Marcus gives his weekly look back and forward on all things Shrewsbury Town.
It's been another interesting week for Shrewsbury Town as the search for a new manager continues. I'm glad that a little time is being taken, it's an important appointment and you don't want to rush those. Fortunately, we'd had a couple of good results with much improved performances that have allowed a little breathing space to those considering the appointment.
We went into last Wednesdays Emirates F.A. Cup replay at Salford with improved confidence and it showed in the performance. We looked to be in control of things for the most part and although there was a little scare here and there, particularly after they scored and looked to throw everything at us but the third goal put paid to that and we coasted out of the game and into a second round fixture at home to Scunthorpe to be played at 2pm this coming Sunday afternoon. I thought all three goals were excellent with Greg Docherty's run and strike from an incredibly oblique angle taking most of the plaudits and rightly so. However, it did mean that Fejiri Okenabirhie's excellent double was a little in the shadow.
Saturday's game at Wycombe was Danny Coyne and Eric Ramsey's first defeat in charge of the first team and although I thought we performed well, I thought we looked a little jaded at times. Maybe it was playing on Wednesday and then Saturday or the impact of a slightly more intense training regime but one or two looked slightly jaded at times. Despite that, we made a good game of it and heads didn't drop when the third Wycombe goal went in. A little more luck and we would have come away with a point but the extra few days rest for Wycombe may have given them the sharpness to make their direct tactics work. I like to take a positive or two from defeats and Fejiri Okeneabirhie's fifth goal in three games is certainly one, as was Aaron Amadi-Holloway's first goal for Town. It was assisted by man of the moment Okenabirhie who's had quite a week!
Coming up first this week is a home game against Plymouth in Sky Bet League One on Tuesday. The Pilgrims are another team that may be finding form at the moment having just beaten Fleetwood at home at the weekend. There was a point when the Devon club looked to have taken roots in 24th position but they've risen to 22nd recently and a win could well see them climb out of the bottom four.
After Plymouth, it's time to look forward to the return of the F.A. Cup to Montgomery Waters Meadow with Scunthorpe visiting on Sunday. It's another game against a team close to us in the league with a not so vintage season behind them. However, they've won at home and away in their last four games so like us they may just be finding some form. They beat Burton at home in the first round a couple of weeks back and also won at Bristol Rovers recently. Having said that, their most recent result was a defeat at home to Portsmouth who we managed to draw with earlier this season.
The Youth Team didn't play this week but will face Bury this coming Saturday. It could be a good opportunity to watch the youth team with the first team playing on Sunday. It's well worth watching the under 18 team, I try and see them play a few times a season and have done for a few years. Seeing the younger players come through somehow makes the connection with the first team feel stronger and when they move on like Conor Goldson and Ryan Woods did, it makes you feel that little bit of extra pride. The game is scheduled for 11 A.M. On Saturday at the Sports Village in Sundorne.
In off the pitch news, Shropshire homes pledged their support for Shrewsbury Town by committing to sponsor our away kit until 2021.The away shirt will make a rare home appearance on Tuesday night against Plymouth and Shropshire Homes will also be sponsoring the game. Wearing the Orange kit at home seems a good way to honour a commercial partner that has been in our corner since the 1980's.