Curse? Shrewsbury Town being haunted by their former stars
The curse of the former player. An old wives’ tale? Not at Shrewsbury this season.
Eight goals have been scored by seven former Salop stars against Town in 2018/19.
The goals in those games have cost them 10 points. Otherwise, Town would be 12th – well safe of relegation fears.
Such is the churn of footballers in today’s game, it is hardly surprising teams come up against familiar faces on a regular basis.
It is gut-wrenching enough shipping goals, and points, but when those you used to cheer are celebrating against you it can be all the more soul-destroying.
Here are the old-boys who have inflicted pain on Shrewsbury this campaign.
1 Stefan Payne – Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Bristol Rovers, September 1
Payne’s season has gone full circle since his transfer to the Gas from Shrewsbury last summer. The forward actually started for John Askey’s Town on the opening-day defeat to Bradford before his late switch to Bristol.
The forward netted from the spot, against the run of play, as Rovers edged ahead at Montgomery Waters Meadow. But Town were able to level through a Daniel Leadbitter own goal 17 minutes from time.
Joel Coleman got close to saving the penalty and Payne – one of last season’s stars – refused to celebrate, offering a hand of apology in front of the South Stand.
Payne is now back, having completed a January deadline day loan to Shropshire following a difficult time with Rovers.
2 Tom Eaves – Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Gillingham, September 29
The powerful striker has found his stride at the Kent outfit, where he is now one of League One’s most feared goalscorers.
Eaves had a prolific first loan at Salop in February 2013 from Bolton but found goals tougher to come by in the 2013/14 campaign in his second stint, where Town were relegated.
Eaves, now 27, has found a home at Gillingham and after 17 league goals in 41 outings last term he already has 15 in 23 this time around.
His 90th minute equaliser at Town was a real hammer blow for Salop, who had come from behind to lead through Lee Angol and Ollie Norburn. But shoddy defending in the final seconds allowed Eaves to dance into the box and find the corner.
3 Adam El-Abd – Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 Shrewsbury Town, November 24
A topsy-turvy encounter at Adams Park was very much a day of the former player.
Aaron Amadi-Holloway opened the scoring against his old side for the visitors, before an unlikely scorer in experienced centre-half El-Abd, 34, drew the hosts level.
Town were unable to clear a corner and the ball was recycled to the Egyptian, just inside the box, who controlled expertly on his chest and hammered a low volley beyond Steve Arnold. El-Abd’s one season at Salop under Micky Mellon was largely forgettable.
4 Joe Jacobson – Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 Shrewsbury Town, November 24
Danny Coyne’s winning run as interim boss came to an end in Buckinghamshire after left-back Jacobson’s spectacular effort.
Jacobson played 119 games for Town in four years, becoming a fans’ favourite for his consistent performances in defence. Whether he meant this spectacular goal was debatable, as his weaker right foot swung in a cross-shot up and over Steve Arnold into the far corner.
Alex Samuel scored a third for the hosts before Fejiri Okenabirhie’s consolation.
5 Jordan Clark – Accrington Stanley 2-1 Shrewsbury Town, December 26
The diminutive winger has been one of the most exciting players in the division this season and showcased it in the reverse match at the Meadow, which Town edged 1-0.
But Clark, who played 59 games for Town between 2014 and 2016 (mostly as a sub) did not hang around in The Wham Stadium clash on Boxing Day.
Pouncing on a weak Luke Waterfall header, the winger jinked into the box, cut inside on to his favoured right foot and sent a lovely curling finish into the far corner. Billy Kee netted a second in the first half before Ollie Norburn’s penalty after the break.
6 James Collins (x2) – Shrewsbury Town 0-3 Luton Town, February 2
It was questioned whether the centre-forward could deliver in League One – and he has answered those critics this season with 19 goals making him the division’s top scorer.
Collins was prolific twice at Shrewsbury, between January 2012 and summer 2013 and between 2014 and 2016 – although he spent the latter stages of that second spell on loan at Northampton.
But the frontman, 28, is in the form of his career in front of goal, although his recent Meadow double was handed to him on a silver platter.
He had the freedom of the penalty box to bury an early volley before profiting from more invisible defending for the leaders’ third late on.
7 Alex Rodman – Bristol Rovers 1-1 Shrewsbury Town, February 9
Rodman ousted Stuart Drummond’s 2007 record last May when he scored for Town at Wembley in the play-off final against Rotherham.
But he denied Sam Ricketts’ side three vital points on the road on Saturday when the rangy winger was afforded the entire penalty box to send a free-kick into the top corner via his well-placed header.
Rodman, 31, played the best football of his career across 18 months under Paul Hurst at Salop, playing 75 times and becoming a key member of the side that reached the League One play-offs.
