Simpson blasts his players

Paul Simpson has accused his Shrewsbury Town players of lacking respect for the club, shirt and the FA Cup after suffering a second dose of first round humiliation.

Town followed up their defeat at Blyth Spartans 12 months ago by falling at the first hurdle to part-timers again on Saturday, going down 1-0 to Blue Square South outfit Staines.

It is the first time Shrewsbury have been beaten at home in the FA Cup by non-League opposition.

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The inquest began immediately after the final whistle on Saturday night, with Simpson spending 40 minutes in the dressing room with his players.

And the Town boss was angry his squad had failed to heed the lessons from Blyth 12 months ago.

"How we defended their goal was a concern," said Simpson. "But the bigger concern for me is how little we produced going forward, what poor quality we had when we did get into good areas, the lack of enthusiasm, the lack of respect for the competition, the lack of respect for the shirt, for the club.

"You couldn't have asked for any more from the draw - and I'm not being disrespectful to Staines in anything I say because they deserved to win.

"I hear all the moaning from the crowd, but how can I affect players putting corners out directly behind the goal?

"How can I affect players passing a simple 10 yard ball which misses our player and goes to their players?

"How can I affect players not being able to control it and not reacting when the ball goes over the top of them?

"It's difficult and the players have got to take a long hard look at themselves.

"They have got to realise the importance of this life and career they have got.

"They have to make sure they do the professional side of it and not just have the professional football life - and we didn't do the professional side of it on Saturday."

Simpson insisted his side were perfectly prepared for the meeting with Staines.

"We had four match reports and I have been down to Staines to watch them and we were probably more prepared for this than Notts County last week," he added.

"But the group of players involved on Saturday and at Notts County last week, it was like different people.

"I don't see the same characters, same mental strength and determination and I can only put it down to individuals.

"You have players who want to do it right. Graham Coughlan tried to do it properly and lead, Paul Murray tried to get on the ball and get it going.

"Dave Hibbert worked hard and tried to get it going, Lewis Neal popped up into areas but we didn't get the quality from him and Kevin McIntyre has worked his socks off and tried to affect the game.

"But we were caught way short and that's not through a lack of preparation."

Simpson admitted the defeat could affect next week's attendance for the League visit of Torquay.

"3,500 people turned up and paid good money and they have seen our footballers go out and not earn that right to be professional footballers," he added.

"I think it would be fair to say we have probably lost some for next weekend.

"But all we can do is go and work hard and try and build it back up again.

"The reaction has to come next Saturday."

By JAMES GARRISON