Analysis: Shrewsbury Town make their point to stop slump

Shrewsbury were a long way from their fluent, purposeful, confident and exuberant selves from earlier in the season.

But they rallied just about enough to snatch what could prove to be a crucial point away from Montgomery Waters Meadow. A saying from the football book of clichés reads that good sides pick up points when they are not playing well.

Paul Hurst’s side were the opposite of that last time they were in league action. They impressed against Bradford, looked back to near their old selves amid this slight slump that has seen them relinquish top spot and invite the doubters to suggest a nosedive.

What did the positive Meadow display get them against Bradford? Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Here, at Stadium mk in freezing conditions on a huge pitch in front of barely any supporters (given the size of the Dons’ supreme stadium) Hurst’s men snatched an unlikely point on an afternoon where it did not look likely.

In the end it was a piece of individual magic that came good for Town. Shaun Whalley has got fine ability in his locker and – after bagging his seventh goal of an eye-catching campaign – is starting to show it on a consistent basis.

Beleaguered hosts MK Dons were not much, if any, better than Shrewsbury. An afternoon where attackers got little change from defences and both sides cancelled each other out in the middle.

It is a results business and, taking the performance out of the equation, Hurst’s men were keen to avoid a third straight League One defeat. They were four minutes plus stoppages from that fate.

Three defeats in the league is more than enough for doubts to creep in, both in the dressing room and in the stands. But a point could prove crucial at the end of the season. It could yet be the difference between a play-off spot or missing out.

It was important that Hurst’s men stopped the rot. It hardly mattered how they did it. The ball could have rebounded in off Dean Henderson’s backside from a late corner – any share of the spoils was vital. Which is why Dons’ tame opener, the result of a Town defensive error, riled the visitors.

To their credit, Hurst and Town did not bow their heads. Instead the boss rang the changes, the tempo was upped and Shrews got on the front foot.

While an equaliser did not seem forthcoming, when there is class like Whalley’s right foot in your armoury, then you have a chance.

Performances over the last five games in all competitions – since Town’s first league defeat at Peterborough – have fluctuated between good-to-average, poor and stinking.

Now that they have a battling point on the board, the boss will be keen to see a return of the swashbuckling style that put his side top of the tree earlier in the season.

It was telling that Hurst noted in his interviews that players are struggling for form. It has not gone unnoticed by supporters that several of Town’s first team are a few gears below the standard they set.

It is unnatural to expect those standards would have been maintained throughout, Hurst always admitted that. His job now is to keep self-belief, confidence and morale raised – while at the same time assess how to go about a pivotal January recruitment drive.

Performances are well and good and usually yield results, but Town grabbed a fine point on Saturday and that should be well received.