Deserved defeat ahead of Anfield trip

Shrewsbury Town 3-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, September 18th 2010


The general consensus from the hardy souls that travelled to Shrewsbury from Northampton on Saturday was that if we play anything like that at Anfield on Wednesday then our big night out will only be remembered for a heavy defeat and a little embarrassment.

It appears that in a year, since a 3-0 drubbing on the same ground in Sammo’s early days as manager, we’ve not learned a whole lot and despite a fine free kick from Kevin Thornton that briefly threatened to turn the game we’re not much better off than we were back then.

Thornton had equalised Matt Harrold’s opener in which Seb Harris, in defence in place of the injured Dean Beckwith, couldn’t do enough and the American was withdrawn before the interval with Paul Rodgers coming off the bench. It may be a long time before we see Harris in the back four again after he lasted just 35 minutes.

The second half saw a controversial goal turn the tide back towards the home side. John Johnson appeared to be fouled but there was neither a flag nor a whistle and Jake Robinson strode through to make it 2-1. Robinson made it three a few minutes later and our best effort was a Leon McKenzie disallowed effort.

Worrying times then ahead of a long, hard winter and you can’t use any excuses about Anfield being on the players’ minds because you have to earn your place and if Sammo had the resources he could well have been justified in giving others a go on Wednesday night. But as it is we don’t have a big enough squad to do that and if we’re to forget this first defeat in the league since the opening day we’re going to have to give blood and guts at the home of one of the most historic clubs in the world.

The squad’s looking thin, the winter’s setting in and there’s a long road ahead – we need more spirit than this on Wednesday otherwise we’re in for a hiding!