Michael Appleton takes encouragement despite Shrewsbury’s winless run continuing

Michael Appleton believes his Shrewsbury players showed they are up for the fight despite being beaten 1-0 at home to Chesterfield.

Sam Clucas went close with two efforts as Town enjoyed the best of the first-half chances and Tommy McDermott wasted a glorious when he drilled wide early in the second period.

And it proved costly when Lee Bonis won it for Chesterfield seven minutes later to leave the struggling Shrews without a win in five League Two games and two points above the relegation zone.

“We are in a place where performances are pretty good at this moment in time,” he said.

“We took five points from the first 10 games of the season.

“It was very difficult and there were a lot of things that were wrong.

“In the last 11 games the points we have picked up, how we have approached games and the way we have applied ourselves has been really impressive.

“If we had that type of mentality at the start of the season we would not be feeling nervy after 21 games.

“I have seen enough in that 90 minutes and recent week to suggest there is a strength of character to deal with it.

“We have dominated the opportunities in the game and it is frustrating. We had enough chances to be ahead at half-time and had two stonewall penalties, especially when you look at the ones we have conceded lately, not given.

“It is disappointing to lose a game of football when the opposition has only had one shot on target and two shots all game.”

Chesterfield first-team coach Gary Roberts felt his side had got a deserved win.

“It was a good away performance,” said Roberts. “It was a slow start to the game. Sam Clucas got in a couple of times. On another day, he possibly could have scored.

“But, other than that, I think Zach Hemming has had one save to make. So to come to a team who were five unbeaten here and have a shutout, and to possibly have nicked one or two more on the break, I think it was a perfect away performance. I thought we were worthy winners.

“It was a tough game. Tight pitch. It was never going to be an easy fixture.

“They have taken points off Grimsby and Walsall so they came into it full of confidence and they started the game like that but I think we gradually grinded them down.

“In the second half I thought we were miles the better team. The goal was a great goal and summed up his confidence.

“We could have got a second goal but we defended our box great in the second half.”