Five talking points as Shrewsbury Town remain winless on the road
Shrewsbury Town reporter Lewis Cox discusses five talking points as John Askey's men saw their away woes continue...
1 Formations
It is safe to say we won’t see John Askey opt for a 4-4-2 again any time soon.
It was immediately apparent at Highbury Stadium that the new formation, deployed for the first time from the off this season with Lenell John-Lewis and Feriji Okenabirhie up top, did not suit the players.
Askey admitted he got it wrong, but the decision seemed an odd one. It is not the first formation switch in recent weeks.
Would Town produce more consistent performances if there was less tinkering with the system?
2 Fejiri Okenabirhie
A first League One start for the exciting forward dubbed the best striker in the National League last season by John Askey.
Fans have been strongly calling for Okenabirhie to get the nod and, when he finally had a starting shirt, Town never got going in the 4-4-2 as he partnered the ineffective Lenell John-Lewis.
Okenabirhie grew into the first half but was hauled off at the break. The Checkatrade Trophy hat-trick hero deserves another start and the opportunity to prove himself.
3 Lee Angol
A curious case. The four-goal top scorer was left out of the the starting line-up – which included two centre-forwards – and was not even Askey’s first substitute in attack, as Aaron Amadi-Holloway went on at the break.
Indeed Angol was the fourth (out of four) striker Askey turned to in search of a goal.
The boss said afterwards it was because he needed more energy in attack and the decision was performance-related. A damning indictment of Angol, who has slipped down the pecking order.
4 Up next...
An interesting fixture list lies ahead of Askey’s Salop. The next two clashes are as daunting as it gets as Sunderland and Barnsley visit the Meadow in the space of four days from Saturday.
They aren’t the games Town should be judged on but two defeats, making it three in a row, would be damaging and leave Shrews flirting with the bottom four.
After that is a run of much (on paper) easier games. Askey will hope for something to take into them, even if it is just two draws.
5 Pressure
Pressure from supporters is undoubtedly cranking up on former Macclesfield chief Askey as, not just the inconsistent run of results, but also the indecisive team and formation selections takes its toll.
The boss could do with a positive result against either Sunderland or Barnsley to ease the calls for his head, of which there are many.
Ultimately the results before the Fleetwood disappointment were not bad and the boss still has time to turn it around. But the pressure is growing.
