MANAGER Paul Simpson has challenged his Shrewsbury Town side to grab their big chance to shine in front of the television cameras in Saturday’s crunch promotion showdown at Wycombe Wanderers.
The lunchtime meeting, which kicks off at 12.15pm and will be shown live on Sky, will be Town’s first return to Adams Park since their incredible 7-0 mauling of Wycombe in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in October.
Simpson knows that result is likely to figure in Wycombe boss Peter Taylor’s thoughts come Saturday even though the Chairboys, who have slipped to fourth in the table in recent weeks, have since won 1-0 in the league at the Prostar.
“The result we had there wasn’t a fluke either,” said Simpson. “It wasn’t lucky that we won 7-0. We deserved to.
“We have a board in our office that all the visiting managers sign and put a comment on after games. Peter Taylor referred to us beating them 7-0 and that’s why he was happy when they beat us here. It’s obviously something that narks away at them.”
Simpson feels the presence of the TV cameras will add something to Saturday’s game, not that either team need any extra incentive with promotion points up for grabs.
“When you’re growing up and thinking about playing in games, you don’t think about being on a parks pitch with two people watching, you dream about live TV and big games like this one,” he said.
“There’s a hell of a lot at stake and so much to achieve so these are the games players should really want to be involved in.
“When it’s on TV you have all the hype that goes with it beforehand, but once the game starts you just try and focus on what you’re doing.
“We’re in a situation where there’s pressure, if that’s what you want to call it at this moment anyway, so the TV cameras don’t really add to that. They probably give it more excitement if anything.”
Wycombe, the long time leaders, have fallen out of the automatic promotion places, but Simpson rates them.
“They’ve had a wobble like everybody else,” he said. “They had such a good start and to go on the unbeaten run they had was an outstanding achievement.
“Now that they’ve just got a little bit jittery, everybody’s making a big deal out of it, but even though they’re having a wobble they’re still a good side with good players.
“It’s a game I’m really looking forward to because we can really put a marker down and give ourselves a big boost.”
The loan transfer window for the season closes today (Thursday) with Simpson not expecting to add to his squad.
He said he would ideally like a couple more of his fringe men to go out on loan, just like Michael Symes has to Accrington, but revealed there had been no inquiries.
Meanwhile, long term trialist Omer Riza was due to pull on a Town shirt for the first time yesterday when he lined up in a behind closed doors friendly against Crewe.
The former Turkish top flight winger will have another run-out in a similar game with Wolves next week.
“He’s been bursting at the seams to get a game of football in,” said Simpson of a player currently serving a four-month ban imposed by the Turkish FA over a contract issue.
“He’s been training with his shin pads on because he’s not been used to wearing them. He’s really serious about it. We’re no further down the line but we’re hopeful that he might be able to at least know the start and finish date of the ban or even try and persuade FIFA to overturn it.
“He’s not been involved in competitive football for 16, 17 months now.”