Analysis – Keeping the chasing pack behind crucial for Shrewsbury Town belief
As the chasing pack smell blood, Shrewsbury Town sealed a crucial three points to keep themselves in the hunt.
The fight for the top two places in League One is becoming relentless but dogged Town dug in to see off a spirited Blackpool.
Much like MK Dons the week before, Town were a way from their scintillating best, but Paul Hurst’s side had the match-winning quality to seal the three points.
The win, just a second in six league outings since Town lost for the first time in the league this season, keeps Shrewsbury ahead of many of the third-tier’s big hitters.
Blackburn made it six wins on the spin while Bradford, who won at Montgomery Waters Meadow a fortnight ago, are beginning to look formidable.
High-flying Wigan are really showing their credentials and look unstopabble as Hurst and Town plan a Boxing Day siege in the north west.
But Jon Nolan’s fine second half strike kept Hurst’s men above both Blackburn, Bradford and everybody else but Wigan.
It was a rare moment of class in what were trying conditions for both sides. Entertainment was at a premium with both teams guilty of not showing enough care on the ball in a scrappy first half.
It was cagey and tight in every sense of the word. Players seemed on top of each other, with no open space for the likes of Nolan, Shaun Whalley and Alex Rodman to power into.
The Montgomery Waters Meadowhome crowd were desperate for something to lift the spirits after a more difficult run of form.
Nolan’s 55th minute winner released a wave of relief from the stands. There was still work to do, but Blackpool had to come out of their shells, leaving room for Town to break.
You sensed that some belief that may have seeped away was flooding back through the fans at full-time.
It was an important victory in helping supporters maintain the belief that Shrews can continue mixing it with the big guns.
Taking a deserved point from MK Dons and snatching a winner at home while not firing on all cylinders is a positive for Hurst.
Nobody expected Shrewsbury to sustain the level of performance they did for 15 games but to be collecting points amid a tougher run is commendable. Blackpool are not a bad side and contain some quality – but Town restricted Gary Bowyer’s team to precious little.
During his post-match press musings, Hurst referenced his side feeling pressure in recent weeks.
Whether it comes from the press, the stands or the staff, pressure is an ever-present in football. There was far more pressure on Hurst and Town last season as they battled the drop.
This season’s pressure is different. It weighs differently on players’ shoulders.
It is the pressure of keeping those sides behind you. Not tailing off after a supreme and once-in-a-generation start to a campaign.
With flying high at the top of the table, comes expectancy.
Town fans have become spoilt with what they have seen this season. It is human nature, even for fans who know fighting at the top is a million miles from where their side should be, to be demanding and expecting more of the same.
There were murmurs of frustration in a dull and uneventful first period. It cannot be easy for Shrewsbury’s players to maintain their focus on breaking down a side if the going gets tough.
Three points are all that matter. Points are all that are worth anything come May, more scrappy wins will do Town just fine.
