Bernard McNally column: Easter double could spark a Shrewsbury title charge
If Shrewsbury can continue to string these wins together they can even target top spot – do the unthinkable and win the league.
The Easter period is certainly a crucial part of the season for Paul Hurst’s side.
The double-header has always been a good marker of how things will finish. It sets you up nicely for the final few games.
Players get a little boost at this point, especially if you’re doing well, as they know the sun is out and they are heading into the run-in.
Every game at the moment seems to grow in stature. And Town have continued to pick up points and put themselves in the running for automatic promotion.
They are important games today at Rochdale and the visit of Oxford on Monday, where I know there are fan ticket offers on. They promise to be great occasions.
Shrewsbury must keep themselves steadfast, as they have been doing.
We’re all aware last weekend’s win against AFC Wimbledon – where Town were without Abu Ogogo and Ben Godfrey – wasn’t the best performance from either side but they ground out a 1-0 victory.
That is exactly what you need if you want to be the number one contender.
The result was a really good one when you realise how depleted Town were in midfield. If Ben was back from his hamstring injury for today’s game that would be fantastic, even if it was just 60 minutes before they took him off.
Paul will have been cursing his luck in midfield. There were probably times in my Shrewsbury days where a similar thing happened, I was usually one of the injured players!
I remember speaking to an old West Brom pro, John Trewick, from back in the late 70s – he said they did ever so well in a season with 14 players. Those days have gone.
Shrewsbury are coping admirably. But they have to. If you want to be top of the table you have to adapt to the situations and improvise and Paul has done that. They have rolled with the punches.
Blackburn and Wigan, let’s face it, have much bigger budgets and Town are David battling Goliath. They have been all season.
Town will have a big crowd following them at Spotland today – around 1,000 sales were reached yesterday – and I expect a boost on Monday.
When you get below 10 games left, particularly when you get down to five or six to go, fans will rally with excitement.
If Town can go into the Wembley week with two wins then it will make the final next Sunday even more of a welcome distraction.
It’ll be a buzz to go there. Let’s hope Town make the top two – but if not we might have a second bite at the cherry to go back to Wembley come May!
