Darren Ferguson: High energy has Shrewsbury out on top

Rovers host Paul Hurst's Town as the visitors look to make it 10 League One games unbeaten this season in what is already a record-breaking start to a Football League campaign for Shrews.

Ferguson and his management staff have assessed Town, taking in the 1-1 draw with Blackburn on Saturday, which he admitted Shrewsbury were unfortunate not to win.

He believes a high-octane tempo is a contributing factor to why Hurst's side are setting the pace.

"When you watch them you can see why they’ve done so well," said Ferguson.

“They’re fit, have lots of energy and players in important positions are playing really well for them.

"They’re well organised with real energy about them.

“We need to match the energy levels but I like to think we’re good at that anyway.

“They’re confident and maybe that is where the energy is coming out of.

“They’re unbeaten. I watched the game on Saturday and they were unlucky not to win it."

Ferguson guided his side to promotion after finishing third in League Two last season. Things began well back in the third tier, with a 3-1 victory at Blackburn a highlight.

But a tough run of results, including four league defeats from five, meant Rovers were in search of an upturn in fortunes. A timely, impressive display at Arsenal in the EFL Cup last week proved a real lift, despite the 1-0 defeat.

They then went to fellow newly-promoted side Plymouth and secured a comfortable 3-0 success.

Ferguson added on Town: “When you play against a team with loads of belief and confidence, you know it’s going to be difficult.

“Their wide players are playing very well which is a massive part of how they want to do things.

“You can see by watching them that they have got that in their locker in terms of how they want to play their game. It’s full of energy and tempo.

“They have to take credit. Obviously they’ve had a very good pre-season and they’ve taken it on.”