Shrewsbury Town defender Mal Benning has openly addressed the team’s disappointing start to the League One season, emphasizing the importance of hard work and resilience.
The Shropshire-based side has lost seven of their nine league matches, accumulating only four points, with their lone win doing little to lift them off the bottom of the table. Only Cambridge United’s poor form has prevented Shrewsbury from sitting at the foot of the standings.
The poor run has not gone unnoticed, and Benning, who joined the club on a free transfer from relegated Port Vale, has voiced his thoughts on the challenging situation. Despite the low points tally, he sees some positives in the team’s performances and believes that the players cannot shy away from facing the harsh reality.
“It has been tough. No one can hide away from that,” Benning told the Shropshire Star. “The points tally obviously is not good enough. But, for me personally, I think the performances (of the team), on the whole, have been good. I think from my point of view it is Wrexham, that is the only game where we were battered, I would say.”
Shrewsbury Town’s Performance Under Scrutiny
Shrewsbury’s 3-0 defeat to Wrexham stands as their heaviest loss this season, marking a low point in what has been a difficult campaign. In their last five matches, they have managed just one point, but Benning remains optimistic about the team’s potential to turn things around. He stresses the importance of perseverance and believes that hard work will eventually lead to a change in fortunes.
“We cannot hide away from the fact we are in a tough spot at the moment, but I have been in this situation a lot of times in my career. The main thing is working hard, and I believe that things always do change, and they always have to be fair, so it is just grafting away until we get on to that good run of form.”
Benning, who has experience with clubs like Mansfield Town and Port Vale, is no stranger to difficult periods in football. He maintains that while the current run of form is concerning, it’s critical to stay focused and keep working hard to regain confidence and unity within the squad.
Shrewsbury’s Tough Road Ahead
Shrewsbury Town face a challenging match this afternoon as they head to Bolton Wanderers, a side that has already beaten them in the EFL Cup earlier this season. Benning and his teammates are still searching for their first away points since a draw with Charlton Athletic in April, and Bolton’s recent form suggests that they will face a tough test. Wanderers have scored 11 goals in their last three league games, while Shrewsbury’s defense has already conceded 15 goals this campaign.
Reflecting on the current situation, Benning acknowledges the need to remain composed. “It is inevitable that you will feel the pressure with these kinds of runs. But like I said, all you can keep doing is working hard to rediscover the team’s form and unity together.”
Our View
This must be a concerning time for Shrewsbury Town fans. The team’s form has seen them win just one match since March, and their trip to face an in-form Bolton Wanderers side at the Toughsheet Stadium looks daunting. Bolton, currently on a goal-scoring spree, will test a Shrewsbury defence that has already struggled this season.
While Mal Benning’s call for hard work is admirable, at some point, the club will need to see tangible results. The visit to Bolton may be a difficult fixture from which to take points, but the real test comes next weekend when Shrewsbury faces a fellow relegation candidate in Crawley Town. That match will likely be crucial for Benning and his teammates as they seek to climb out of the League One relegation zone.
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