Southend v Shrewsbury preview: Shrimpers players hadn’t given up on Chris Powell – Sam Ricketts

Shrewsbury Town went to Rochdale days after the sacking of Keith Hill and tomorrow they visit Southend shortly after Chris Powell bit the bullet.

If that wasn’t enough, next week’s big visit of Scunthorpe is in the wake of the Iron parting company with Stuart McCall.

There is no single rule for facing sides without a permanent manager, reckons Town manager Ricketts.

It does impact Shrewsbury’s preparations. Analysts have a tougher job scrutinising the opposition’s plans as a former manager’s ideology, desired style of play and tactics may leave with him.

Players and clubs may get the ‘bounce’ of good form as a manager leaves. Southend need it after going 11 matches without a win and slipping one place below Town to 20th – though Ricketts feels the Shrimpers’ dressing room was still behind Powell.

He said: “I think it does change the perspective. We only look in, but it can lift spirits – although from what I’m hearing all the players really liked Chris.

“It wasn’t necessarily needed in that respect, sometimes you change managers as the players aren’t buying into it or they’re not getting along.

“But that’s not what I’m hearing, they really liked everything going but unfortunately they couldn’t get the results.”

Ricketts, whose Salop side have suffered three defeats in four, continued: “Sometimes the players, for whatever reason, don’t respond to him.

“So a fresh manager can lift everyone and you get an instant couple of performances and results.

“Or it can go the other way, with a manager everyone really liked but, for whatever reason, it didn’t work.

“Changing the manager isn’t the best thing to do, sometimes it’s sticking with that person and, if everyone’s still buying into what the manager’s saying or doing, it isn’t always necessary to change a manager.”

Despite a number of injury issues to contend with this week – including Steve Arnold’s season-ending hamstring blow – Ricketts was in positive mood before Town left today to stay overnight in Essex.

“I’m confident, relaxed but also trying to make sure we do everything we can,” said the boss.

“We’re trying to get training right, tactics right and everything else. Once game time comes you hand over to the players and let them get on with it.”

Ricketts’ side are 19th, one point clear of the drop zone but three points from 13th ahead of crunch back-to-back six-pointers against Southend and Scunthorpe.

Asked if he was feeling the pressure, Ricketts replied: “No, I’m not actually.

“Maybe it’s because of the level of performance from last week. The atmosphere at the training ground, the players’ attitude every day is very, very good.

“Yes we need to back that up with some wins but I’m confident if we play like last week then they will come.

“Consistency is obviously the big thing, can we play like that again? Can we get the wins we require? Time will tell.

“It’s seven games, five of which the teams are around us. We’re one of 12 going through the same situation

.”

Predicted line-up:

Shrewsbury Town (3-4-1-2): Mitchell; Williams, Waterfall, Bolton; Whalley, Norburn (c), Laurent, Golbourne; Docherty; Payne, Campbell.

Subs: Sadler, Beckles, Edwards, Grant, Amadi-Holloway, Okenabirhie, Charles-Cook (gk).