Key Highlights
- Graham Turner emphasizes the importance of freedom for Shrewsbury in their FA Cup tie against Wolves.
- Shrewsbury are 22nd in League Two and only two points clear of relegation.
- The match is significant as it’s the third time both teams have met in the competition.
- Turner reflects on his past experiences with both Shrewsbury and Wolves during his managerial career.
Shrewsbury Town Eye FA Cup Victory Against Wolverhampton Wanderers
The upcoming FA Cup third-round tie between Shrewsbury Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers presents a crucial opportunity for the struggling League Two side to ignite their season, according to former Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner.
Shrewsbury are currently 22nd in the table, two points clear of relegation, having won only four out of their 24 league games. Turner believes that Michael Appleton’s team must play with freedom and express themselves if they hope to upset Wolves, who are fighting for their Premier League status this season.
Turner, who managed Shrewsbury twice during his career—once between 1978 and 1984, and again from 2010 until 2014—emphasizes that the team needs to be well-organized but not overly motivated. He advises Appleton to focus on what Shrewsbury do best and let them play freely.
Turner explains, “He’ll be talking about hard work and discipline.
The team have got to be well organised but don’t need to be motivated. If you’re not motivated at a game like this they shouldn’t be playing. It’s up to the manager to emphasise what they’re good at and get them to play with freedom.”
The former manager believes that Shrewsbury’s performance in the FA Cup could ignite their season, adding, “The FA Cup is an opportunity for them to go out and perform to the best of their ability. The FA Cup could ignite a season.” This sentiment echoes his own experiences, having taken Shrewsbury to quarter-finals on two occasions during his first tenure.
“It’s asking an awful lot,” Turner cautions about Shrewsbury’s chances against Wolves, acknowledging the disparity in league positions but not entirely dismissing their prospects. “But it is a chance for them to do themselves justice and potentially surprise everyone.”
Historical Context and Managerial Career
The match will be the third time that both Shrewsbury Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers have met in the FA Cup, with Turner himself managing both clubs during his career. He also notes that this is the second time he has faced Wolves as a manager, having beaten them once over two legs in the 1991-92 EFL Cup.
Turner reflects on his journey with Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton Wanderers: “You keep that affinity—I had a great time at both clubs. I was a Wolves supporter as a boy, and to get to manage them was a dream come true while Shrewsbury gave me my first opportunity as a manager and I’ll always be grateful for that.” He adds, “All I want is for both sides to do themselves justice.”
Challenges and Opportunities
The FA Cup offers lower-league teams like Shrewsbury an unparalleled platform against top-flight opposition. Turner mentions the improved pitch conditions in recent years as a factor that makes it harder for small clubs to achieve upsets, contrasting this with the muddy pitches he used to play on during his career.
He notes, “There were three or four inches of mud—it was a great leveller and big clubs didn’t like coming and it made giant killings more prevalent. Now, most pitches are immaculate and that makes it harder for lower-league clubs.” However, this doesn’t deter him from believing in Shrewsbury’s potential: “Supporters love nothing more than a good cup run and at Shrewsbury we had a couple of quarter-finals which was tremendous and ignited the support for the club. It’s asking an awful lot, but they need to go out there and perform.”
The match is scheduled for 12:15 GMT on Saturday, with all build-up and radio coverage available from BBC Radio Shropshire and online via BBC Sounds and smart speakers.
