Kelvin Langmead of Shrewsbury Town and Tyler Weir of Hereford United

Paul Simpson often preaches to his Shrewsbury Town side to ‘defend from the front.’

But ‘attack from the back’ proved the mantra on Saturday as Town deservedly secured a first A49 derby win over Hereford in four attempts.

This was a weekend for the defenders to remember, as those charged with keeping goals out at one end popped up with all three goals at the other, a trio of set pieces sealing a sixth victory in eight League Two outings for Shrewsbury.

And credit to Simpson and his squad for that run which has brought the prospect of automatic promotion back into vision, less than two months after hopes of landing even a play-off place were threatening to disappear over the horizon.

A deserved win it was, too, after Shrewsbury provided an emphatic response to falling a goal behind inside five minutes by producing an excellent first half display, and then finishing strongly after Hereford enjoyed their best spell at the start of the second period.

“I thought we showed a great attitude,” said Simpson.

“There was a lack of concentration for their goal but we showed a determination to get ourselves back in the game.

“We had great quality from set pieces and people who were prepared to get on the end of them.”

Shrewsbury could have been forgiven for a sense of dŽjˆ vu in the early stages of Saturday’s largely entertaining encounter.

Two goals adrift after 30 minutes at Edgar Street in November, Town were one goal behind inside five minutes here.

Galvanise

The warning signs were up when Graham Coughlan appeared to get caught flat-footed and allowed Leon Constantine the chance to latch onto Kenny Lunt’s through ball, the Hereford forward duly obliging by sliding past the helpless David Button.

But whereas such a blow could have flattened Shrewsbury in those dark pre-Christmas days, the Bulls opener only served to galvanise Shrewsbury who penned the visitors back for the remainder of the opening period.

The equaliser almost came immediately with Dave Hibbert firing a fraction wide with a volley.

But it arrived on 14 minutes when the Hereford defence caved in under the weight of pressure applied by four successive corners, Kelvin Langmead heading home after an excellent Craig Disley delivery.

Town weren’t done there and went ahead on 23 minutes as Steve Leslie whipped in an almost undefendable, pacy free-kick which Shane Cansdell-Sherriff headed into the top corner.

The game had been turned on its headed within nine minutes.

Dave Hibbert twice went close to extending the lead in the run-up to half-time before, just as against Barnet on Tuesday, the visitors threatened to find a route back into the game at the start of the second period.

Hereford enjoyed their best spell of possession, with substitute Mathieu Manset forcing a good save from David Button and the visitors seeing two penalty appeals waved away by referee Gary Sutton.

But the introduction of Jake Robinson helped Shrewsbury regain the impetus and the game was put beyond doubt with 11 minutes remaining when Coughlan atoned for his earlier error by stabbing home at the second attempt from a Leslie corner.

The lively Robinson was himself unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet as he went close on four occasions, including looping a header onto the bar.

Hereford remained an occasional threat at the other end, Marc Pugh testing Button on a day when the former Town winger offered sporadic evidence of his danger.

But the full-time whistle followed shortly after and Shrewsbury were able to reflect on the dream week which has brought nine points and six goals.

And it ensures they head into a crucial eight days for their automatic promotion hopes – games against fellow top four sides Bury, Rotherham and Bournemouth – with spirits and belief as high as they have been this season.