Defender's thoughts after the Scunthorpe game
Jack Grimmer was deflated after Shrewsbury Town suffered another home defeat. David Mirfin’s header late in first half stoppage time was enough to earn Scunthorpe United the victory and leave Town in the relegation zone but the defender feels they were unfortunate:
“I thought we were unlucky. The manager has said there is only so many times you can call yourself that but I thought especially in the first half we were dominant. They changed their shape in the second half and we couldn’t find a way to break them down. Even when we went route one we weren’t winning the headers and knock downs and when we passed it we just couldn’t break them down. “
Grimmer admits the side has conceded too many times from set-pieces and it needs to be addressed:
“They are top of the league and they have got there by digging out results like they did today and we are gutted to be honest. Everyone worked so hard and we had a plan and stuck to it well. The manager nailed it into us all week about what we had to do to win the game and every player stuck to it to the letter. Yet again we concede from a set piece and that is sloppy and we need to cut that out. Every corner and set piece we need to be more switched on. They have a big team so everyone was a threat in the box but their centre backs especially needed to be tightly marked.”
The 22-year-old felt Shrewsbury played well in the first half but feels the side needs to trouble opposition goalkeepers more in games:
“We went into half time deflated even after having a really good half. It did take the air out of us but we went again in the second half and tried to pen them in. We passed the ball today a lot better than we have in the last two games. We linked well through the midfield and we got to knock downs in the first half but not when we needed to in the second half. It was always going to be difficult when they sat in and they defended well and stopped us getting chances.”
“Even their own players were saying that we battered them for 90 minutes but I do think we need to make their keeper work a lot more than we did. Last year teams shot from distance and things went in. It bounced off people and you get the luck that you get in games. We will go back to the drawing board and work on it on Monday but we need to have more quality in the final third.”
Some fans voiced their disapproval at full time and the former Aberdeen player insists he feels as aggrieved as them:
“I can understand why the fans are annoyed and I am the same. Last season I came here and I knew what the home form was like and I tried to help that because you need to make your home ground a fortress, especially in this league. Thankfully last season we managed to win a lot away from home. Maybe it suited our style of play better. But it is easy to see why the fans are frustrated and I am up there with them. They come and give their support and I got a great reception which was very much appreciated and we need to repay that. I want the fans to stick with us because it is early in the season and it is a long season.”
The former Scotland Under- 21 International still believes in the squad and is happy to be at Shrewsbury and looking forward to the next game in London next Saturday:
“I have been here last season and with the difference in quality between last season and this season we should be looking up. I had offers to go other places but it is exciting to be here with the management and the players we have brought in. Every player wants to win here and that is something that I love. We have such intensity in training and the sessions are longer and tougher. Everyone is pulling in the right direction so it can only be a matter of time before we start getting out results. Bury was unfortunate last week and we had a couple of mistakes but that is football. I wish the next game could be on Tuesday. We want to go out straight away and put things right. Wimbledon is a good place to go. They are near us in the table so I think it will be a battle and a scrap and we will be up for it.”