Salop see it through – just like Biggles would.
1 April 2025: Wycombe Wanderers 0, Shrewsbury Town 0.
Wycombe: Norris; Taylor; Bradley; Grimmer (Berry-McNally 83’); Simons [Y] (Vokes 83’); Leahy [Y]; Pattenden (Onyedinma 74’); McCleary (Kodua 74’); Lowry [Y] (Scowen 74’); Kone; Humphreys.
Unused substitutes: Ravizzoli; Reach.
Shrewsbury: Blackman [Y]; J Feeney [Y]; Pierre; M Feeney; Benning [Y]; Ojo (Perry 76’); Gilliead (Gape 75’); Wheeler (Hoole 87’); Oliver (Shipley 19’); Lloyd; Marquis.
Unused substitutes: Nurse; Stewart; Young.
Match officials: Referee – Mr T Nield. Assistants: Mr L Venamore; Mr M Jones.
Attendance: 3,806.
Even Biggles – Captain WE Johns’ pioneer air fighter – would have had a little difficulty navigating his Sopwith Camel through the amount of turbulence that has hit Shrewsbury Town over the last week. Last week’s change in head coach was followed on Sunday by a report in the Sun on Sunday that the pending takeover deal had fallen through. If Town’s season is compared to a Sopwith Camel biplane, the wire and tape keeping it airworthy were the promises of the Ersatz Proud Salopian and an exclusivity deal that was the precursor to a new owner bringing in new investment. Suddenly both had disappeared – although can a mystery buyer disappear?
Readers will be gratified to learn that A Large Grouse has its finger on the pulse, and doubly gratified that I can still detect a reasonably healthy one. Years of practice at the fine art of sycophancy have not been without reward, as I was one of the Salop supporters invited to a meeting where the club Chairman gave us advance notice of his statement about the disappointing takeover news. Some sections of our fans have been a little critical that this meeting took place. I will defend my right to accept an invitation to a meeting of this nature, on the grounds that I am a particularly nosey individual and could not resist going. Besides, it has never been my practice to miss out on any events where there is a cup of coffee and unlimited custard creams available. Readers will be pleased to know that the discomfort resulting from having a computer chip inserted to regulate my future thinking on all matters Salop has largely abated – I think.
This is not a piece about the future of the club and will try and make sense of it all as things develop further. However, as I observed at the meeting, it is important that supporters are given a full understanding of the processes involved in transferring ownership of a football club, so it is possible to come to informed conclusions. We have not been through this before, and while it will be necessary to protect commercially sensitive information, it would be beneficial to know the mechanisms that it is necessary to go through, the usual time frames involved and have an information channel so to be able to have our questions answered.
With the clocks going forward last weekend, (it is a pity they were not put forward an hour at 3:30 on Saturday afternoon), spring is much more in evidence. Of course, this means Salop’s fate for this season is coming ever closer. Early evening in Wycombe saw a setting sun creating long shadows. The snag was that that it was setting into the home end at Adams Park, which meant that everyone in the away end opposite was looking into a blinding light like that that St Paul experienced on the road to Damascus.
Fortunately, by kick off the sun was out of view and the floodlights illuminated a more familiar scene. Michael Appleton changed personnel and formation after his first outing at Birmingham. Three centre backs remained in place, though George Nurse made way for Josh Fenney. The full backs appeared more advanced, with David Wheeler replacing Luca Hoole. Taylor Perry made way for Funso Ojo in central midfield. Upfront, Saturday’s scorer Vadaine Oliver was included at the expense of Dominic Gape, with the striker playing a supporting role behind John Marquis and George Lloyd.
Salop made a reasonably comfortable start. Nothing overly spectacular but they seemed to be playing with a bit more confidence than at St Andrews. Something was different though, and this nagged away at me for the first fifteen minutes or so. Suddenly it dawned on me: “What’s all this passing business?” I exclaimed, much to the amusement of the Salopians around me.
Probably best not to overreact, but Town were showing more inclination than usual to play some passing moves through midfield. Jamal Blackman was not booting all his goal kicks up field, but as a variation chose to roll the ball out to the flanks. This positivity was not without risk. Wycombe were very adept at building up the pressure and Salop did not always look a solid defensive unit. However, the while the hosts looked dangerous, they were a lot more profligate with their chances than they were at the Meadow earlier this season, when their clinical finishing saw them net four times.
There was a setback for Salop just before the twenty-minute mark, when Oliver went down and after a lengthy treatment had to be substituted. (In his post-match Appleton did not mess about – he had massive swelling, and it did not look good; Salop’s new head coach appears to be a long more direct than some I could mention.) He was replaced by Jordan Shipley, who now had an extended opportunity to show what he was capable of. The midfielder opted to demonstrate his talent of being unobtrusive, though to be fair Town’s attacking moments were somewhat sparse.
Wycombe have been among the pace setters this season and still hold out hope for winning automatic promotion. However, Adams Park seemed to get riddled with anxiety as the match developed. It was not that they were playing badly, in fact they were posing a constant a threat to the Salop goal; it was just the ball was not going into the net. This was due to a mixture of nervous finishing and a Town defence that seemed to have the bit in their teeth. There was no questioning their effort or desire to try and keep a clean sheet. Jamal Blackman was immense, with some saves that blocked what seemed to be certain goals. Added to that his handling was excellent and only on one occasion was his judgement suspect.
As the second half developed the home team seemed to be getting increasingly unsettled, at times their cries of dismay at the way the ball was bouncing was audible in the quiet moments. The home crowd tried to crank up the atmosphere and encourage their players on. Five substitutions were made. Salop continued to hold firm.
With about ten minutes to go I started to feel that this that this game had got to a pivotal point. A team that was destined for automatic promotion would have the resilience to pull off a late win. Salop continued to ride their luck and pull themselves up to the challenge. When the referee blew for time, the match finished goalless.
A time for unfamiliar celebration for the away supporters and Micheal Appleton and the players came across to acknowledge the 150 or so travellers. The players’ all white away strip bore the muddy stains of the battle just fought. Apart from Jordan Shipley, whose spotless kit made him glow white like an angel on a Christmas card.
We all know that the outcome of Salop’s is about as near certain at it is possible to get. However, Micheal Appleton does have an opportunity to make a practical demonstration of his capabilities to do the job long term. It would appear he is keen to do just that.
For the fans, after everything they have been through over the last week, being able to watch an entertaining game and see their team take a deserved point, was a most welcome distraction.