Striker Pleased To Top The Town Scoring Charts
- Collins set to finish as Town's top goalscorer this season
- Striker believes he should have had even more
- He was top scorer in Shrews' last promotion campaign
"Towards the end of the window in September I thought everything looked positive so I knew from day one that we would have a chance of going up.
"He’s brilliant. He’s so laid-back and so down-to-earth that you can approach him about anything.
“He knows what he wants and he wanted promotion and he has succeeded with that." He said: “
The Coventry-born forward also praised Micky Mellon for his input this season.
"This year the squad is far superior than the one we went up with last time, no disrespect to the team we had last time because that was very good.
"I think the experience and the youth and the blend in this year’s team has been superb." He said:
Having played in both promotion-winning seasons, Collins believes this squad was always destined for promotion.
"I remember it being a full house and having our fans behind the far goal where the away fans normally sit and I remember me and Terry Gornell just jumped on each other and at the whistle everyone ran on the pitch.
"It would blow last time out of the water if we can win at the weekend and Burton can slip up, and if I manage to get on the scoresheet it would be a big career highlight of mine.
“To have two promotions on your CV at 24 is a big achievement. I had a disappointing season last year so to bounce back and make it such a positive one this year, for me personally, it is brilliant." Reflecting on that moment, Collins said:
The 24-year-old also topped the scoring charts for the club in Town’s 2011/12 League Two promotion-winning season as well as scoring the decisive goal against Dagenham & Redbridge to take the Shrews up.
"I think over the year I have been quite consistent. Obviously good games and bad games come and go, but I’m glad that I can finish as top goalscorer this year and repay a bit of the faith the fans have shown in me.
"I’ve played the most games out of the strikers so if I didn’t finish as top goalscorer I would have been pretty disappointed in myself.
"I still think I should have had a lot more given the chances we have had this year, but to finish as top goalscorer again, I’m really pleased with it." And the striker said:
Collins’ 15 league goals have already helped Town secure promotion to League One after a 1-0 victory at Cheltenham Town last weekend.
Town take on Plymouth Argyle at the Greenhous Meadow in the final game of the season (3pm kick-off), while leaders Burton Albion travel to Cambridge United with a two-point cushion at the top of Sky Bet League 2.
Shrewsbury Town’s top goalscorer this season, James Collins, will be hoping to get on the scoresheet again on Saturday and clinch the title from Burton Albion’s grasp.