Shrewsbury v Portsmouth Preview: Old pals’ act can wait as Sam Ricketts seeks victory
Tomorrow will be the first time they have met as managers, but Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts and Portsmouth counterpart Kenny Jackett are no strangers to each other.
Ricketts was the man trusted with the armband as Jackett’s Wolves won the League One title in the 2013/14 season, writes Joe Edwards.
And the Welshman is aiming to use that know-how to pull off an upset and take Town a step closer to survival.
But he knows Jackett’s way of thinking will have evolved since then.
“I have not been in this scenario too much (managing against an old boss), but I’m sure it’s the same for him as it is me,” said Ricketts.
“We want to win the game. We might say hello to each other before and have a drink afterwards, but we’re only focused on winning the game.
“Obviously I know Kenny better than some, but it doesn’t mean I know exactly how they’re doing things.
“They’ll be doing things a bit differently now to what he’s done previously as football keeps evolving.
“It keeps changing all the time. What I do know about Kenny’s sides is that they are well organised, well structured.
“And it will be a tough game for us.”
The two teams are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Pompey have almost mirrored Salop’s run last season by making it to the Checkatrade Trophy final, while still being in with a slight shout of automatic promotion to the Championship.
On them, Ricketts added: “They’re a good side. They have good players.
“They have some pace and power about them, so they’re a good side. A couple of months ago people were saying they would walk away with the title.
“It hasn’t quite gone that way, they’ve had a couple of difficult results, but they have won their last couple.
“They’ll be a hard side to play against but we’ll be ready, trying to nullify their threats and impose ourselves on them.”
Town are 18th – a point above the drop zone, but just two off 12th-placed Plymouth.
Everyone in the bottom half is considered a relegation contender at this point, and on the fight, Ricketts said: “It’s phenomenal, really, the league, being a point outside the bottom four but two points off 12th.
“If you were sat 12th in the league, you’d usually be thinking ‘we’re doing pretty well here’.
“But now, you’re so close. One win doesn’t mean you’re out of it and one loss doesn’t mean you’re in for relegation. It’s a combination of results and we have eight games now, and we have to try to get more results than not.”
Although there are injury worries over defenders Ro-Shaun Williams, James Bolton and Luke Waterfall, and Ryan Sears is away with Wales Under-21s, Ricketts has a wealth of options in midfield and attack.
Dave Edwards may start in midfield again and fulfils the requirement for there to be at least one home-grown player in the matchday squad of 18, having come through the academy before returning to the club in January after more than a decade away.
