Shrewsbury Town have had a turbulent few days, with a new signing arriving and a heavy defeat prompting strong criticism from manager Gavin Cowan. The club currently sits 22nd in the League Two table, having scored just two goals in four matches.
Shrewsbury Town confirmed the loan signing of wing-back Lino Sousa from Aston Villa. The 21-year-old, who can operate on either flank, becomes the second arrival of the day following Kian McMahon-Brown's move from Burnley.
Sousa brings experience from previous loan spells at Plymouth Argyle, Bristol Rovers, and Rotherham United. He has also represented England at various youth levels, from Under-15s through to the Under-19s.
Manager Gavin Cowan issued a scathing assessment of his team's performance following a 3-0 away defeat to Rochdale, according to the Shropshire Star. Cowan described his players as "devoid of any desire to win" and apologised directly to the travelling supporters.
"Disappointment is an understatement," Cowan said. "I am gutted that we couldn't put on more of a show for the fans who travelled such a long way on a Tuesday night." The boss attributed the poor showing to a lack of mentality and bravery, stating too many players failed to meet minimum requirements for work rate. The loss leaves Shrewsbury six points behind league leaders Bristol Rovers.
Highlights published by Rochdale AFC show the home side securing a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Spotland. Shrewsbury found themselves two goals down by halftime after defensive errors, with Rochdale adding a third goal ten minutes from full time.
The result marks Shrewsbury's third defeat in four league games this season, with a form record of LWLL. They have conceded eight goals while scoring only two, giving them a goal difference of minus six. Check the latest League Two standings for the full picture.
Former Shrewsbury forward John Marquis has joined National League side Woking on a one-year contract. The 34-year-old striker departed Shrewsbury after his contract expired, having scored 18 goals in 86 appearances across League One and League Two for the club.
Marquis brings extensive EFL experience, having played over 500 matches and scored 171 goals for clubs including Millwall, Portsmouth, and Doncaster Rovers. His move to Woking represents the National League club's thirteenth signing of the summer transfer window. Shrewsbury will look to their new recruits to improve an attack that has struggled, with just three points from their opening four matches. The team's next challenge is detailed on our fixtures list, with a home game scheduled for Saturday.
