Shrewsbury v Scunthorpe preview: Home support can be the difference – Sam Ricketts
Sam Ricketts has called on his Shrewsbury side to make a boosted home support count in tomorrow’s latest relegation six-pointer.
The safe standing section at Montgomery Waters Meadow has sold out, with Town set to be roared on in a crunch clash against Scunthorpe where a win could take them to the cusp of League One safety.
About 550 standing spaces will be packed at the summit of the South Stand – where the atmosphere has improved this season.
Ricketts praised the Town faithful for their backing in the last two games, a home defeat to Portsmouth and the invaluable victory at Southend – where more than 300 travelling fans made the trip – last weekend.
The boss, who goes head-to-head with fellow former Hull full-back and Scunny caretaker manager Andy Dawson tomorrow, suggested that a better atmosphere inside the stadium gives Shrewsbury an advantage against their visitors.
The out-of-sorts Iron, who sacked Stuart McCall recently, have lost five games in six and find themselves 19th in the table, two points above the bottom four.
“For the vast majority of the season the home form has been very good and we need to make that a fortress,” said Ricketts.
“We need them to come and get behind us like they do, really back the team to try to get another important victory.
“The supporters at Southend were singing right from the very start to the very end, I thought they were excellent, the same as the previous home game.
“We need to make it as hard as possible for the visiting team to come because it’s our advantage playing at home.”
Safe standing was officially launched at the beginning of the season and has sold out twice previously this term. It is usually 80 per cent full.
Anfield has The Kop, Old Trafford has the Stretford End, Villa Park has the Holte End, Molineux has the South Bank – giant stands are often alleged to ‘suck the ball into the net’.
Shrewsbury fans had the Wakeman End at Gay Meadow, where they congregated behind the goal their team attacked, although the Riverside was a vociferous and spiritual home to many.
“Different clubs have had main support not always behind the goal. Swansea and Hull have had it down the side of the pitch – especially the Swansea North Bank,” Ricketts added.
“The biggest thing is generating the atmosphere. Historically it does come from behind the goal if you think of the Kop at Anfield and such like, which is brilliant.
“If safe standing improves the atmosphere, noise level and encouragement for the players then it’s been brilliant.
“It’s important. We have an advantage at home and it’s our support getting behind the team and pushing them on.”
Ricketts, who is looking forward to a reunion with former Tigers team-mate Dawson, added on his side’s safety push: “When you look at our run-in, four of the next six are teams around us.
“It is and it isn’t surprising (playing another relegation six-pointer) because it’s half the league.
“You look at everyone else’s fixtures and it’s three, four or five teams playing games in that ‘second league’. It’s really important, like last week, we get a result.”
