Ethan Ebanks-Landell: Table talk’s not on Shrewsbury Town agenda
Ethan Ebanks-Landell insists Shrewsbury are staying level-headed and focused on the job in hand rather than being carried away by their stunning upturn in form.
The defender was on hand to help Town maintain their magnificent revival since Steve Cotterill's appointment, as he netted an equaliser in the win against Sunderland last week.
But more impressive has been Ebanks-Landell, 28, and Ro-Shaun Williams' partnership in the heart of defence, both with Aaron Pierre and without their now-injured defensive partner.
Salop were five points adrift of League One safety in November but the turnaround now sees them nine points clear of the drop, with as many as three games in hand over sides above them. For centre-half Ebanks-Landell, the focus does not wane from a game-by-game approach.
"I don't look at the table, so you've told me where we are but I wouldn't have had a clue!" said former Wolves stopper Ebanks-Landell, who is in his second season with Town.
"I just take it game by game and you have to keep a level head, if you take it game by game you can't get too high or too down.
"We've not really spoken about it (moving up the table) at all, we take it game by game."If they do speak about it then they don't speak about it to me! It doesn't phase me."
The number one target for Town, who are 17th, remains getting to the stage where third tier survival is in the bag. They are currently 17 points from the 50-point mark that generally ensures safety.
But Shrewsbury's league form since Cotterill's appointment – and while the boss is absent in hospital – has been play-off or even automatic promotion worthy.
They are second in the form table over 10 games and fifth over six games after last weekend's clash against Ipswich was frozen off, and ahead of a trip to fellow form side Accrington on Saturday.
Ebanks-Landell admitted the intensity and 'fear factor' brought in by Cotterill has played its part in the recovery.
"He has been great for us to be fair, he's given a kind of fear factor, I'd say, everyone knows you've got to be on your toes," he said.
"He's just very intense. I've had a few players (I know) who've played with him.
"Dave (Davis) did, so when the manager joined he messaged me and said 'he's on it, he is what he is' and he hasn't disappointed.
"One hundred per cent (we have to be on it). It's all about focus, he loves training and as much as I'll say I don't like training, I like detail, which he is very good."
