Shrewsbury players are hurting from difficult run of form, says boss John Askey
John Askey admits he is finding Shrewsbury’s run of form ‘difficult’ to deal with but says players are hurting like the supporters.
Town were seconds from recording League One win number two of the season at the 10th time of asking, having taken an 88th-minute lead against Gillingham.
But former Salop man Tom Eaves netted a 90th-minute equaliser to draw more frustration from the Montgomery Waters Meadow crowd.
Boss Askey, who questioned his side’s desire to defend and willingness to win after the game, saw an improved second-half display as Town turned around a 1-0 deficit to seemingly put them on course for a second straight home win, only to be denied at the death.
“It kicks you in the teeth,” said Askey. “The first half was a little bit flat. We spoke about being more aggressive in our play and in the second half you saw that.
“We looked better than Gillingham. They’ve got to realise there’s no-one who’s taken us apart.
“If they cut these little mistakes out then we’ll start getting the points, but until we do it’s very difficult for myself.
“All you can do is try and remain positive.”
The Town boss, whose side moved up one place to 19th – with eight points from 10 outings – added: “The players will be feeling exactly how the supporters feel. It’s three points thrown away.
“It could have been avoided, that’s the big thing. It’s not through a team opening up or some great play, it’s through ourselves not doing our jobs.”
Askey insisted his players would not need lifting for tomorrow’s trip down the M54 to face Walsall at the Banks’s Stadium, where Salop have not won for nearly 25 years.
“They shouldn’t need psyching up, at this time of the season, playing local rivals,” he said.
“I’m sure they’ll want to get Saturday behind them, go out again and prove a point because it should’ve been three points.
“It wasn’t and we’ve got to go and get three points at Walsall.
“Whenever you go out and play you should want to get the three points.
“I’m sure they’re the same as us but as long as we do that’s all I’m bothered about. We’ve got to go and be right from the off and be brave and aggressive in what we do.”
