Last night saw Salford City once again fall to another defeat, this time at the hands of a resurgent Shrewsbury Town, which took the Ammies to their fifth loss in a row in all competitions.
After a strong start to the campaign, which saw Salford finally live up to their own ambitions of becoming automatic promotion contenders, it seems that the Moor Lane club’s prospects are firmly slipping away after a torrid spell, which has seen just one win in their last seven matches.
What Has Gone Wrong?
The Ammies looked like strong favourites to finish in the top three based on their form up until recently, and were certainly bolstered by heavy investment in January, with Ryan Graydon signing from Fleetwood Town for a reported £500,000 fee.
However, it has been bleak for the past few weeks, letting teams in the lower rungs of League Two play them off the park at times in the case of their matches against Accrington Stanley and Newport County as well as letting leads slip against Cheltenham Town and Shrewsbury.
It is the loss against the Robins that is particularly indicative of Salford’s performances of late, with defensive errors and a silly red card ultimately costing them all three points in a game they could have easily seen through.
Last night was another reflection of where Karl Robinson’s side have faltered, with Shrewsbury being defensively resolute and winning a majority of their duels throughout the game, which eventually afforded them opportunities to get back into the match and ultimately win it.
Time To Go For Robinson?
This recent spate of performances has seen frustrations grow in the fanbase and perhaps put a bit of pressure on Karl Robinson, with Salford now slipping ever further behind the top three and their playoff hopes now in real danger of slipping away.
The ownership group at the club have openly stated in the past that they want this club in the Championship within the next few years, but have instead found themselves stuck in League Two.
Ultimately, that is the job that Robinson now has to deliver on, and with heavy investment this season, it does feel that the promotion has to come this season, otherwise their core may collapse in the summer.
Star forward Kelly Nmai has long been rumoured with a move away which has never materialised, while some of their other better performers may be picked up by other clubs in the division above if they fail to go up.
It is important to remember that their playoff fortunes are still in their own hands thanks to their games in hand on the teams above them, but that advantage could easily slip away with losses in matches against playoff contenders such as Walsall and Barnet.
Seeing Out The Storm Is The Best Choice
While some fans may have gripes with the latest run of form, sticking with Karl Robinson is likely the safest bet when it comes to securing a playoff spot at least.
Right now, there aren’t many managers who could come into the club and make an immediate impact which they can sustain for the rest of this campaign and lead them into League One.
Robinson has also delivered the exact task that Salford City’s ownership group is aiming for at MK Dons, having pushed them up into the Championship, and has consistently got his sides into playoff contention.
Whatever happens going forward largely depends on the next string of games, and if there isn’t an improvement on their recent performances and results, then perhaps the 45-year-old could find himself under a lot more scrutiny sooner rather than later.
