John Askey calls for better game management from Shrewsbury players
Shrewsbury boss John Askey has called on his players to show smarter game management to help bring that elusive first win.
Askey bemoaned his side shipping a late penalty at Portsmouth on Saturday, where they invited pressure from the hosts, to draw 1-1 after an impressive display.
He is exploring why his winless side, third-bottom in League One, are dropping deep and getting caught out with errors that have led to goals and spot-kicks.
Town have gone nine games in all competitions and seven in the league without tasting victory.
“It is a little bit (being unlucky), but we’re just not seeing games off,” said Askey.
“Towards the end, even though I didn’t think it was a penalty, they still shouldn’t get in.
“We’ve got to look at things like that. Why are we giving so-called penalties away?
“Because from open play we don’t look that vulnerable.
“It’s difficult because all of the planning and training, you can’t legislate for things like that.”
The Town boss suggested that game management, and making the right decisions at crucial times in crucial areas, will come with experience.
Askey, who faces a crucial home clash with Southend next time out, added that his Shrewsbury side need a taste for winning.
He hopes that, once his new-look squad have played more football together, they will begin making the right decisions.
He added: “It is probably game management. It is getting used to winning, there’s a habit to winning and it’s not as though we’re losing as such.
“There’s a habit to winning, doing the right things at the right time. Hopefully that’ll come because we have got a lot of players who have not played so much.
“Hopefully they’re learning and as the season goes on we’ll get better.”
Askey continued: “I still think there’s room for improvement but going to a place like Fratton Park and controlling the game – there aren’t many teams that are going to do that, I was pleased.
“We have been playing well, some decent football, and as we all know the one thing that’s lacking is the finish.
“At Portsmouth in the first half we had chances but we didn’t put them away. Once we start to rectify that we’ll start getting the three points.”
