‘Horrendous’ - Boss tells Shrewsbury Town players to step up

Gavin Cowan has told his Shrewsbury Town players to step up after admitting their start to the season has been “horrendous”.

Town host Northampton Town this weekend desperate to turn the tide after winning just once in their opening five League Two games.

It is a stark contrast to the latter part of last season, when Cowan’s Salop became the country’s most in-form side on their way to securingT League Two survival.

Asked how he was coping emotionally with the difficult start, Cowan said: “It’s horrendous, of course it’s horrendous.

“But the reason you become a manager is because you’re a leader. The reason you become a manager is because you take responsibility and you’re accountable.

“So, I won’t do anything different to what I normally do. We’re just doing all of the same things as what we were doing last year.

“The players have to step up. We have to keep drumming the same messages and creating an environment for them to flourish.”

Town have had a full week to prepare for their clash with the Cobblers.

Northampton head to Shropshire unbeaten in their last three games, with victory over Newport County last weekend their first win of the season and a timely boost ahead of the trip to Croud Meadow.

It will be Town’s third home game of the campaign, with their struggles particularly evident on the road, where they are yet to score.

Cowan admits only time will tell whether the conditions have played a part in their difficult start.

He added: “I’m not sure, I’m not sure. I think you only see that over the course of the season when you get the back end of the season and you see the outcomes.

“But yeah, I’m not sure. We’ll see.”