Shropshire Star

Analysis: Complacency not an option for Shrewsbury Town under Paul Hurst

Complacency at Shrewsbury Town? Getting ahead of themselves? Not a chance under Paul Hurst.

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Supporters can rest assure that there will be no slacking at Montgomery Waters Meadow. At least not knowingly, anyway.

Recent results, particularly in League One, may have waned but Hurst will ensure that his players do not begin to think they are better than they are

Managers are sometimes keen to wrap their players in cotton wool, keep them sheltered from any unnecessary and undeserved criticism with fans and media.

But it is with the press that Hurst has been refreshingly open. He refuses to find them excuses and instead tells us what he thinks of the performance his side have put in.

If it’s not been up to his standards – as in recent weeks against Walsall, Bury and Port Vale – then he will first let them know... and then let the press and public know. It is a clear ploy from Hurst. He is not idly publicising his emotions and thoughts in a view to come across as the strict headmaster. He is looking for a reaction. No player likes to be dug out to supporters and the press.

Former Grimsby boss Hurst is a manager that gives all of the time in the world to the media. He is as pleasant in interviews as in day-to-day life – but make no mistake that he has a steely persona and the players know and respect.

The public dressing downs come over more fiercely given the remarkable first third of this potentially magical season.

The desired reaction is clearly for his players to prove the manager wrong in the next appearance.

When Town lost at Bury a couple of Tuesdays ago, the boss was scathing in his post-match interviews.

The following Saturday, when Shrewsbury welcomed promotion-targetting Bradford, there was a much-improved performance.

It did not quite yield the result Town deserved, as a Toto Nsiala deflection gave the visitors the victory, but the performance was worthy of a victory nine times out of 10.

That was a small glimpse into the psychology behind Hurst’s honesty before and after games.

Tuesday evening’s Checkatrade Trophy progression against Port Vale was the result Hurst craved, but the performance was far from it.

He let his side know that at half-time, full-time and then told the press how the display was nowhere near good enough.

Town fans will hope that the response to Tuesday’s reasoned rant will be on display in Milton Keynes today.

The MK Dons trip comes as an opportunity to end a run of back-to-back league defeats. If that run extends to three then Shrewsbury will be in desperate need of a reprieve.

There is certainly no room for complacency at this stage. The season is running into its busiest period and Town’s results have wobbled for a first time.

It will be intriguing as to how this squad react to Hurst’s outburst at Vale Park.

A positive result at Stadium:mk today sets Town up for attractive consecutive home clashes with Blackpool and Portsmouth. Then we reach Christmas.

But any Town fans that are worrying about players downing tools should rest easy.

Hurst is a manager that will not let his players get away with murder purely because of a remarkable 15 games.

Further on, the January transfer window is now just 23 days away. Hurst has already warned that replacements could be on his radar if performances do not return to their earlier standards.

But the boss is confident they will. A dip was always going to come – it is how you react that is most telling.