Up for the Cup, Super Scully and injury concerns - the Shrewsbury debrief

Up for the Cup

Without a doubt, Sunday's trip to the National League North high-flyers was a banana skin successfully avoided by Shrewsbury - the presence of the television cameras attest to that.

But with one slip-up successfully navigated, another arrives in the shape of National League strugglers Sutton United, who just avoided an upset of their own against AFC Telford United.

While it is a disappointment to the neutral that there won't be a blockbuster Shropshire derby in the Cup, it does make things slightly less complicated for Shrews.

Still, they will need to be as professional in south London as they were in the north east.

“We are delighted, we were really professional," said boss Michael Appleton after the victory. "I thought we were really good and it could have been very different, as we know, with how well South Shields are doing but I thought we nullified that really well.” 

Another Cup win puts Shrewsbury in the hat for round three and the chance of a money-spinning tie against one of the Premier League big-boys - something they have not enjoyed for four years.

Super Scully

It is now three goals in two games for Sunday's man of the match, and he is starting to live up to the reputation he made under Appleton at Lincoln City of being a class act.

Appleton was correct to withdraw the attacker on the hour-mark with the game wrapped up, as great as it would have been to see him go on and perhaps complete his hat-trick.

But because of Scully's recent history with injuries, Salop need to wrap him in cotton wool and make sure they get these sorts of performances out of him.

And speaking after the game, Scully was full of praise for Appleton. He said: “I had my issues at the start with the injury I was playing on for a few weeks and naturally if you’re not fit or not playing, you’re not enjoying it either.

“When I came back I had a really good chat with the gaffer and we spoke about it. He’s got me back to the player I was a few years ago." 

Ruffels' first start

When Josh Ruffels was signed, the expectation was he would be providing a bit more competition at left-wing-back and, due to his versatility, some in midfield as well.

But when the teams lined up on Sunday, it was clear Ruffels had been preferred in a central midfield position, which he continued with even after the 13th-miunute departure of Sam Clucas through injury - with Mal Benning instead making it a direct swap.

After several weeks of training with Town and only two substitute appearances before the weekend, it was great to get 81 minutes into his legs - and he may not have to wait too long until his next start...

Injury concerns

The biggest negative to come out of the Cup victory was injuries to key duo Sam Clucas and Tom Sang, both who were withdrawn - Clucas early on and then Sang at half-time.

Ruffels could cover either of those roles, but the hope is that the decision to remove both players early on will help in their recovery rather than risk any long-term damage.

Clucas - one of two Town players to start all 14 league fixtures this season - felt an issue in his Achilles after going up for a header, while Sang had a minor calf niggle after netting during an impressive first half for the midfielder.

Both players will be assessed in training this week, along with a couple of knocks the squad was already carrying, before determining who will start at play-off-chasing Crewe Alexandra on Saturday lunchtime as Salop look to make it six unbeaten.