Ben Smith backs Shrewsbury Town recovery

Smith joined Shrewsbuy from Doncaster in July 2010

Keeper Ben Smith has promised Shrewsbury will deliver an improved display against Crewe on Saturday.

The Shrews lost 2-0 at Oxford on Tuesday and Smith and his teammates are fired up to hit back immediately.

"We're right up for it, we'd have played Crewe the next day if we could," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"We know we're the team to beat. We're all aware we need to live up to being tipped for promotion and all play our part in a club that's going places."

Smith, 24, insisted Graham Turner's side were still capable of mounting a promotion campaign despite their slow start to the season.

SHREWSBURY LEAGUE RESULTS Shrewsbury 1-1 Plymouth Burton 1-1 Shrewsbury Oxford 2-0 Shrewsbury

He added: "We may be the boys on show, but the whole club is geared up for promotion.

"We're not too disheartened with our start - a cup win at Derby and two draws and a defeat in the league.

"We've got a new back four, a new midfield pairing, a new strike force. People have to realise we have new combinations in every department and it's not going to happen overnight.

"At the back, we've been working hard to build a really good relationship between us. We're always talking to each other, encouraging each other.

"It will come right - starting against Crewe on Saturday."

Every time you go for a ball or a cross, you're going to get bumped and bruised and smashed Ben Smith

Smith also revealed that he undertook a special programme over the summer to prepare himself for the new season.

"I worked hard to strengthen my body, because you know that every time you go for a ball or a cross, you're going to get bumped and bruised and smashed," he said.

"Many League Two teams have big strikers and a very physical way of doing things, and as a goalkeeper you're expected to go for and win those high balls."