Chris Doig calling for cool heads in Shrewsbury derby battle

That is the message from Town’s No.2 Chris Doig who – alongside boss Paul Hurst – will aim to halt Town’s hoodoo against Walsall tomorrow.

The Shrewsbury assistant is a big believer in taking each game as it comes and, despite Shrewsbury’s lofty League One position, will not get carried away with 12 games still to play.

The Scot, a veteran of several Nottingham derbies during his time with Forest, said: “They’re great atmospheres. It means more to the fans. It’s just three points. That’s what the boys have to keep in mind.

“Let the fans get worked up. You’ve got to have the adrenaline and blood going but you’ve got to have a cool head at the same time.

“It’s a game of football, 90 minutes. Control yourselves and play to the level we have done so far.

“We know how important it is to the fans. It’s a result they’ll be keen to win.

“We want to win every game so the fact it’s a derby game doesn’t put more on it for us. It’s three points.

“It’s extra significance for fans, they want bragging rights, we get that. For us it’s three points. Nothing changes.”

The club hope for a large turnout to greet tomorrow’s derby as the hosts go for just a second league triumph over the Saddlers in 16 attempts.

And while a feisty atmosphere is generally a given, Doig is expecting a vociferous setting for each of Shrewsbury’s remaining six Montgomery Waters Meadow clashes as Town continue their brave battle for promotion with Wigan and Blackburn.

“A big crowd for every game,” he insisted. “Derby games can be easy, there always seems to be extra atmosphere. I’d like to think between now and the end of the season the atmosphere will be the same, knowing the importance of every game that we’ve got.

“I’m expecting a decent crowd and a good atmosphere.”

Doig, 37, was handed his step into coaching by Hurst at their former club Grimsby and the 37-year-old is vastly enjoying his time in Shropshire.

He can often be seen giving hands-on coaching to players at their training base, while he cuts an animated and passionate figure on matchdays, willing players on from the touchline. “Of course I’m enjoying myself. I’m enjoying coaching full stop,” he added.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my spell at Grimsby and it’s carried on here.

“Obviously when you’ve got a bit of success to go along with it then it’s difficult not to enjoy it.

“We’ve got a good staff, a great group of players.”

Second-placed Town were rock bottom of League One in October 2016 when Hurst and Doig got the call.

But, behind the scenes, the blueprint remains the same.

Doig continued: “Nothing has changed for me and the gaffer. The mindset has not changed. It doesn’t matter who we play, we want to go and win.

“I can’t speak about what it was like here before us because that’d be wrong of me to do.

“But from the minute we’ve walked in we’ve had a certain way of doing things, a certain way of preparing the lads and certain things we expect.

“That’s not changed from our previous club, so for us it’s business as usual.”