Stand-in skipper Graham Coughlan insists Shrewsbury Town have the bottle to go the distance in the promotion race – and reckons central defensive partner Kelvin Langmead should be named League Two’s player of the month.
Town, currently sixth in a congested top half of the table, remain firmly in the mix for a top three spot as they prepare for back-to-back home games against fellow high fliers Brentford on Saturday and Accrington Stanley on Tuesday.
Experienced Irishman Coughlan is backing his team- mates to cope with the pressure over the closing months of the season, and he’s determined to lead from the front having won two league titles apiece in his days with Plymouth Argyle and Scottish club Livingston.
“We’re into cup final football now,” said in-form Coughlan. “They’re all massive games, each and every one, whether it’s home or away.
“We’re going into that stage of the season where wins are vital. We’re hoping to keep banging on the door and there’s enough experience in our dressing room.
“There are more medals than you can count in there so we won’t be lacking in anything, certainly not in bottle, when it comes to it.
“It’s up to the rest of them to try and stick with us if we can get on a little run.”
Coughlan has helped Shrewsbury keep four clean sheets in an unbeaten five- match run, their defensive solidity ensuring Town remain well placed.
“It’s a team game and we defend from the front,” he said. “It’s not just the defenders and the goalkeeper, but it’s nice and it’s something for us to build on.
“We’re growing in confidence, getting a little understanding and hopefully we can continue that.”
The ex-Sheffield Wednesday man has been particularly impressed by the contribution of defensive colleague Langmead, feeling he deserves to follow in the early season footsteps of team-mate Grant Holt by being named as this month’s League Two star man.
“Kelvin just needed someone to maybe guide him along and help him out,” said Coughlan. “He listens, he wants to learn and he wants to progress which is a good thing. He’s doing really, really well.
“I just hope Chris Kamara is tuned into Shrewsbury’s performances this month because I would certainly be nominating him for the Powerade player of the month award. I suppose it’s the forwards and midfielders who pick them up, but he’s been outstanding this month and I’ll certainly be nominating him along with the rest of the back four.”
Town’s latest shut-out came in Tuesday’s 0-0 stalemate at Barnet with Coughlan quick to stress the importance of two more home wins over the next week.
“I think if we get two wins then it will be a very good point at Barnet,” he said. “We keep talking about our away form and maybe if we were a little bit braver, a little bit more confident, we could get in on the end of things. But Barnet is a tough old place to go on a Tuesday night.”
Boss Paul Simpson, who remains hopeful of dipping into the transfer market again after finally signing midfielder Terry Dunfield from Macclesfield, added the clash with second-placed Brentford, three points better off than Town, was one to relish.
“They’re flying, they’re on a good run and we’ve got to make sure that we’re right again, pick a side that we think is going to go and be positive and can cause Brentford problems,” he said.
On his search for reinforcements, Simpson added: “I would like to try and get another one in but I don’t know whether it’s going to happen. There are a couple of players I’ve enquired about and I’m waiting for answers back on them.”
• See page 71 for more Town news including the thoughts of ex-Shrewsbury manager Fred Davies.