Shrewsbury still a 'work in progress' - Appleton

Michael Appleton has won one of his 12 games in charge of Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury Town are still a "work in progress" says head coach Michael Appleton, with his side yet to win a game this season.

After a goalless draw against Bromley their opening League Two match of the campaign, Town were hammered 4-0 by Tranmere in their next and went out of the Carabao Cup this week, beaten 3-1 by Grimsby.

Appleton made seven changes for the tie with the Mariners and said his side looked "more of a threat in the second half" as Tom Sang's 63rd-minute goal gave them hope before an injury-time penalty snuffed that out.

Although Appleton said the improvement after the break was "positive", not many of his squad made a convincing case to start Saturday's home league game against Colchester, who are also searching for a first win of the season.

"For me it was a good opportunity to see a few players who've not had as many minutes and it's almost like a clean slate with two league games and a cup game going into the game on Saturday in terms of who I select and why," Appleton told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"There isn't anyone who can genuinely come down and knock on my door and ask me why they're not playing on Saturday. It was a great opportunity for everyone to stake a claim."

Appleton, in his first full season in charge after taking over on an interim basis for the final nine games of last term as Shrewsbury were relegated from League One, feels his side are still "a work in progress".

Key to that has been the implementation of a more passing style, with an emphasis on playing out from the back to launch attacks.

With his players still getting to grips with the new style, Appleton says patience is required when mistakes happen - as they did against Grimsby with players getting caught in possession at times.

"It will happen," he added. "The longer we do it, the less mistakes will take place.

"We don't want to be silly in what we do, it's making the players make better decisions under stress and duress.

"There were signs that there is a good opportunity in the coming weeks to make sure that, one, I pick the right team, two, we have the right balance and, three, keep creating opportunities and hopefully that first win will come."