Shrewsbury analysis: There’s simply no excuse for a lack of desire

The hapless 3-0 defeat at Oxford was comfortably Shrewsbury’s worst day of the season so far.

The concerns for the near 600 strong away support at The Kassam Stadium were endless.

The concern was spread all over Askey’s face during his post-match interview and some of the soundbites were as alarming as his side’s limp, dismal display.

The headlines were Askey questioning his players’ desire and calling out the direction of their careers.

To hear a manager question his players’ desire is about as worrying as it gets.

If players can’t get themselves up for games then it is a long, long way back.

The performance (and result) comes as even more of a shock given the massively encouraging display Town gave against Barnsley last Tuesday.

The bright, energetic and enthusiastic display against the Tykes was a million miles from Shrewsbury’s ‘effort’ at Oxford. It was Halloween weekend and Town’s defending for the first two goals was the scariest thing on display.

To concede two almost identical goals, both from crosses into the box, just a quarter of an hour into the game must have left Askey sick to the stomach.

In the manager’s defence, that is basic, inept, schoolboy defending. Players have responsibilities to mark their opponent.

The opener, direct from a corner, was bad enough. Oxford’s second was like a stroll in the park.

The U’s played it at their leisure outside Shrews’ box before Gavin Whyte popped the ball out wide, made his way into the box unmarked and got on the end of the cross.

The header should have been saved by Joel Coleman.

They were as bad as any goals Town have shipped this season. Right up there with the disastrous pair conceded at home to Gillingham.

Much has been said about formations but there was none of that here. The 3-5-2 should suit Town. Instead they paid for not giving enough.

It was alarming that Karl Robinson’s side had the game won from that second goal.

Avoiding defeat would make it five unbeaten for the Yellows. Clearly they have come into a bit of form, while Salop’s inconsistency has made confidence difficult.

But the way Shrews dropped their heads and downed tools was telling. Confidence, belief and desire was shot. There was 75 minutes to salvage something. Town have troubled better teams than Oxford previously. Just one would’ve made the hosts twitchy – what held Askey’s men back?

According to the manager it was effort and desire.

You can accept players and tactics not being good enough but when desire is questioned there is serious cause for concern.

Desire should come from within players but it should also come from the management. They should be playing for Askey and they weren’t.

Too many let the game pass them by until it was too late. Only Ollie Norburn and Fejiri Okenabirhie gave it any go at all.

If the manager believes players were not giving their all for him then he has every right to feel let down.

He will feel let down by his centre-forward Lee Angol, who had to come off after 53 minutes due to fears he would be sent off. He will feel let down by players who didn’t do their marking or track their runners.

There was nobody willing to grab the game by the scruff of its neck for the visitors. No imagination in possession, no willingness to make anything happen and no intensity at all.

And the buck stops with Askey, as manager, to motivate and encourage his players. It also stops with him to organise his players. Give them instructions and a plan to deal with the opposition.

Managers can only do so much, they can’t physically make their players mark from corners. But good organisation, clear structures and game plans help secure good results.

Fans should be rightly concerned after leaving The Kassam as they are left to stew on the heavy reverse all week.

There was a huge outpouring of anger afterwards and, while online forums are not an accurate gauge of support, boos were audible from the 600 away fans.

Supporters are calling for change as the Town boss remains unable to achieve positive results consistently.

If Sunderland and Barnsley were not the games to judge Askey on, then Oxford, AFC Wimbledon and this run of games beyond it are.

The Barnsley win aided the manager’s position but such a damp follow-up makes the performance and victory over the Tykes look like a flash in the pan.

Town’s next game at Wimbledon has a lot at stake. There will be fans that want to see change before then after watching the team go through the motions at Oxford.

There remains no doubt Town have a decent squad but their inability to put in the basics required will hold them back.

Their best performance of the season against Barnsley was full of high energy, vibrant and intense running.

This display contained none of that. It was a stark contrast. It was yet another performance that raised more questions than answers, leaving Barnsley to feel like another false dawn.

Askey has a hell of a lot of work to do to get the squad in shape for Satursay’s game. Despite Wimbledon’s dire form, if Town go to Kingsmeadow with the same approach they will be turned over again.

As the manager said, his players need to look at themselves and ask whether they gave anywhere near enough. The answer will be no.