SHAWBURY United boss Dave Richards admitted he feared summer upheaval would result in a slow start to the season after seeing his side slip into the West Midlands Premier bottom two.

United were thrashed 6-0 at Tividale on Saturday – five goals coming in the first half before the hosts added a sixth late on – to make it three league defeats on the spin.

However, Richards is taking solace from the fact Shawbury have faced three of the division’s current top four in the games they have lost.

And he hopes Shawbury will begin to turn things around with three successive home games, starting with Shifnal tonight (Wednesday), then Bewdley on Saturday and Dudley Town next Wednesday.

Richards said: “If you look at our last three fixtures, we have played three teams that finished in the top four last season, who will all be among the favourites to win the league.

“We always knew that, with rebuilding the side, August and September would be tough months. Hopefully we can put that run behind us now and put some points on the board.

“We were under no illusions that it was going to be tough but we have got the personnel to turn it around.”