Shrewsbury Town players must "sacrifice themselves" to stay up says Will Boyle

Salop, who sit three points clear of the League Two relegation zone, will look to build on the solid foundations laid at the start of the Gavin Cowan era when they travel to Colchester United tomorrow.

After earning a point against Barnet in his first match in charge, Cowan has enjoyed a full week on the training ground with his squad, and defender Boyle has issued a rallying call for his teammates.

"It's a cliche, but it's true, we've got 18 games to look after it," Boyle said about Salop's fight for survival. 

"If we do our job, then it'll be what it'll be. We've got a new message to get behind. 

"We've got a spirit and a camaraderie in there, at times this season that has been tested. 

"But if we work as hard as we did for each other last Saturday, get behind the gaffer's messages and his game strategies, then we'll give ourselves a fighting chance.

"That's what we have to do. That's a bare minimum. As horrible as it is, people have to sacrifice themselves for the team first so that we can have foundations in games and then grow from there. 

"We've got 18 games to look after ourselves."

Shrewsbury head to Colchester seeking their first league win on the road since early September. Cowan and his coaching staff had just two days to prepare for their opening fixture, but Boyle was encouraged by what he saw in that short period.

He added: "He has been very enthusiastic. He's breathed a breath of fresh air into the building, which does come naturally with a new manager. 

"But, he gives a lot of information, he's sure on what he wants to do. We went out there knowing exactly what he wanted from us and we bought into it. 

"That's good for the group to get the point, to dig in, to build that spirit and belief in what's going on is going to be important. Ultimately that is the foundation and the bedrock that gives you a chance in games."