Ollie Westbury debrief: Shrewsbury serve up a shocker

Since the new head coach has come in, the players have produced good performances – they may not have always got the results they wanted – but the displays have pleased Hurst.

But what they produced on Tuesday night was out of character from the previous six games we have seen in Hurst’s reign, with the boss questioning his player’s desire at post-match.

And it came after such a high too, a brilliant 3-2 win against relegation rivals Reading on Saturday, so it feels almost bizarre they should turn in one of their worst away performances of the season on the back of such a good weekend.

Hurst apologised to the more than 200 fans who made the trip to Sincil Bank, acknowledging that performance was ‘not acceptable.’

Town’s away following have had to endure some tough days on the road this season – they were hammered 4-0 by Blackpool earlier in the campaign in a similar fashion to this where they just failed to lay a glove on their opponents.

Defeats against Wigan and Oxford earlier in the campaign were equally frustrating, but given Shrews had taken seven points from nine available on their travels since Hurst had taken over, it seems all the more peculiar.

They failed to win tackles, struggled to keep the ball, and it looked as if their opponents just wanted it more.

The Imps took the lead inside six minutes as Ted Bishop stabbed home from close range – it was the second phase of a corner which Town have been bad at defending all season.

They had several chances to clear after initial efforts were blocked, but eventually, it made its way to Bishop, who had time to take a touch and smash it into the net.

It could have been more at the break, but the Imps had to wait until after half-time for their second, Reeco Hackett getting on the end of Joe Taylor’s backheel to smash it into the net.

And the third came not long after Bishop missed a penalty. The ball was cleared out wide to Lasse Sorensen, whose cross went straight in – that pretty much summed up Shrews’ evening.

Marko Marosi and Mal Benning both missed out on the clash – as did Aaron Pierre who was injured.

How big an impact the changes Paul Hurst was forced to make made, you will never know, but players like Nohan Kenneh and Elliott Bennett who have been on the periphery since Hurst arrived, did not do their cause many favours.

When Town have produced performances like this previously this season, they have always managed to bounce back, and Hurst as well as the supporters will be watching to see what kind of performances they give when they welcome Blackpool to the Croud Meadow on Saturday.