Toto Nsiala: Fresh approach can end Shrewsbury Town's home dip

Salop host Gillingham tonight looking for an immediate response to Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Rotherham, writes Joe Edwards.

They have lost their last two at the Montgomery Waters Meadow, though, and the 25-year-old centre-half feels they need to adapt when sides try to stifle their free-flowing passing game.

“The mood here is the same as always. Everyone is happy. You’re not going to win every game of the season,” said Nsiala.

“You will have dips and we seem to be having one at the moment.

“We’ve lost our last two at home. We haven’t been able to adapt to the other side of the game, in recent matches.

“It’s something for us to work on. Not every team is going to let us play – we have to adapt, have a different strategy for winning games. That is what we are going to do.”

Town have the second best defensive record in the division, having conceded just 25 goals in 32 games.

Nsiala takes pride in that and was disappointed with the goal they let in to lose 1-0 to the Millers at the weekend.

Richard Wood struck as a result of Salop not clearing the ball away after a corner.

“You’re going to have games when you’re not at your best and you concede stupid goals like we’ve been conceding,” said Nsiala.

“The first half of the season, teams weren’t really giving us the respect.

“Now teams are setting up to not let us to get into a rhythm.

“As leaders (being top of the league), as top three or top four, you’ve got to find different ways of winning games.

“There’s 14 games left now, 14 cup finals for us. We’ve just got to keep going, keep doing the things we’re capable of doing.

“We’re going to have to grind wins out.”

Gillingham visit Town having lost just one of their eight league games in 2018 – and that was to Wigan Athletic, who are a point behind Salop with two games in hand.

Nsiala is glad to have the opportunity to put Saturday’s defeat behind them quickly, but knows the Gills will provide a difficult test.

“All the lads here are looking forward to putting it right, every single of them,” he said.

“We want to get as many clean sheets as we can. Usually, if you lose on a Saturday you have all week to moan.

“It’s only one been one training session and now we’re back playing again.

“It’s a good thing with another game coming up straight away.

“There’s no easy games. I’m sure Gillingham will be a tough side as well.

“They’ve got big lads – big Tom Eaves up front.

“Every game is hard and we have to deal with it.”

Nsiala is likely to be marking former Town striker Eaves.

He played 25 games for Salop in the 2013/14 season – on loan from Bolton Wanderers – and has scored 14 goals in 35 games for Gillingham this campaign.

Nsiala is up for what promises to be a physical battle between the pair.

The Town defender has played against him before, and added: “I’ve played against him before and he’s a big lad, a big target.

“Not just that, he likes to play as well – makes the runs.

“It’s a tough game but we look forward to it, as we always do.”