Step up or risk play-off position, warns Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst
Town boss Paul Hurst has warned his players to step it up or risk losing their place for next month’s play-off clashes.
Shrewsbury secured at least third place in League One but were disappointed in drawing 1-1 with already-relegated Bury at Montgomery Waters Meadow, meaning they have won just once in six games.
Hurst used the game to rest key men Jon Nolan and Shaun Whalley and has revealed he will do so in the remaining three games against Peterborough, Blackpool and MK Dons.
But the boss wants to see his players reach closer to the performance levels they were showing earlier in the season or risk being dumped from the team for May’s make-or-break play-off battles.
Hurst said: “What I have warned them of is I’m in charge of them and what they do. Some have been in the team all season and done extremely well.
“There is some loyalty on my part towards them for what they’ve done. But if I don’t feel they’re the right ones going into these games then they won’t play and it’ll be someone else’s job to go in.
“Because I’ve got to pick a team that’s got to go and win in May, not that did well in October, November and December.
“People in form have got to be the ones that have the chance and at the minute we’ve certainly got a few that aren’t where they need to be or would like to be.
“That’s another thing that might come into my thinking. Do you give them the opportunity to get them back into form or take them out to freshen them up?”
Abo Eisa marked his full Football League debut with his first Town goal but there was frustration as Bury pegged back the hosts after the hour in a lethargic second half.
Hurt added: “I look forward to the games in one way but at the same time I’ll be glad when it gets to the play-offs because suddenly ‘right it’s really it’ – and the adrenaline is going to be flowing through the body. It’s the same for fans.
“When it gets to the play-off games it’ll be totally different. That’s the same with the players.
“There’s a lot of contributing factors. A long, hard season. The weather. The situation we’re now in.
“As an example, if Usain Bolt runs at a charity event he’s not got the same feeling as if he’s running in an Olympic final.”
