By Ben Campbell
Wanderers boss Peter Taylor feels his side are not performing to the standards he knows they can due to nerves.
Taylor's comments came after the 1-1 draw with Barnet on Tuesday night and although the Blues weren't able to claim all three points at Adams Park, which would have seen them move back into the top two, the point they did take from the game saw them rise to 4th in League Two only a point of Gillingham in 3rd with a game in hand.
Taylor's full interview on Wanderers WorldHe said: "We're still in a decent position and I can't fault the effort, the players are working hard but unfortunately they are working nervously.
"It should be a nice situation we're in but it seems like a pressure situation. That's because the players are playing with no freedom - they're playing with fear.
"Hopefully that's because they're desperate to do well, but they are not showing their true ability at the minute.
"It's nerves and I've made it quite clear. People are looking nervous but in any sport if you look at someone in top form or someone not in top form then there's a difference in their performance."
Taylor admitted he was disappointed with the Blues first half showing but was quick to praise his side for the way they improved in the second 45 minutes at Adams Park.
He said: "I didn't like us first half at hall but I did in the second half. We didn't try and play enough football in the opening 45; we used the easy route of the pace up front.
"Second half I thought we were braver. There was more pressure on the players because of the first half and we played a lot, lot better. Maybe the result was fair, Barnet were better first half but we played better in the second.
"I think if we would have played like we did in the second half for the entire 90 minutes we would have been unlucky not to win. Overall though, it was about right."
On-loan Bristol City striker John Akinde gave the Wanderers the lead just before the 20-minute mark and Taylor was full of praise for the 19-year-old's solo effort.
He said: "It looked a bit of an easy goal but it wasn't. We got the ball to him, he used his power before shooting quite early through the keepers' legs and because of that I think it didn't give the 'keeper much time to adjust."
Still to come on wwfc.com: Extended highlights from both Shrewsbury and Barnet as well as the best photos from the clash with the Bees and Peter Taylor talks injuries ahead of the game at Darlington.
