Shrewsbury Town analysis: Lesson in winning ugly just a small bump in the road

The Brewers definitely didn’t read the script because Ricketts’ first game in charge in League One was set up nicely for a memorable away day.

Winning on the road has been in short supply in the league this season. Just once from 11 attempts, in fact, the second poorest in the division.

But improving Shrewsbury are on the up and, now armed with a new man at the helm, have ambitions to climb further and eventually into the top half.

The weather was horrid, but that didn’t deter the hundreds and hundreds of Town fans who packed out the Pirelli Stadium terrace behind one goal as they sang songs about their new leader Ricketts.

Following a Checkatrade Trophy victory last Wednesday, the scene was set for a statement of intent by Ricketts’ Town on the road at the home of another club, like Shrews, that are underperforming this season.

But fast-forward 90 minutes and the visitors were cursing a hard-luck story where the main chapters were lessons in sloppy defending and taking advantage when on top.

Burton flew out the traps and, for 25 minutes, looked like the team playing to impress under a new manager. Nigel Clough’s men were relentless in their energy. Superb with and without the ball.

It was partly that, and partly some lackadaisical Town decisions, that saw the home side score inside three minutes.

Not the start Ricketts wanted to his first game in charge in League One.

The boss afterwards described it as a ‘freak goal’ and he wasn’t far wrong. Captain Mat Sadler didn’t do too much wrong as he passed back to goalkeeper Steve Arnold, if a little underhit.

But Sadler was unaware Burton top scorer Liam Boyce was lingering and he charged down Arnold’s clearance, the ball rebounded gleefully into an empty net in front of open-mouthed Salop fans.

It’s tough to point the finger at either Sadler or Arnold but it was certainly an avoidable goal that should be viewed as an error.

Burton looked every inch a top third tier side in the opening quarter of the game. So well-drilled by Clough with some decent combination play.

But, the Brewers find themselves in the wrong half of the table because their positive displays have been in fits and starts.

And, true to form, half-an-hour in, Ricketts’ visitors wrestled control – control they would hold for the remaining hour.

Burton inexplicably dropped off and Shrewsbury began to look more like the side that had chalked up six wins from seven games under Danny Coyne, Eric Ramsay and most recently Ricketts.

Midfielder Ollie Norburn, back in the team after recovering from a knee injury, looked as if he hadn’t been away as he slotted back in seamlessly. Josh Laurent’s runs from an advanced midfield role were causing problems.

Powerful forward Aaron Amadi-Holloway was doing his job superbly, occupying defenders, winning dangerous flick-ons and linking play with the buzzing Fejiri Okenabirhie.

With some goalbound strikes well blocked by a resolute Brewers defence and an, at times, reluctance to pull the trigger, Town could not restore parity before the break.

Ricketts would have left Burton a frustrated man because his side dominated the second half.

For whatever reason the Brewers totally dropped off and seemed happy for Town to do what they liked.

But Shrewsbury lacked the decisiveness to break down a stubborn home defence. You felt like Clough’s ploy, if there was one, to sit off and let the visitors dictate was vindicated.

Ricketts said his plan was to look to use pacy top scorer Okenabirhie on the shoulder of the defence and play him in behind.

Town succeeded with this on at least two occasions. One, two minutes in (just before Burton’s opener) and the other midway through the second half at 1-0.

But Town’s new boss was left rather unimpressed with official Ben Toner as, after Okenabirhie twice escaped the last man and was fouled when through on goal, the referee ignored the letter of the law and saw against a red card.

Amadi-Holloway and Co were trying to release Okenabirhie and Laurent with long balls and knockdowns but extra slick conditions made life for Town tougher still.

Shrewsbury needed a little more guile and patience with the football. At times the ball forward seemed hurried and inaccurate.

As Ricketts said, there can be no excuse for Burton’s second goal, effectively the only time they attacked in the second period.

It began with a set-piece, then Marcus Harness’ cross was not cleared, then Reece Hutchinson was able to recycle the ball, then defender Luke Waterfall took a wild swipe before Scott Fraser hammered in off the post.

Waterfall’s clearance was poor but Burton were clinical. They only needed one chance. It was another avoidable goal to concede from the visitors’ point of view.

Town kept trying and did find a way back into it through Okenabirhie’s ninth of the season deep into added time but there was no time left for a last-gasp rally and fairytale ending to Ricketts’ opening chapter.

The Town boss has a couple of free midweeks now to get his new side on the training pitch and help iron out any shortcomings. There is work to do to improve the poor record away from home but, in the grand scheme of the super recent run, this is only a small bump in the road.