One of hardest defeats of season - Appleton

Shrewsbury Town manager Michael Appleton says Saturday's narrow 1-0 home defeat to promotion-chasers Chesterfield was one of the "hardest to take".

The Shrews had 16 shots to the visitors' nine, but saw their three-game unbeaten run in League Two end after conceding in the 61st minute.

Salop are 20th in the table, two points clear of the relegation places and travel to fellow strugglers Cheltenham Town on Friday.

"I think we're in a place where performances are pretty good at this moment in time," Appleton told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"We took five points from the opening 10 games of the season and it was very, very difficult.

"There were a lot of things that were wrong about us, the way we approached games, and I think that was down to certain individuals potentially that didn't help the situation.

"In the last 11 games, the points that we've picked up and the way we've applied ourselves has been really impressive, and if we'd have had that type of mentality at the start of the season, we wouldn't be feeling nervous, anxious, etc with 21 games on the clock.

"I think I've seen enough in that 90 minutes and in previous weeks to suggest there's a strength of character that they can deal with it."

Shrewsbury had recently drawn away to league leaders Walsall and at home to another promotion-chaser Gillingham with Appleton ruing them as missed opportunities.

"We created enough chances to win a couple of games and unfortunately weren't able to score," he said.

"I say it every single week. Doesn't matter what level of football you play at, whether its the Premier League, Champions League or the National League - the first goal is massive.

"Its unfortunate that we didn't have the composure or weren't clinical enough to go ahead in the game. What tends to happen when we are where we are, and they are where they are [seventh], that's the result."

Appleton's side now have two away games at Cheltenham and Grimsby over Christmas, before a massive home clash on New Year's Day with relegation rivals Bristol Rovers.

"We're definitely in a different frame of mind than we were some time ago, so if we're ever going to go and win back-to-back games away from home, the next couple of weeks might be the opportunity to do that," Appleton said.

"I think we're more than capable of doing it. We've just got to make sure that we transition the belief that I'd like to think the players have got in themselves, and I've got in them.

"Then in those those big moments, show a little bit of calmness, a little bit of composure, and things can be very different."