The skipper getting back to his best, a couple of new boys settling into fresh surroundings and just one or two glimpses of the early season form. 

A little spring will today back in the step of Shrewsbury Town’s players and staff. 

Of course, those concerns over how Town will perform on their travels will linger until that elusive away victory is achieved.

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But, however blatant their deficiencies are on the road, Paul Simpson’s side are doing their utmost to cover it up with results at the Prostar Stadium. 

Even allowing for the fact that seven home games are yet to be played, Shrewsbury have already picked up four more points in front of their own supporters than they did in the whole of last season. 

And, while Shrewsbury were still not at their best, this victory over Chesterfield arguably represented their most complete performance in recent weeks. 

Most notably in the first half, the hosts maintained possession as well as they have done for some time. 

But they also did the ‘ugly’ side of the job well, successfully closing down Chesterfield, looking far snappier in the tackle and picking up the vast majority of scraps in midfield. 

And, while Simpson will doubtless have been pleased to see his team respond to a week of hard-talking and hard work with a deserved victory, there were also some individual displays to savour. 

Top billing rightly went the way of Ben Davies. The captain may have stuttered his way through the last two months following a hernia operation but there was real evidence here of a return to top form. 

Davies cut a lively figure throughout, but the most notable improvement came in his set-piece delivery as he made one goal and scored the other from dead-ball situations. 

Simpson will also have been heartened by the showing of his two January arrivals. 

In midfield, Terry Dunfield produced the pick of his performances since arriving from Macclesfield. 

And Nick Chadwick showed why he has quickly risen to the top of the list in the race to partner Grant Holt with a tireless display packed with useful link-up play. 

Right from the first whistle, Shrewsbury were on the front foot, bossing territory as Chesterfield conceded a string of set pieces in and around their own box. 

And Chadwick and Dunfield had both had sightings of goal before Mike Jackson got on the end of a Davies free-kick on 18 minutes, bulleting home a header to give Town a richly deserved lead. 

Chesterfield’s approach was largely one-dimensional, namely aiming to utilise the height of Martin Gritton. 

And that paid dividends 10 minutes later when a Gritton header found Scott Boden who was given the time and space to beat Luke Daniels from 18 yards. 

But, with confidence fragile after last week’s defeat at Bournemouth, Shrewsbury were to pass their test of mental strength. 

Even before half-time, a snap shot from Grant Holt forced Tommy Lee into a save at the second attempt, while Davies fired a rasping drive just over the bar. 

But the pressure finally paid off on 53 minutes when Davies found the roof of the net with a curling 25 yard free-kick which Lee could only get a hand to. 

Shrewsbury had chances to extend their lead with Chris Humphrey denied by Lee and Holt flicking a header just wide before shooting at the Chesterfield goalkeeper with a golden chance. 

That Town couldn’t produce a third goal set up a slightly nervy finale, with Gregor Robertson striking the top of the bar with a free-kick eight minutes from time.

But they held firm for a much-needed victory.

By James Garrison