SHREWD WORK
Abu Ogogo on Shrewsbury Town’s stunning start to the season
IF YOU had to pick out one team from all 72 in the EFL who have upset the odds so far this season, then Shrewsbury Town would take some beating.
Written off by pundits and bookies alike as relegation fodder, the Shrews defied expectations to charge to the top of League One.
With six wins and a draw from their opening seven games, Paul Hurst’s men led the way by three points heading into yesterday’s clash at Oldham.
It’s a remarkable turnaround from last October when Hurst left Grimsby to take the reins of a Shrewsbury side rock-bottom in the third tier.
The new boss eventually led the Shropshire side to an 18th-place finish, two points above the relegation zone.
But there was little to suggest they would start the new campaign like a steam train. Four 1-0 victories, added to 2-1 and 3-2 successes show Shrewsbury aren’t whalloping teams, but they’ve found a recipe to win.
Pre-weekend, their only stumble was a 1-1 draw at Oxford United and that’s hardly a bad result.
Credit
With 14 summer signings, Hurst has overhauled his squad, but it would have been a brave man to tip them to head the table in mid-September.
Captain Abu Ogogo believes the manager deserves a ‘massive’ amount of the credit for revitalising the Shrews. “At one of the first meetings when he came in, he said he wanted good characters, people that would work hard,” said Ogogo. “He’s created a good spirit.
“We’ve got a good squad. Perhaps we’re not the most talented, but we’re all on the same page.”
And the 27-year-old former Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder believes there are a number of factors behind Shrewsbury’s stunning start to the season.
“Hard work is the first thing. We work hard every day in training,” he said. “We’ve also got belief. The staff tell us to believe we are good players and a good team.
“This is the hardestworking team that I’ve been in and that’s down to the gaffer and the team spirit. In games we work for each other and go that extra yard.”
Ogogo admits that being written off by all-comers was an added incentive as the campaign got underway. For example, some bookies made Shrewsbury 66-1 outsiders to win League One, while a fascinating feature in the South
London Press also highlighted how poorly they were thought of.
The paper contacted journalists from publications with teams in the division for their preseason predictions – and 19 out of 24 tipped the Shrews for relegation (only Gillingham with 21 received more votes).
Bounce
“It’s definitely extra motivation,” said Ogogo. “No one expected us to do what we have done. They thought we would be scrapping to stay up. We’re trying to prove people wrong.
“There’s a long way to go and our run is going to come to an end at some point. It’s how we bounce back from that.”
Ogogo joined Shrewsbury a couple of years ago and has established himself as a key man under Hurst. He now has the added responsibility of being captain.
“I feel like one of the older ones, though I’m only 27,” he said. “I have seen a lot of faces come and go.
“It’s a great honour that the manager made me captain and the good thing is there are no big egos here. I’m loving every minute.”
So, is it now time for Shrewsbury to start targeting promotion?
“Definitely not,” smiles Ogogo. “We haven’t talked about that.
“These are still very early days and anything can happen. It’s not how you start that counts, it’s how you finish.”