Analysis: Shrewsbury Town weren’t lacking in fight at the Stadium of Light

Town had full momentum and were on a sensational run of form before the virus ripped through the squad and staff at the end of December.

They went three weeks without a game, two weeks without training, and a difficult return over the last week has yielded two defeats.

Steve Cotterill remains away and recovering from a very serious bout of Covid-19. Despite players and his replacement Aaron Wilbraham putting on a brave face, his influence is and will be sorely missed.

Games away at Premier League opposition and promotion-hunting Sunderland were always likely to be tough, tough fixtures to start up again.

Town acquitted themselves well in most of both contests. Adrenaline will have helped them through last Tuesday's FA Cup tie at Southampton, where they were well in the game against the Saints.

Perhaps a truer test was to come at the Stadium of Light, back to the bread and butter of league football, where Shrewsbury hadn't given up too much ground in the battle for survival, despite the enforced break.

A tiring trip to the north east, through snowy conditions with players spread across three bus loads, made for a tough setting – despite Sunderland's home woes.

And after half an hour there was concern. Town were deservedly behind to a poor goal to concede, albeit a quality Charlie Wyke header from an expert Aiden McGeady cross.

Shrewsbury could have been further behind. Wyke twice drifted away from Town's sluggish backline and should have done better.

Town were battling, there was no lack of effort. But they seemed unable to look after the ball and get to grips with the hosts as they moved it around nicely. Defending from set-pieces was poor too.

It felt a little disjointed, which was perhaps to be expected with the previously frozen-out Donald Love – a right-back – at left wing-back and Ro-Shaun Williams again out of position on the right.

Leon Clarke, selected in attack, took a while to get to grips and up to speed with the contest. Initially he was isolated and too static, flagged offside on a number of occasions.

Worries began to circulate on Town's sharpness in both body and mind as they turned their attention back to league football after such a challenging period.

But, to their credit, they sharpened after a slow start and began to take the game to their hosts.

Via a woeful clearance from home goalkeeper Lee Burge, Town forged a gilt-edged chance out of the blue and should have levelled.

Clarke, in just a second start since returning from his hamstring injury, spurned the opportunity when he really should have done better. But the chance inspired some confidence.

Love proved a willing attacker down the left, sending a couple of efforts off-target and new recruit Harry Chapman – who has looked excellent in his two outings so far – almost scored a wonderful individual effort, leaving two defenders for dead.

Wilbraham's men ended the first half well and started where they left off after the break, showing more intent, winning 50-50 challenges and linking play well.

Clear-cut chances were hard to come by, Town were a little wasteful with efforts from distance and at times lacked the right decision making in the final third, factors which in the end denied them a deserved point.

But the general manner of the performance, certainly the final hour, was enough to inspire belief as Shrewsbury continue on without their manager and after a period of ill-health and lack of training.

Some high-profile players around the country have struggled in a return to fitness and form after contracting Covid.

It will be difficult to asses just what affect the widespeard outbreak has on Shrewsbury's form until a little further down the line.

It is clear already, however, that any momentum they worked so hard to achieve has been hit and – while Wilbraham insists any lack of fitness is not being offered as an excuse – players are clearly not going to be in top gear and fully up to speed for a little while.

It is positive news for Shrewsbury that, owing to a Covid-19 breakout at tomorrow night's scheduled hosts Burton, they are not in action in midweek.

The postponed Pirelli Stadium fixture will ensure Town more time on the Sundorne Castle training pitch and allow Cotterill, head of recruitment Keith Burt and chief executive Brian Caldwell time to manoeuvre in the transfer market.

Shrewsbury have been forced to work without departed wing-back pair Charlie Daniels and Matt Millar since their return to action and it is showing.

Both players were influential in the recovery under Cotterill. Wing-backs are heavily important and relied on in the 3-5-2 system Town use. To lose both with no real natural replacements was a hammerblow and should not be under-played.

A move for Luton's Brendan Galloway appears to have broken down, and Wilbraham says a move for a left wing-back is 'in the pipeline'. Town will hope there will be at least one new recruit through the door before next Saturday's home clash against high-flying Peterborough.

Tomorrow's postponed clash will too – depending on the rescheduled date – hopefully be one less fixture with Cotterill.

The Town boss is the biggest factor at play here. His health is obviously the utmost priority, but his absence cannot be understated.

Any manager's absence at a football club would be felt. But one to have led his side on an unbeaten seven-game league run since his appointment – turning things around so drastically – especially so.

Cotterill's intensity, passion and attention to detail are what sets him apart as a boss. He is hands-on to the extreme and will have been involved in everything, working every second of the day, since his appointment.

To lose that energy, that presence, that influence, should not be forgotten and cannot be emphasised enough. Town are up against it, but aspects of their performances, time to work in the window and to get training in their legs will help them.