Shrewsbury Town comment: It seems Salop must rely on the Meadow

We’ve been settling our nerves for a while now with the ‘there’s still a while to go’ rhetoric. But it’s pretty obvious that the next seven weeks are going to be tight, tense and pretty unpleasant.

Town had 40 points ahead of kick-off today. Back-to-back defeats at Rochdale and Plymouth really have badly stunted their progress. Yes, the League One table is so tight – but that looks like meaning the points requirement to survive could shoot beyond 50 points, possibly more than 52.

I’m sure many Shrewsbury fans have studied the remaining fixtures, five at home, four on the road, desperately attempting to figure out where the minimum three wins – or more – are coming from.

And what is becoming apparent is that Sam Ricketts’ men may have to rely on their form.

Disappointing trips to Rochdale and Plymouth are the latest in a miserable campaign on their travels for Town fans. Bottom of the away table with just two wins, the victory at Peterborough last month might have been a turning point on the road but it has not proved the case.

It seems there is some kind of mental block troubling Town players when they go away. They have been more confident and comfortable in their home surroundings – although not by too much given that the Meadow form hasn’t been enough to ease relegation fears.

Ricketts has not been sure what the reason is for the despairing away form, but there has to be an underlying problem that has continued under both managers this season.

It would be worrying if the problems were mental or psychological. There are some good characters in that Town squad that should be tough enough to grind out more than two wins from 19.

The ability is certainly there. There are players of sufficient skill to achieve more, so it is difficult not to suggest there are other flaws.

It seemed ‘easy’ for the players to turn on the style in their big FA Cup clashes, which also makes you question the drive and desire for run-of-the-mill league trips to unglamorous surroundings.

Many of the fanbase share similar concerns about the squad. It’s not too late for the class of 2018/19 to change these perceptions of nearly men or mentally not tough enough, but now is the time to click into gear because games are running out.

It looks like Salop will have to rely on their home games – against Wycombe, Portsmouth, Scunthorpe, Oxford and that dreaded final day versus Walsall – for the required points.

Three or four wins from those, perhaps the former with a couple of draws thrown in, should do it.

That’s not a bad half-a-dozen opponents. There are teams to come to Shrewsbury also well in the mire, every side other than Pompey in that list are battling for their lives at the bottom.

Those are fixtures from which Town ‘should’ be able to get themselves over the line. But nothing is a given, Ricketts’ side were unable to crack bottom side AFC Wimbledon – who are admittedly improving – last time out at home.

Three points against out-of-form Wycombe today would be a good start, but there would still be work to do.

Whatever Town could pick up on the road would be a bonus. There are trips to drop zone rivals Southend and Gillingham still to come – while Coventry will be on the beach in mid-table by the penultimate weekend of the season.

It is unfortunate that Shrewsbury cannot rely on their away form this season. Ricketts was right to shower the 174 fans that traipsed to Plymouth midweek in praise. Away fans have been given no joy at all this term.

And it cranks the pressure, and expectancy, of home matchdays right up. Town must have their minds in the game from now onwards and can’t afford to crack.