Shrewsbury boss Appleton 'very concerned' by form

Michael Appleton has won one of his 14 matches in charge at Shrewsbury Town

Beleaguered Shrewsbury Town boss Michael Appleton says he is "very concerned" about his side's poor form and they must be "miles better" if their fortunes are to improve.

Town slumped to a fourth successive defeat - and third on the bounce in League Two - with Wednesday's 4-1 hammering by Notts County.

The result leaves Appleton's side with just one point from their first four league games and second bottom of the table in 23rd place.

"I take responsibility," Appleton, who signed a two-year contract in May, told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I'm the manager and I've done this a long time. I'm not going to shy away from anything.

"We have to be better. We have to be miles better - but it's my job to try to make that happen."

Following relegation from League One last term, Town have failed to find any momentum at the start of this term in the fourth tier, with Appleton saying he has had to deal with the "baggage" of last season's turmoil.

In addition, director of football Micky Moore has left the club and a potential takeover of the club rumbles on.

On the field, Town have scored only one goal and conceded 10. Their solitary point has come from a goalless draw at home to Bromley on the opening day.

Their latest defeat by the Magpies exposed familiar frailties despite Appleton's tactical tweak of playing four central defenders in a back four as Town fell 2-0 behind after 20 minutes at Meadow Lane.

Despite John Marquis scoring Town's first league goal of the season to give Shrewsbury hope before half-time, the home side clinically picked the visitors off in the second period to seal a comfortable win.

'A lot of voices that weren't happy with each other'

"There're nowhere to hide," Appleton said. "I'm very concerned. The reality is we need to be better, keep clean sheets and try to score that first goal.

"Scoring the first goal gives you so much more opportunity to get something out of the game but we haven't done that in a while."

Appleton has brought in eight new players this summer in a bid to reshape his squad and, with the exception of young loanees Elyh Harrison and Tommy McDermott, nearly all have experience of the English Football League.

It is that aspect that is leaving Appleton scratching his head over performances.

"It's not as if there's kids in there," he said.

"There's a lot of experienced players in there who know this level and have done well and for whatever reason are not performing to the capabilities they can do.

"They're going to need picking up. I didn't have to say too much [after the game] because they were saying it all, which is a positive thing.

"There were a lot of voices who weren't happy with each other. Hopefully that's a good sign going forward."

With the next game coming on Saturday against Swindon Town, Appleton says they can do little else but try to put things right as quickly as possible.

"I do and certainly all the players do - I can't wait for Saturday now," he said.

"It's moments like this, when you're under the pump and people are coming for you, that you find out who's with you and who's not, who's capable of getting points in games, getting goals and keeping clean sheets.

"These are the moments when you find out what you've got in your dressing room.

"I'm finding out about the players early which is a good thing."