John Grant faces his former club
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Shots ready for tough Shrews test
By Charlie OliverAugust 22, 2008
SHREWSBURY at this time of year is always a town in bloom, thanks to its annual international Flower Show, held in August.
But this year the town’s football club have responded in kind too, with a fruitful first fortnight in the League Two season.
Paul Simpson’s Shrewsbury Town have won two out of two in the league and have yet to concede a goal, after a 4-0 home win over Macclesfield Town and a 1-0 victory at Exeter City.
So, the long trip north-west to Shropshire’s Welsh borders, following the Roman road of Watling Street, is a pretty daunting prospect for Aldershot fans.
For the more pessimistic fans, there is also recent history to factor in too: Shrewsbury were the scourge who denied Aldershot promotion to the Football League in the Conference play-offs, when Scott Howie saved three Shots penalties in 2004.
Moreover, the Shrews are now managed by Paul Simpson, erstwhile manager of Carlisle United, when the Cumbrians also beat Aldershot in the play-offs a year later, in 2005.
That, however, is in the past. And there will be no sign of Howie, either. The Shots have laid the non-league ghost and, on the back of a solid and encouraging start to their season, go to Shrewsbury’s New Meadow upbeat.
Just ask manager Gary Waddock. “Yes, Shrewsbury are among the favourites to go up. It is going to be a very difficult game,” said Waddock. “But it is one we are also really looking forward to.”
After matching Championship side Coventry for the first half in their last away game — Shrewsbury lost in the Carling Cup first round too last week, 1-0 away at League One Carlisle — Waddock will be quietly confident that his side can inflict a blemish on Simpson’s side’s perfect start.
The Shrews are a powerful unit, however, especially after a summer spending spree.
Simpson has brought in a host of players with experience from higher up in the Football League.
Graham Coughlan, ex of Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday has bolstered the defence, as have Michael Jackson (from Blackpool) and the versatile Shane Cansdell-Sheriff, who joined from Tranmere Rovers. Luke Daniels, the highly-rated youngster on loan from West Bromich Albion, is likely to play in goal for the Shrews.
But it is up front that Simpson has really splashed out, persuading Grant Holt to drop two divisions and join from Nottingham Forest, for a club record fee of £170,000.
Holt was prolific at this level for Rochdale a few seasons ago and scored on debut for Shrewsbury in the win over Macclesfield.
Simpson has also drafted in experienced striker Richard Walker for the season, on loan from Bristol Rovers, and Stephen Hindmarch, from Gretna.
Simpson’s summer shopping led to his side being installed as title-favourites for the season with most of the bookmakers — the Shots face second-favourites Bradford City next weekend — but Simpson does have injury worries ahead of tomorrow’s match.
Coughlan is likely to be out with hamstring trouble while Paul Murray, another summer arrival from Gretna, who folded at the end of last season, will be missing from midfield. The former England B international has a partial rupture of his achilles tendon.
Midfielder David Hunt — who was at the club last season, when Shrewsbury finished a disappointing 18th — is also injured, with a knee ligament problem.
Still, after a influx of players unheralded in the history of the club, Waddock’s men face a battle royal to leave New Meadow — Shrewsbury left their famous Gay Meadow home on the banks of the River Severn two years ago — with a point or more.
But battles have been commonplace throughout history in this border region and Waddock’s troops rarely shirk a fight.
Waddock has picked an unchanged side for Aldershot’s three games so far and is not expected to make wholesale changes for tomorrow’s match. The team largely picks itself: a form of ‘natural selection’ against the side from the town where Charles Darwin hailed.
The one exception is at left back, where Dean Howell lacked confidence in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with AFC Bournemouth. His half-time replacement, Anthony Straker, back after suspension, was more impressive and Waddock gave Straker another long stint in Tuesday afternoon’s 4-2 reserves’ defeat to Millwall. Straker had another bright game, so he may well get the nod ahead of Howell.
Against such formidable opposition Waddock may be tempted to stiffen his midfield with a start for Lewis Chalmers, although Kirk Hudson, the most likely player to step aside, offers one of the qualities Waddock most wants in his side: pace.
One man especially keen to score will be striker John Grant. Last season’s leading goalscorer is still searching for his first goal of the season and if he breaks his duck at Shrewsbury it will be especially sweet.
Grant endured a tough spell in the League at Shrewsbury four years ago, hitting the net just twice in 20-odd appearances.
Danny Hylton, who scored a fine opening goal against Millwall, continues to push Grant hard for a start up front.
“Danny got a great goal,” said Waddock. “He is a handful and it seems he’s getting better and better. He’s certainly staking a claim.”
Club captain Rhys Day returned to action after injury against Millwall and looked solid, winning many a meaty header, both in defence and in attack from set-pieces. “Rhys is a solid player,” said Waddock. “He’s now got that game under his belt but he needs more.”
Rob Elvins earned and scored a penalty for the other goal against Millwall. Junior Mendes was missing with a thigh injury. Waddock hopes to arrange a behind closed doors match next week, in which Scott Davies should make his return from injury.
Slowly, Waddock’s injured players are coming back into the frame. Those who are picked tomorrow know that they cannot afford to be sloppy against Simpson's Salopians.
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