The old adage that the best thing to do
after falling off a bike is to get straight back on certainly feels like it
rings true in BS3 this week as Sean O’Driscoll and his young side quickly return to perform in front of their
own fans at Ashton Gate and look to right the wrongs of
Saturday’s 3-0 humbling.
This Tuesday sees City's rearranged
match against Shrewsbury Town, and following Saturday’s heavy home defeat, many are labelling this ‘must-win’ and,
perhaps more worryingly, saying our tough start to the season (having faced
promotion contenders Bradford, Wolves and Peterborough at home thus far) is now
over with us facing a 'small club like Shrewsbury', suggesting a win should be
mandatory. Funnily enough football doesn’t always work out like
that, but wouldn't it be nice if it did on Tuesday?!
It's the first match between the two
sides for 15 years and the Salopians haven't won at Ashton Gate since 1961,
their only ever victory in BS3 to date. Lewis Hancock spoke to 19 year-old
trainee teacher Jason Griffiths to evaluate our latest
opponents.
David Moyes transferred from City to
Shrewsbury in 1987, are fans happy to see a former player do so well in the
managerial world?
“As a smaller football club it’s not
often we get noticed in the wider world of football. Occasionally we do however
have some notable people associated with the club. David Moyes is one along
with the likes of England number Joe Hart and all time football league high
scorer Arthur Rowley.
All Salopians wish him well in his career at Manchester
United. We will never forget the day he returned to the Gay Meadow with his
Everton side for an FA Cup 3rd round tie on the 4th January 2003. The side was
packed with Premier League quality including a young Wayne Rooney, but our
veteran striker Nigel Jemson clinched a 2-1 win with a 90th minute header.”
Another former City player currently on
your books is Chris Weale, how has he performed for you since signing in 2012?
“A player of some quality. Our survival
in the third tier last season happened thanks to a string of outstanding
performances by the goalkeeper. In a season where goals were hard to come by,
he secured us many of the points we need to stay in the division. He walked
away with all of the end of season awards.”
With the match being rearranged, can we
expect a slightly weakened Salop following despite the first meeting between
the two since 1998?
“I think we can expect a considerable
difference in the amount of away supporters due to the fixture being
re-arranged. I know many people (myself included) who cannot now make the game
because of it becoming a night fixture, my reason being an exile at university
and relying on trains to get to fixtures.
I’d still like to say there would be a
reasonable number of Salopians making the trip but it’s not going to be a large
following by any stretch of the imagination. However I’ve spoken to a mate who
is going and he’s been granted permission to bring our drum, so there will be a
bit of noise from the away end!”
Are there any standout Shrews that City
fans should look out for?
“This season young midfielder Aaron
Wildig is showing some of the talent which had him on the books of Cardiff City
as a youngster. Last season he was a bit player, playing in wide positions.
This term he has featured as the key man in his favoured central midfield role.
The other key player to watch is young, pacey winger Jon Taylor.”
Last season you finished seven points
above the drop zone (16th place) in your first season back in League One. Would
you settle for that again or is a higher finish a realistic target?
“Last year’s campaign was our first in
the third tier for 15 years where survival was the target. Following the loss
of many of our key promotion squad we were all happy with the final position.
This season we were hoping to be heading towards the middle of the table and
perhaps into the top half. However following a very poor performance in the
transfer market, optimistic town fans are hard to come by. We have started reasonably
well but are in desperate need of a few key players. An experienced goal scorer
is a must. The lack of money spent (none) has a role to play in the low
attendances.”
How does Graham Turner set his side up
to play?
“Graham Turner is a traditional, old
fashioned manager. Anything apart from 4-4-2 and it’s a surprise. Often
stubborn to change personal, tactics and style of play. More recently due to
our injury problems and lack of players he has decided to play young winger Jon
Taylor just off of the striker which has worked well against Swindon and
Rotherham.”
Turner let joint-top scorers Marvin
Morgan and Matt Richards leave Town in the off-season; has he brought anyone in
capable of replacing their goals?
“As I said earlier the striker
situation at the club is one of grave concern. We were all hoping for a big
name or somebody who is known to score goals; this has not happened. The
opinion amongst most of us is that the club is unwilling to spend the money on
wages. Cody McDonald was training with us and went elsewhere. We have also been
linked with Theo Robinson and prolific Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce.
Tom Bradshaw our young Welsh forward
burst onto the scene with two fabulous goals against Crewe as a teenager around
3 years ago. Let’s just say he hasn't done a lot since although this season he
is looking more promising as he is getting more game time. We signed former Celtic
and Stoke youth striker John Marsden during the off season. Unfortunately he
got injured in our second game of the season and will be out for a couple of
months with a broken foot. We’re hopeful midfielders Taylor, Wildig and Parry
will chip in with goals, along with Villa loanee striker Graham Burke.”
So far you've drawn four out of six in
the league, have they been fair results or do you feel you've dropped points?
“It’s hard to say really. We could have
quite easily won all four of those games but then in the cases on Crawley and
Coventry we could have lost them as well. I’d of liked to see us win a couple
of those games, Rotherham away in particular was one where we should have
returned with the victory. Six games in though and with only one league defeat
I’m more than happy with that!”
Finally, can I please get a prediction
for the match?
“A tough game for us; all of them are
at this level. Personally I would take a point. Travelling to a larger club
such as City we know it’s going to be difficult. I hear that things aren’t
going to well for you however we never seem to get the wins away from home we
deserve. A win would be amazing but I'd be delighted to travel back to
Shropshire with a point; the way the season has started it’ll probably end up that
way. Let’s say 1-1 with Tom Bradshaw scoring for us.”
The Exiled Robin
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