Defender Wants To Build On Positives Of Swindon
Defender Anthony Gerrard says Shrewsbury Town must build on the positives of Saturday’s defeat to Swindon Town.
The former Cardiff and Huddersfield player believes Town were well worthy of a point following a dominant second-half performance against the Wiltshire side.
“I thought we dominated the game, especially the second half,” said Gerrard.
“We were unfortunate not to get the required goals to win it. If we were horrendous and couldn’t stick two passes together then that’s a cause for concern but the performance was good but the result wasn’t what we wanted.
“I think the least we deserved out of the game was a point, if not all three, but that’s football, it doesn’t work like that.
“Results haven’t been as good as we would’ve liked but it’s football and it’s swings and roundabouts so hopefully we can carry on putting performances in like we did on Saturday then we can pull it round.”
Shrewsbury get the opportunity to put some festive points on the board when they host Fleetwood Town at Greenhous Meadow on Boxing Day.
29-year-old Gerrard insists that the Shrews must keep a level head over this congested period, with games against teams in the bottom half of the league all to come.
But the defender also warned about getting carried away over the Christmas period results.
“We’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves and hopefully the performances can hit the high notes that we need to get to,” insists Gerrard.
“It’s always an important time. If you come out of it with a couple of points then it puts you in good stead. On the flip side you can’t get too downbeat if things don’t go your way.
“Points in any form are important. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing – top of the league or bottom of the league. Points are points. They’re all vital and much needed around this time.
“You can’t put a tally on it because if you don’t hit that total then you fell like you’ve failed.
“It felt like we failed on Saturday by not getting a point and that was the bare minimum we felt we deserved from our dominance in the second half.
“We lacked that cutting edge though but hopefully we can find our spark in and round the opposition’s 18-yard-box and hopefully keep the back door shut.
“We gave away a sloppy goal at the weekend as we have been doing as of late. People haven’t been cutting us open and we haven’t been getting stretched. It’s just nit picking on little things that we need to eradicate and then hopefully we can then start putting clean sheets together and start pushing up the league.”
And the in-form Gerrard will be looking to continue his own good form when Micky Mellon’s old team come to Town.
“I feel I’m doing well; consistent, which I am happy about,” he added.
“Things are going well for me. It’s the first time I’ve strung eight games together in a year. I’m just concentrating on each and every 90 minutes that I can get under my belt. I’m grateful to get back into football.
"Hopefully I’ve done myself and the gaffer’s faith in me justice as well.
“It’s his old side and he’d love to get one over on them but first and foremost he wants the points. As much as the media make out it’s a grudge match, I don’t think he’ll be interested in that as long as we come away with the victory. That’s the be all and end all.
“Obviously the performances and the points of the team haven’t matched what we’d expect but it’s football. You can have an absolute stinker for four games and come out with three victories and one draw. You don’t always get what you deserve in football and hopefully we can turn it around.”