Gareth Ainsworth explains why he's relishing proving 'experts' wrong at Shrewsbury Town
Gareth Ainsworth has called on Shrewsbury Town to keep proving the experts wrong as they look to home comforts to further propel their survival push.
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Saturday’s visit of Bolton Wanderers is the first of six games at Croud Meadow in the next eight for resurgent Town, who have moved to within three points of safety in League One.
While conceding the survival scrap will likely go to the wire, Ainsworth claims his players are brimming with belief and relishing making a mockery of those who wrote them off earlier in the season.
Ainsworth, who replaced Paul Hurst as boss in November, said: “The lads believe, they really do.
“When I walked in the whole of football thought Shrewsbury Town were down. The predictions from experts were we were down.
“There is no fear because all we are doing is something which was not expected. I am really enjoying it with this group and this group of fans in the town.”
Bolton sit eighth in the table but have struggled for consistency and recently changed managers with Stephen Schumacher replacing Ian Evatt in the hotseat.
Town have already beaten two League One big guns at home this season in the shape of Birmingham City and Wrexham.
Ainsworth said: “Bolton are an ex Premier League club with a huge fanbase and big resources. But Shrewsbury Town is not an easy place to come anymore. We are going to make it hard for them.
“You never know what will happen. I said to the boys the other day we will prepare for things to come off the rails and then get back on.
“I don’t know when that will happen, hopefully it doesn’t but be prepared for it. Let’s have the tools in the bag to get this over the line.
“Where we are sitting right now is really nice. When I came in my aim was to perform at a level where we weren’t going to be in the bottom four in performance levels.
“I think we are out of the bottom four in performance levels and now it is about picking up those points we missed out on earlier in the season.
“Can we get above that line? I really believe we can. It is going to go right to the wire. I believe that too. But I’m really enjoying it.”
