Shropshire Star

I'll learn from my mistake, insists Shrewsbury boss John Askey

Shrewsbury boss John Askey has vowed to learn from his mistake after admitting his formation error played a part in his side’s defeat at Fleetwood.

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The visitors were undone by a sorry first half display as Askey’s men – in a 4-4-2 system for the first time this season – struggled to cope.

The boss, who made two substitutions and reverted to a familiar 4-3-3 at half-time, owned up straight after the game for the oversight and insisted he would try to learn from his error.

Josh Laurent netted in the second half but Salop could not claw back a leveller as they remained winless from their seven games on the road and dropped down to 17th in League One.

“You’ve got to do what is best for the players and what suits them best,” said Askey, who also questioned his players’ effort and commitment in the dour opening half hour period.

“From my point of view I’m disappointed in myself more than I am the players really.

“You’re always learning and hopefully I can learn and I can spot signs from the players where they’re not quite up for it.”

Askey selected midweek hat-trick hero Fejiri Okenabirhie to start up front alongside Lenell John-Lewis.

But both players were substituted at the break with it apparent Town had not adapted to the formation and Joey Barton’s home side were in control.

On the changes at the break, the Town boss continued: “You have to make those decisions, don’t you? The fact that we were 2-0 down wasn’t totally down to Fey (Okenabirhie) or Lenny (John-Lewis).

“But we’d got to do something to change it and the best way was to get them off and get Aaron (Amadi-Holloway) on with a physical presence and Greg (Docherty) in midfield for some control.

“When you’re two-down you’ve got to do something. You can’t just keep going on. I’ve got to make a decision

“We’ve been doing well. We tried to get back to what we’ve done before.”

A dejected Askey applauds the fans at full time. (AMA)

Askey insisted his side’s disastrous first 30 minutes, where the Cod Army scored twice, was of far greater concern than his side’s record of no away wins in seven.

He added: “Obviously you want to win and if you’re not winning it’s always concerning.

“The first 30 minutes was the biggest concern.

“What I was happy with was the reaction we got after half-time.

“To win games away from home you’ve got to compete first and foremost. We played for 60 minutes and we can’t do that.”