Shrewsbury Town boss Gavin Cowan wants to ‘put things into perspective’

Gavin Cowan has warned Shrewsbury Town will struggle to meet expectations if they are judged against the club’s past glories.

Town secured their second League Two win of the season at the weekend after a difficult start to the campaign.

And following a testing opening, Cowan has called for some perspective on results.

“I think there is a perspective that needs to be put on all of this,” he said.

“I don’t know whether people are still having the hangover from the Paul Hurst days of old when we went to Wembley and we had these play-off finals and all of it - brilliant.

“But the club got elevated to new heights. If we’re holding it to that standard, none of us have got a chance. Let’s put things into perspective.

“Look, we all want to be successful. We’re all striving for the best and for the top. But in the meantime, you’ve got to enjoy the process.

“There’s a lot of youngsters in our team, and it’s a society of social media. They’re watching some of the negativity that, fortunately, I shut out. I’m experienced enough to shut out the outside world. But yeah, what I’m hearing is ridiculous.

“Get behind the team - win, lose or draw. I’m up for criticism, I’ve got no problem. But bring it to a fans’ forum. I don’t get asked many difficult questions at them, so I welcome it.”

Shrewsbury make the short trip to Crewe Alexandra this weekend, with the hosts unbeaten and having drawn all four of their league games so far.

Salop will be looking to build on their victory over Northampton Town, when they were clinical in front of goal and kept a clean sheet.

Asked for his overriding emotion after that result, Cowan added: “Very pleasing for the players and for the staff. They deserve it, because they've stayed calm and they've trusted me.

“And that's the biggest compliment I can take from my players and staff.

“Now in football clubs, notoriously, when you’re losing games, players start to go into their little dark corners, poison gets spit everywhere, and you have to manage that.

“But the biggest compliment to me is that all of my players and all of my staff haven’t jolted once. They haven’t flinched. They’ve just been fully behind it.

“When you’re in the building, you do get it. You get the feeling, you get the vibe, you get the energy.

“I think even you guys when you come and do the press conferences with us, you feel it and you understand that there's something happening there. But it isn’t going to happen overnight.”