Chris Doig: Shrewsbury squad deserve more credit
Town assistant manager Chris Doig believes Shrewsbury should have received more plaudits for their stunning promotion charge this season.
Shrewsbury, one of the favourites with bookmakers and neutrals for relegation this season, spent a portion of the season at the top of League One and are battling it with Wigan and Blackburn for an automatic promotion spot.
Boss Paul Hurst has won a manager of the month award – one of two nominations – but Doig stressed that the players should have been recognised with individual accolades for their achievements so far this term.
Town, who this week booked a Checkatrade Trophy final place at Wembley and have also taken Premier League West Ham to a replay in the FA Cup, host rivals Walsall in League One today.
"The players should get more plaudits, yes," said Hurst's assistant Doig.
"I'm interested to know the nominations for player of the month. The gaffer's won an award and been nominated a couple of times.
"I'm not sure if any of our players have been nominated."
While Town individuals have regularly been ignored in the hunt for awards, Doig explained that a number of managers and coaches have offered praise to Shrewsbury.
He added: "For a club like this to be top of the league as long as we were but not to have any players nominated individually I find surprising.
"From that aspect they're maybe not getting the credit they're due but having spoke with people in the game, other coaches and a managers, I know how regarded these players are.
"I don't know if they'll be too bothered about that, you just get on with it."
Doig, a former Scottish youth international, believes that Shrewsbury's team ethos and lack of a headline act has been a factor in helping Town bat off their relegation tag and reach the higher reaches of the division.
"Even if we had a 20-goal striker it'll still be about the team," added the former defender. "That's what we're about. There's no individuals, it's a collective.
"That's shown throughout the season as a major strength for us and probably a big reason why we are where we are.
"They're a good group of lads with a great team spirit. But we've not achieved anything yet so there's no point getting carried away."
