Shropshire Star

Bernard McNally column: What a difference a couple of wins make!

What a couple of results that is!

Published

Last week I was trying to be positive in my column. What a difference a week makes! It’s absolutely amazing.

I alluded to it last time, with the players the club now have, that the couple of 1-1 draws could be the starting point for something.

It’s just showed that Sam Ricketts has been able to step up to the mark and deliver. It looked very positive now for fans, who are excited by the change in style – and just to get the points on the board.

All credit to Sam and the players, they put in two sterling performances. Doesn’t it lift the mood? Fans are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.

One of the tests now will be playing teams in and around us, starting with AFC Wimbledon and then on to Rochdale and Plymouth.

They could do with another win, a third in a row, but to win convincingly would be the icing on the cake.

Town have certainly made great strides. It’s amazing how a couple of wins breeds confidence and lifts you up that table.

Now you’re starting to think ‘hang on, what will the table be like if we win on Saturday?’ There’d be another jump.

Without getting too excited, I’m interested to see how many points Town can pick up and where they reach. Sam’s got the team together, gelled them, and they’re producing the goods.

We said it last season, once you’re on a roll winning games, it’s hard to stop.

Three goals in three games for Tyrese Campbell – he’s obviously a chip off the block from his dad!

Kevin was very physical and Tyrese seems to have that robustness too. He’s hugely exciting at just 19, I was very surprised Stoke let him come on loan.

Fejiri Okenabirhie was sharp against Doncaster. The pace they have in that front two is frightening.

I think the 3-5-2 is the way forward. The squad he inherited was low on confidence. He’s had to take the arrows and slingshots that came his way when all he wanted to say was ‘just give me a chance!’

Now they’re producing the goods. I think it’s been a fantastic idea to put Shaun Whalley at right wing-back. Look at Ashley Young at United, he’s done well. You can convert people and add more positions to them. When I came to the end of my career at West Brom I played right-back a few times.

I like Shaun, he’s very talented, I think there’s even more to come from him.

Anthony Grant will be a miss with his two-match suspension but it’s great that Ollie Norburn and Dave Edwards will return from theirs. You lose one and gain two! I’m looking forward to seeing how the side develops.

When everyone’s back it gives Sam a real tough call for who to play in the last 12 games.