“WE NEED to start winning games because we’re going to be in a dogfight for the next two or three months.”

Michael Appleton’s gloomy prediction for his inconsistent side after defeat at Shrewsbury Town in November pulled no punches.

If it was designed to provoke a reaction, it worked.

Coventry City were battered 4-1 a week later, following a soul-searching training camp at Bisham Abbey.

It was the first of a dozen wins in the next 19 games, which ensured United went into the spring fighting on three fronts.

Ahead of Sunday’s reverse fixture with the Shrews, which rounds off the season, Appleton singles out the result as a watershed moment.

“Usually turning-points in seasons come after a defeat,” he said.

“The game at Shrewsbury earlier in the season was one of those moments because a lot was spoken about at half-time and the end of the game.

“I was very clear. I didn’t ever want to see a repeat of that.

“They responded really well and the way they have played in the second half of the season and achieved what they have done in the cup competitions has been really promising.”

And just as United’s 5-1 thumping at Cambridge United in Appleton’s first weeks in charge was brought up over and over again to ensure standards remained high, ‘Shrewsbury’ has been this season’s mantra.

Depending on the amount of turnover in the squad this summer, it could well be used as a motivational tool for many months to come.

The U’s boss said: “Sometimes in hindsight things like that can be really powerful, because you can always relate back to it and use it as a reference point.

“It would’ve been mentioned in the last few weeks, for example.

“It depends on how many of the players we can keep on board for next year because it only becomes a reference point if the majority of players were there.”

Securing the squad members who Appleton wants to remain for next season is the first job.

United’s boss has tended to hold individual meetings with players after the final game of the season to discuss his plans.

But the process began earlier this week and will continue today.

Appleton, who will get a good idea of his playing budget for next season in a meeting with chairman Darryl Eales next week, said: “I have spoken to a couple of players already and will speak to a couple more on Friday.

“Then the ones I haven’t spoken to before Sunday I will sit down with on Monday or Tuesday.

“The first thing I want to do is give them best and worst case scenarios.

“If I have had that conversation beforehand to say depending on the outcome this is the situation at least then it’s not a massive shock to them.”