Shrewsbury Town analysis: Salop misery stoops to new lows

What is worse? It does not feel like they have hit their lowest ebb yet.

Coming into the League Two season, hope was restored. It was a clean slate for everyone connected with the football club.

But with the scars of last season still fresh after relegation earlier this year, a good start was imperative. Three weeks later, those hopes have been dashed as Shrewsbury lost their third consecutive game and are yet to score in the fourth tier of English football.

The club is in disarray after Micky Moore, their director of football, left on Friday. So, just three league games in it feels like the two campaigns have amalgamated.

There were hostile scenes at the end of the game at the Croud Meadow on Saturday, as the fans made their feelings known to the hierarchy.

It was not the 2-0 defeat to a Colchester side led by Tom Flanagan that caused such uproar among the fanbase.

It is more the two-and-a-half years of bad decisions on and off the field that has left Shrewsbury in this awful state.

Michael Appleton spoke frankly post-match and said he could understand the supporters' frustrations, but it has been a terrible few weeks for the club.

It is early days for this season, and there is still time for them to turn it around. Town were better in the first half against Colchester. One of their issues so far this campaign has been the lack of goals. They haven't looked like scoring often enough, and they have not created enough clear-cut chances.

It was a warm day, but Salop started with a lot of intensity. Luca Hoole and Sam Clucas put so many crosses into the box over the course of the first half - they just could not fashion a clear-cut opportunity.

Arthur Read lashed an effort just wide of the post for the visitors in what was the game’s first chance.

Will Boyle is a towering figure. He returned from suspension and was a big threat in the box from set pieces. He had three headers in the first period. The first tested keeper, Matt Macey, he had to tip it behind for a corner.  

The other two efforts, he did not get enough power on, and they just looped over the bar.

The Colchester number 10, Jack Payne, was lively. He saw an effort go narrowly wide as the half came to a close.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead when Samson Tovide latched onto an effort from Josh Powell. Elyh Harrison, who looks like a real prospect, could not hold onto a shot, but Town survived thanks to the linesman’s flag nine minutes into the second half.

The forward did get his goal not long after that. It was an exquisite touch to put himself through, and he calmly fired beyond the keeper.

Things got worse for Town when McDermott was shown a straight red card for an out-of-control lunge on Teddy Bishop midway through the second period.

The midfielder has done really well on his debut, and there will be much more to come from the youngster once he has served his suspension, but that will not be a tackle he will want to see again in a hurry.

Colchester were comfortable in the match, and they doubled their advantage with seven minutes to go. Town switched off from a free-kick, they were flat-footed and substitute Kyreece Lisbie took full advantage to slot it past Harrison.

The goal meant the atmosphere inside the Croud Meadow turned sour with Salop supporters aiming chants towards their owner. It was another grim day.

Looking ahead, they still have two weeks to make further additions to the squad.

If they want to get the goals they need this season, then they need to get some reinforcements.

They are crying out for some pace and power to drive them up the pitch and to offer them a focal point up front.

The boss said post-match that he will consider changing the system to try and get the best out of the players he has at his disposal. In his career so far, he's played predominantly as a back four. But this season, with the arrivals of Will Boyle, Tom Anderson and Sam Stubbs, Town have chosen to operate with a back three.

That extra defender at the moment is not really helping them going forward or at the back so they may as well try something different.

He also spoke about the baggage he feels Shrewsbury players have carried into this season.

So many of them were part of the side that was relegated out of League One last year, and despite a positive pre-season, they do not seem to have recovered. One of the only answers might be to move some of them on before the window closes.

The worst part about it all is that it doesn't feel like there is any light at the end of the tunnel for those Shrewsbury Town fans who pay their money each week and come to watch.