Bernard McNally: Time for Shrewsbury to heap misery on Bantams

The Checkatrade Trophy defeat would have on a personal level for some players for 24 hours, but as soon as they returned to training it would have been dead and buried.

Shrewsbury have to take advantage of Bradford’s dreadful run of form tomorrow night. There is no sentiment in football.

We didn’t lose any ground in the promotion race at the national stadium. Yes, if Town failed at Wembley in the League One play-off final it would be a different scenario but it didn’t work for them against Lincoln, it wasn’t their day.

The players are an honest bunch, they would hold their hands up and say they weren’t at the top of their game.

They will want to show a better side of themselves than they did on Sunday. It was a big event at Wembley and as players you look in the mirror and say to yourself ‘could I have done any better? If I was a six out of 10 then that is not what I’ve produced this season’.

A lot of the squad, especially the young players, will want to progress. It is a case of self-examination and turning a negative into positive.

I’m pleased that Paul Hurst said that players need to take a look at themselves. I thought a few were below-par.

It’s another game and another chance, which is the great thing about football. The players have to make sure they take it. Paul will want a real response.

Moving on to struggling Bradford – who have won just once in 14 games – this is where it matters. We are back to the main event.

Paul will be telling his players to get their mind right again.

It is difficult when you look at an opposition and say ‘they’re on a downward slump’ – because this might be the game they turn it around...if they let them.

He will be asking his players ‘what are the things that got us where we are?’ The work-rate, attitude, commitment, team spirit – all of those. If you match up man-for-man against your rival and your outfield team-mates do too, more often than not you will win.

Then Town’s football will come through. Their free-flowing style will come if they do the basics right.

It’s a great opportunity to bounce back and get the three points they need to put pressure on Blackburn and Wigan, because first and second is not a forgone conclusion.

Now it’s all about coming into that final furlong. Keep your heads and don’t slip up.

I imagine things are pretty tough at Valley Parade at the moment and the fans aren’t too happy.

It’s a big club up there. Fans are always behind you when you’re doing well, it’s a different story if you’re having a dodgy time. Hopefully it’s a pressure and burden on the Bantams and Simon Grayson and will go in Town’s favour. We have to go and put them under pressure ourselves. Get their fans on the players’ backs early.

It’s another television game for Town and they’ll want to show better to a national audience than Sunday. It’s putting them on a stage again.

I speak to a lot of people around Shropshire and Birmingham and once you mention Shrewsbury it’s ‘wow – aren’t they doing so well’.

This is where every player wants to be. Showing your skills on the TV. This is another opportunity.

Town will want a good result before heading home to the Meadow for three straight games after that.

Two of those home games are against Charlton and Peterborough, potential play-off sides. Winning away takes a little bit of the pressure off. You’re going into the run of games with a lot of confidence.