Key talking points from tough run for Shrewsbury

As Town’s position gets even more perilous with a difficult trip to Peterborough coming up this weekend, we assess some talking points.

Pressure rising

There is no doubt the Town head coach Matt Taylor is now under huge pressure.

The best way to tell how a fan base is feeling is by their reaction at full-time, and the boos and chants rang out around the Croud Meadow as the fans showed their frustrations.

Taylor has said he understands the reaction of the fans and he is well aware the only way to get them back onside is through results.

But with Posh up next and an away record which has seen Salop score just three times on the road this season, getting a result this Saturday looks a tall order.

Goal problems

Town’s issues in the final third have been clear for all to see since September – where they went the whole calendar month (six games) – without scoring a goal across all competitions.

Since then Town have scored three times on a few occasions – including the 3-2 victory against Reading and the New Year’s Day win against Fleetwood in League One – but all in all it has been a tough watch.

And that is proven by the fact they have failed to score in 15 of their League One games and they have the worst record in front of goal across the entire EFL.

Of the 17 league goals they have scored, Dan Udoh and skipper Chey Dunkley – who both have three apiece – are the team’s top scorers.

League position

The one shred of comfort for Town fans is that for the most part of the season, despite the clear issues the team have had they have stayed well clear of the relegation places.

But their recent run of form is dragging them back into the fight to stay in the division. They currently still have a cushion of seven points, but the sides below them all have played fewer games.

So if this run continues then Shrews will be dragged into the scrap, one benefit being there are plenty of poor teams in this league.

Reinforcements

For weeks now, Taylor has been saying he wants to add some strength and some firepower in forward areas – with Nathan Fraser and Ademola Ola-Adebomi at the top of the wishlist.

But they have already lost Ryan Finnigan and Elliot Thorpe, while the futures of Kieran Phillips and Brandon Fleming are also in doubt.

So are Town going to end up getting much stronger this month?

For the here and now, maybe as those loanees are injured, but for the rest of the season, you could argue not.