Sam Ricketts tells his Shrewsbury players to do the basics
Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts has stressed it should not take a half-time dressing down for his players to perform.
The Town chief had stern words with his players after a error-strewn first 45 minutes at Accrington Stanley on Boxing Day.
It prompted a response but it was not enough to overcome a sluggish start where the visitors were 2-0 down inside 21 minutes.
Ricketts said of his side not dealing with the basics: “Ultimately it’s working on them. My basics will be different to an opposition. Everyone has their own slight ways.
“I know what I know and I know it works, it’s proven facts what I want my team to do.
“There’s no grey areas, it’s very clear on what I expect. It’s easy now to point when a goal goes in where the basics didn’t get covered to show why I ask them to do X, Y and Z.”
Asked if he had to raise his voice at the interval to prompt a spark, the boss replied: “It was the most I’ve had to since I’ve been here, which was disappointing.
“But they responded in the right way. I don’t want to do it, I’d rather not have to do it. But when I see something I class as fundamental basics which I can demand from my team then they’ll be told.”
Town travel to the north east today and stay overnight ahead of the clash at Sunderland.
