Big problem remains: The big talking points from Shrewsbury Town’s Rochdale defeat

Losing football matches will happen. It was always going to happen for Shrewsbury Town.

But this was a second very poor showing in the space of seven days.

Managers sometimes talk about there being a ‘way to lose a game’. This was not it.

Just like at Fleetwood Town seven days earlier, Salop were dismantled and there was never really a feeling they were going to find a way back into the game.

Here are some talking points from Town’s miserable night at Rochdale.

Sticks with winning side

Boss Gavin Cowan stuck with his winning side, making just one change to the bench as Kian McMahon-Brown came in.

But Town could not replicate the performance that had earned victory over Salford City.

As Cowan admitted afterwards, several individuals were simply missing on the night and well below the level required.

Defensive mistakes

Town had been resilient and resolute to claim a first clean sheet of the season against Salford. That defensive solidity disappeared again at Rochdale.

Salop have now conceded 12 goals in their opening five games, while scoring just three.

And that brings us back to the biggest problem they struggled with last season: goals.

So far, the summer recruits have done little to suggest that issue has been solved.

The midfield was passive as Luca Hoole was isolated and beaten for the cross that led to Rochdale’s opener, while Josh Ruffels’ mis-clearance presented the hosts with their second.

Sound familiar? It was only seven days earlier that Town had been punished for similar mistakes at Fleetwood.

For the final blow, Town were dispossessed far too easily and Rochdale broke quickly, with Will Brook staying rooted to the edge of his six-yard box as the goal gaped.

Captain Will Boyle had been Town’s hero against Salford. He can take some credit for his efforts again, but there was little he could do to rescue his side this time around - making it a disappointing night for the birthday boy.

Away woes

Shrewsbury have now failed to score in each of their last four away league games.

They last endured a longer run without scoring on the road in November 2023 - when they also went four games without finding the net.

Formation changes

Town altered their shape several times throughout the game.

They started with a back four rather than the back five used previously and moved into a 4-4-1-1 towards the end of the first half.

They appeared to switch again to a 4-2-3-1 after the break as Cowan looked for a way back into the game.

Loanees make debuts

Kian McMahon-Brown made his Town debut just a day after joining on a season-long loan from Burnley.

He replaced Isaac Fletcher, who struggled to make a significant impact.

Town will hope McMahon-Brown can provide some of the spark going forward that has been missing, with supporters hoping he can have a similar impact to Iwan Morgan’s loan spell last season.

There was also a first glimpse of Michael Golding, who replaced Tom Sang. The Leicester City loanee went close late on, with his low effort being blocked.

Response needed

Just as they did after the defeat at Fleetwood, Town have now set themselves the task of responding to another miserable night.

They have little time to dwell on it, with a trip to Fleetwood next up and a chance to produce a very different outcome to their EFL Cup thrashing there.