Shrewsbury v City – After match thoughts

Well, that wasn`t the plan.

After a summer of rebuilding, a summer of renewed optimism and the familiar feelings that this is our year, City flattered to deceive at the Greenhous Meadow.

Saturday was disappointing, and a man of the match (in my opinion) performance from Lionel Ainsworth highlighted some defensive weaknesses within the City ranks. Robbie Threlfall was left exposed time and time again due to the lack of cover in front of him and Scotty Neilson, after such a promising pre season, could not get himself into the game.

City made a solid start at Shrewsbury, dictating the pace and controlling possession. Jon McLaughlin didn`t have a shot to deal with for the first 30 minutes and when Tom Adeyemi put City ahead, it was a deserved lead. At that point Shrewsbury looked very beatable and the width of a post prevented Gareth Evans scoring a quick fire second for City and making the game a lot more comfortable. However, City failed to capitalise, and Shrewsbury equalised with a questionable goal.

However, you could not accuse The Shrews further two goals of being questionable. Graham Turner clearly fired up his troops at half time as they returned to the field with a vigour we did not see from them in the first half. As I`ve already alluded to, Lionel Ainsworth rote City apart with a performance we all hope Omar Daley can replicate this season. A great cross from Ainsworth saw Jake Robinson (All five foot nine of him!) beat both Luke Oliver and Steve Williams to the ball to head Shrewsbury into the lead. A neat through ball put Robinson through again who had the time to loft the ball over the onrushing McLaughlin and the game was lost. For 10 minutes City could not cope with what Shrewsbury had to offer. The introduction of Tommy Doherty and Louis Moult could not alter the final outcome, and even after the idiotic kick from Kevin McIntyre which saw Town reduced to ten men, City couldn`t find a way back into the game.

It may all seem doom and gloom, but the team Taylor fielded at Shrewsbury was a long way from his first choice XI. Simon Ramsden will be back in his natural right back position once Michael Flynn and Tommy Doherty are fully fit and Omar Daley is available for selection again after his reckless red card at Chesterfield last season. City will be more solid with Ramsden in his favoured position, Doherty in the middle will give City much more guile and invention and Daley will bring that flair and pace that City lacked so much on Saturday.

A midweek game against Forest will see changes and I expect Jake Speight to get his first start, along with possibly Doherty. City face Stevenage next Saturday at Valley Parade as the league season gets going and I expect City to be a lot more threatening. Onwards and upwards….