Bradford City preview: Paul Hurst looking for Shrewsbury Town to shed their baggage
Paul Hurst has not had to demand for better too often this season.
But there is no doubt the Shrewsbury chief wants to see a marked improvement from his side as they return to league action with a trip to Bradford tonight.
Town’s thrilling campaign has had fans bursting with pride, but 12,000 were left feeling quite the opposite when leaving Wembley on Sunday.
A quick, four-day turnaround is just what the doctor ordered, according to Hurst, who is also glad that his side will be the focus of a live TV audience again. This time he wants them to give a true account of themselves.
Hosts Bradford have endured a miserable season. Simon Grayson, who took over from Stuart McCall in February, has not given the Bantams any sort of lift.
The Valley Parade side’s record reads one win in 14. The last was a miserable 5-0 battering at Blackpool that Grayson labelled ‘pathetic’.
“While we’ve always said results are most important, what I am looking for 100 per cent is a better performance,” said Hurst, whose side were beaten 1-0 at Montgomery Waters Meadow by City in late November, bringing to an end their unbeaten home league start. “Whether or not we get both, we’ll see, but I certainly expect the players to put on a better show and impress people, if nothing else, by the absolute basics we demand, the effort, commitment, determination to try and get the results.
“I think it’ll be two teams carrying a little bit of baggage over. Bradford have got their own coming off a heavy defeat.”
Toto Nsiala (cheek) and Alex Rodman (back) are in contention to return to Town’s league line-up.
Hurst continued. “There’s more a big of pride hurt than any physical injuries.
“We all know the best way to put that right – get out there and get back on the horse and win a game of football. I want that feeling back in the dressing room.
“You take winning for granted a little when you become accustomed to it. When you don’t it feels a little unusual.”
Hurst insisted that a true measure of his side will be in how they respond to the national stadium heartache last time out.
He referenced Premier League champions-elect Manchester City – who have lost three games on the bounce – in stating how even the best side can come unstuck.
“I’m very proud of their efforts over the season,” added Hurst. “Even the best team in the country by some distance have had their disappointments in the last week – Man City, not us – I’ll make that clear!
“If that can happen to a group of players that talented – yes within some of those games they played some fantastic football still, but they couldn’t get the job done they wanted – then the rest of us are mere mortals in comparison. It can happen, it’s how you bounce back.
“Are we going to let this affect the remainder of the season or are we going to get back to it and try to produce the performances the players have done for the majority?
“I know what I want. I’m hoping the players feel that way.”
On the struggling 12th-placed Bantams, he continued: “I expect them to come out fast at us. I’m sure, as the home side, there’ll be demanding they don’t start the game as they did (at Blackpool). We’ve got to be wary of that as well.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re not caught on the hop at the start and add to their record.”
