“You’d have to live in a goldfish bowl to not realise how important the game is.”
With only 15 games gone, it may be too early to talk about potential six-pointers.
But five-pointers, on the other hand, are up for discussion – certainly for Shrewsbury Town manager Michael Appleton.
Because when your team is next to bottom of the table and your next opponents are the side propping up everyone else, the stakes, even in November, are elevated.
“After 15 games we didn’t want to be in this position, but we are, so we’ve got to go and deal with it,” Appleton told BBC Radio Shropshire.
Town, on 13 points, are two points clear of Newport County, and only one shy of Cheltenham Town in 22nd place, one spot clear of the League Two relegation zone.
“It’s a massive opportunity for both teams to get a win and put themselves in a position, like we did last month, where they can win two or three on the bounce,” Appleton added.
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Salop’s run in October – two wins and two draws – earned Appleton a nomination for the manager of the month award, and with six teams separated by only three points in the table, he knows how vital victory could prove for both sides on Saturday.
“You look where ourselves and Newport are and the teams above us and there’s nothing in it,” he said.
“So there’s an opportunity to go on a little bit of a run at the right time.
“Once you get closer to Christmas and the New Year period you know that if you’re still down there you’re going to be in the fight for a long time.
“Most clubs will have the chance to have an impact [on the squads] in January [with signings], but we want to make sure we’re in a safer position before we look to do that.”
‘I hope we can give the fans a lift’
Shrewsbury’s FA Cup win over non-league minnows South Shields has been followed by defeat against promotion-hopefuls Crewe Alexandra and their exit from the Vertu Trophy.
With a key game at the weekend, Appleton knows there is going to be “some anxiety” at Croud Meadow against Newport, but added that was “understandable”.
“I hope our fans do what they’ve done in the last two homes games and get right behind the players and hopefully we can give them a lift,” he said.
