Comment: How can John Askey salvage his Shrewsbury Town career?

John Askey’s future at Shrewsbury has been in the balance all week since the capitulation at Oxford last time out.

The Town chief is under increasing pressure to halt to the slump after being granted today’s clash at lowly AFC Wimbledon to salvage his Salop career.

His regime looked in doubt as Town were turned over at Oxford without so much as limping to the finish line in a nothing display and, one thing is for certain, and Askey cannot afford another performance and result like that.

Today continues as intense run of important fixtures for Shrewsbury. There begins a two week break from League One action, meaning a poor result will stew and fester within an already-disheartened fanbase. The upcoming FA Cup tie against high-flying National League Salford City is the very definition of a banana skin.

So, what can Askey do to salvage his Montgomery Waters Meadow career and get it back on track? Town correspondent Lewis Cox gives his thoughts on how the boss could begin to turn things around.

1. End away woes

The 3-2 defeat at Luton was a forgettable away day – and John Askey let his players know the second half was not good enough (AMA)

It has been a dismal season on the road for John Askey’s Shrewsbury Town.

Eight games, all in the league, and no wins. That particular record is the main reason Salop are loitering around the League One drop zone – as their home record, with three wins, is more mid-table form.

The displays away from Montgomery Waters Meadow have not all been tepid. Many will recall the 1-1 draw at Portsmouth, where Salop were four minutes and a spot-kick, thanks to a clumsy Alex Gilliead foul, away from a remarkable away win which would’ve ended Pompey’s unbeaten run.

But some away days have been miserable – Luton, Scunthorpe, Fleetwood and especially Oxford come to mind.

It is OK being ‘in’ and competitive in away games but Town desperately need to buck that trend – today.

2. The fans’ favourite

Skipper Mat Sadler has been dropped twice by John Askey (AMA)

Nowadays in football there is often not a lot for supporters to cling to in terms of stalwarts.

Mat Sadler is that at Shrewsbury and he has been dropped twice this season.

His displays at the heart of Askey’s defence, while not helping keep vital clean sheets, were consistent and reliable. He was regularly in the right place, putting out fires.

He was dropped for the second game of the season, days after being made captain, and it caused uproar.

That intensified a couple of weeks ago when Sadler was left out of the clash against Barnsley, albeit Town came out on top that evening.

Supporters are not fully sold on replacement skipper Luke Waterfall and Sadler unquestionably merits a place in this Shrews backline.

His passion and desire to do well is some of what the team are lacking.

3. Inspire players

Boss John Askey said his team lacked desire at Oxford last weekend (AMA)

Alarm bells rang last weekend when Askey admitted his players lacked desire at Oxford.

The players should look in the mirror if that is the case, but inspiration should also come come from management staff.

You often hear about successful teams in the past and how the players were running through brick walls for their boss.

There was barely any running at all last weekend and Town have been lethargic at best on previous occasions.

Askey inspired his Macclesfield players to the title last season and needs to use some of that magic in the dressing room to get Salop at the races.

They showed against Barnsley it is impossible. Now they need to prove it wasn’t a fluke.

4. Consistency

Town lined up in a 4-4-2 at Fleetwood and looked all over the place (AMA)

‘What formation does Askey fancy using this weekend?’ A familiar comment with the Town fanbase this season.

Askey’s 4-3-3 was a constant amid chopping and changing of personnel earlier in the season but the manager has since tried 4-4-2 and 3-5-2. Sometimes issues are deeper-rooted than formations but Shrewsbury are surely not helping a desperate search for results by changing it around every other game.

The latest system, a 3-5-2, looked great against Barnsley and terrible at Oxford. But it must continue if any familiarity or consistency is to come.

5. Talk the talk

All managers have different personas and Askey is a reserved character

All bosses have different personas and Askey is definitely different to the norm in that he is a more reserved character.

His media interviews are not ‘tub-thumping’. He is an honest manager to deal with from a media sense, where there is more spotlight than he previously experienced at Macclesfield.

Askey has been absolutely pleasant in the press, but fans want something a bit more fiery.

This week’s comments about not throwing in the towel are a start.

That way he may start building up a connection with the Salop fanbase.