Shrewsbury v Sheffield Utd: Micky Mellon wants Town to improve on the ball

Salop face their fourth consecutive away trip as they visit the Blades this evening.

And the manager is insistent there were aspects of Saturday's defeat that encouraged him.

Sheffield Utd (4-4-2): Long; Freeman, Basham, Collins, Harris; Campbell-Ryce, Hammond, Coutts, Adams; Baxter, Sharp

Subs: Wallace, Done, Scougall, Sammon, McEveley, McGahey, Howard (gk)

Shrewsbury (3-5-2): Leutwiler; Gerrard, Brown, Whitbread; Grandison, Cole, Ogogo, Black, Kaikai; Barnett, Collins

Subs: Burton (gk), McAlinden, Whalkey, Smith, Lawrence, Vernon, Clark

He said: "Defensively, we've got to be as good as we were on Saturday again.

"But we know that where we've got to improve is when we get the ball, be that on the counter or in possession – just believe in ourselves a bit more.

"Look for the overloads that we're working on in training. Look for the overlaps. Look to get the ball into the frontmen with a bit more quality and at the right times.

"These are things that we'll build on from getting the basics right of defending, which you've got to be prepared to do at these big clubs."

Mellon revealed how a mixture of ability and mindset is the key to top performances on the division's biggest stages.

"It's good players, it's as simple as that," he said.

"It's good players going into an environment with the right mentality and the right focus and doing their jobs properly when they cross that white line.

"On the occasions that we have gone there and played in those big games this season, that's been what it's all about with the mentality side of things which you've got to be good at all the time."

Midfielder Ian Black appears to winning his fitness battle after picking up a dead leg at Wigan on Saturday and should feature in Sheffield.

But Town are without the suspended Mat Sadler.

And Mellon discussed how he looks at balancing squad rotation and selecting the best players available as Salop face a run of six games in 22 days.

"I wish I could fast forward on to 10pm tonight and then I could have the benefit of hindsight to give you that answer," he said.

"Of course, I'll have a look at all things but try and get as close as I always do to what I believe is the correct team."