display at Boundary Park.
“They’ve got a nice mix in having people such as (Peter) Clarke, Craig Davies up front, Anthony Gerrard, real ‘been there, done it’ experience,” said Hurst.
“They are real competitors. In midfield with (Jack) Byrne, (Kean) Bryan in there and (Dan) Gardner, they have very good footballers in the middle of the pitch.
“Bringing someone like Eoin Doyle in is a big signing, make no mistake. They’ll continue to improve. I fully expect a very tough game.
“We’re going to have to be better than we were on Tuesday to take something from the game.”
Shrewsbury’s dream start to the season, in which they are one of just six clubs in the top four divisions still unbeaten, is down to hard work behind the scenes, according to the boss.
But Hurst will not wax lyrical about his squad and is instead keen to ensure they maintain the levels they have shown throughout this run.
“It is not to be taken lightly, the amount of effort everybody puts in here,” he added.
“They do deserve great credit – they probably don’t get enough from myself and Chris (Doig).
“We want to keep them on their jobs and approaching every game like their life depends on it. That’s what we have to instil.
“We’ve got to let other people shower them with plaudits.”
