Sam Ricketts admits it was difficult to leave star duo out of Shrewsbury Town XI

The Town boss gave his Salop XI a shake-up against AFC Wimbledon yesterday by making four changes – with one enforced – as Shrews were held to a frustrating goalless draw by the rock-bottom visitors.

Anthony Grant missed the game through suspension, with Ollie Norburn returning, while Scott Golbourne, Dave Edwards and Aaron Amadi-Holloway came in for Ryan Haynes, Greg Docherty and Fejiri Okenabirhie.

Ricketts revealed he changed his team from the impressive Tuesday night win over Doncaster to rotate his options and keep players fresh.

Asked if it was a tough decision to leave out Rangers loanee Docherty and top scorer Okenabirhie, Ricketts replied: “Definitely, definitely, you know all players have played their part.

"Like I said we’ve been winning games and players can count themselves unfortunate but it’s modern football. Modern football you rotate, you try and get good players who can start or come on and make an impact and that’s the way I like to work it.

"I like to keep players fresh as well rather than just run them into the ground, I like to have that feeling when they’re going onto the pitch they feel pressure, they can run, play the intensity and the tempo I want, so now I’ve got the luxury of being able to do that. With that comes hard decisions on who gets left out, who’s on the bench.”

Docherty and Okenabirhie came on in the 67th minute but could not help Town find a winner against the basement boys, as Shrews remained 17th in League One.

Left wing-back Ryan Haynes, who has recently had a foot injury, was left out of the 18 altogether.

On his omission the boss added: “I’m at the luxury now of being able to rotate players and keep players fresh so that’s why Scott Golbourne, who was outstanding at Peterborough, won the game and then obviously he was left out on Tuesday night for Ryan to come in.

"Ryan played well Tuesday night, won again but it was Scotty’s turn to come back in. I just try and pick the right personnel for the right game and that’s what I like, I like being able to make changes.

"It’s nice being able to bring Fejiri and Doc on for the last half-an-hour of today you know to really give us that impetus to go on and try to win the game whereas in the past we certainly haven’t had the luxury of doing that before."