John Askey: Shrewsbury Town have plenty to improve on

Askey's Montgomery Waters Meadow reign began with a 1-0 defeat and the Town chief was left ruing several missed opportunities in what was an end-to-end affair.

And Askey was left aware of what he has to work on after Jack Payne's first-half goal proved the difference on the day safe standing returned to English football at the Meadow.

The boss said: “Because we were pushing for the goal, you’re going to leave yourself wide open which obviously we did at times.

“Joel (Coleman) made a fantastic save but I think it was one of those days where perhaps it wasn’t meant to be.

“There is a lot of things we need to improve on and that’s for me to sort out. It was a game that we could have got something out of.”

Askey handed debuts to six of his 11 new signings while three more came off the bench as Town fans got their first real glimpse of the new era.

The boss continued: “I thought there was one or two who did well,” the gaffer said. “And one or two who didn’t do so well but it’s early days. Some are still trying to find their feet.

“(Alex) Gilliead came on and showed signs of doing well so there is plenty to think about and we just have to move on now.”

Town hit the woodwork twice, as did their visitors, and saw efforts cleared off the line as the Bantams goal lived a charmed life.

Askey felt the game against a much-changed Bradford side was there for the taking.

“We have created chances which is a plus point,” Askey added. “Chances we should have taken.

“Obviously we hit the bar a couple of times. On the other side of it the goal that we gave away we gave that to them, so that was disappointing.

“I thought it was a game we could have won today.”