Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson insists the shock defeat to East Fife won’t change his strategy for Shrewsbury.
The Tangerines head south on Saturday for a friendly against the English League One side at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
The hope before Tuesday night was that a relaxed United would travel having booked their place in the next stage of the Betfred Cup.
However, they were stunned by the Fifers at Tannadice and crashed to a 2-0 Group A loss to the Methil men.
Neilson has always intended to use the Shrews game to give game time to players who haven’t had much thus far and he isn’t budging from that plan despite the desire to secure a morale-booting result ahead of the start of the Championship campaign against Inverness the following weekend.
The Tangerines’ boss said: “It doesn’t change anything because it is about getting players fit.
“It is about making sure everyone is as close as they can be for the first league match.
“In the cup, you do only get three subs so you are restricted.
“We have boys who probably haven’t played as much as I would have liked so Saturday will be a chance for them to get ready.”
Neilson felt United looked tired against the part-time Bayview boys, having played Friday, Tuesday, Friday, Tuesday in the cup.
He said: “We looked a wee bit jaded.
“There were times when we got into an area but the delivery wasn’t there or the final pass wasn’t there.
“That was the disappointing thing.
“You have to accept a defeat sometimes and, as regards the workrate of the players, I couldn’t have asked much more from them.
“It was just that bit of quality was lacking when we needed it.
“I don’t here are many teams who have won all their games in this campaign so everyone is the same.
“You look at some of the teams from the Premier League who are struggling.
“It’s a balance between having to be ready for the first league game fitness-wise and having to win because if you don’t win you get negativity and pressure goes on everyone.”
Meanwhile, a report has credited Southampton with an interest in United youngster Scott Banks, claiming the English Premiership side had him watched in the game against Cowdenbeath last Friday.
