Shrewsbury Town

Defender looking to get three points on the board

Ryan McGivern is looking forward to facing Coventry City after beating Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night. Town are still looking to get their first points on the board after losing to MK Dons on the opening day. The left-sided centre half joined Shrewsbury from Port Vale in the summer and admits is been easy to find his feet. “I settled in straight away. Great bunch of lads,” expressed Ryan. “Obviously, the game on Saturday, it would have been nice to get a point on the board, I think that’s what we deserved as a minimum, but we dust ourselves off and went again against a very good Huddersfield side on Tuesday. “At times we maybe didn’t play as well as we wanted to in the first half or keep the ball as well as we should have, but we defended well as a whole team and we ground out a good result and a decent tie in the next round.” Tony Mowbray’s men are well known for their flowing football, but McGivern is confident that Town can match them. “I played there last season on Boxing Day with Port Vale and we actually played quite well, although we lost 1-0,” said Ryan. “Considering they had a good footballing side last season, we played them at their own game and it was probably one of our better performances, although we didn’t get anything for it. “I think we’ve got the players that like to play out of the back when it’s on. We’ve got players in midfield who are footballers as well and then the two boys upfront and they’re not big target men, they are footballers and they want to try and play. “I think that we definitely have go the players to do that and at the right times on Saturday we will try and do that, and cause them a few problems. “The boys are full of confidence and hopefully we can take Tuesday nights result, and especially the second half performance, into the game on Saturday and hopefully put out mark on it and get some points on the board.” McGivern has played in the Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premiership, but he believes League One is of a high standard. “You only have to look at some of the clubs in the league, the Sheffield United’s and MK Dons’, big clubs and I rate it very highly, Ryan said. “I don’t think there is a massive gap between League One and The Championship, bar maybe two or three teams. It’s a great level to be playing at and hopefully we can have a good season here at Shrewsbury and then be pushing at the right end of the table.” McGivern and Captain Adam El-Abd have already started forming a strong partnership at the heart of the back four and Ryan is enjoying playing alongside the Egyptian international. “The first two games have been very enjoyable. He’s a great leader, that’s probably why the Gaffers given him the armband,” McGivern continued. “He’s got great experience. He’s constantly talking on the pitch, which for a fellow centre half makes your job that much easier. “We’re still looking for our first clean sheet, but hopefully that will come Saturday and won’t be too far away, and we can forge many more throughout the season.”