Shrewsbury Town boss Graham Turner has hailed his side’s defensive dependency after they recorded a fourth clean sheet in five games with a battling 0-0 draw with Gillingham.

Town have now conceded just one goal in their last 501 minutes of football – Ashley Grimes’ strike for Lincoln earlier this month – in a run which has seen Turner’s men pick up 13 points from a possible 15.

And the Town chief believes a new approach to defending has served his players well.

He said: “Generally we’ve tried to restrict the opposition’s time on the ball in our defending third.

“There’s that understanding in the team, is not just the back four but everybody.

“I think Jermaine Grandison coming in at right back has helped. He’s done extremely well and there’s the understanding now between Shane Cansdell-Sherriff and Ian Sharps and in the run that we’ve had both have played particularly well, and Matt Sadler has done his job on the left hand side defensively.

“Also the goalkeeper (Ben Smith) has done well. I like to see an aggressive goalkeeper in terms of coming and catches crosses and he does that well.

“I think it is important going into the run in that you keep clean sheets and that you are hard to beat and hard to score against.

“The way we’re looking at the moment we haven’t conceded too many goals over recent matches and it’s a fair base to work from.”

Turner must now alter his back four for the first time since the unbeaten run began at home to Burton after skipper Sharps was sent off on Saturday – meaning a possible return for David Raven or a start for youngster Connor Goldson against Bury tomorrow night.

Turner added: “I’ve got Jermaine Grandison who has played a fair bit at centre half so there is a possibility of moving him in there or one of the youngsters.”

West Brom defender Paul Downing could be another option if Turner elects to try to extend his loan deal which expired yesterday.

Meanwhile, Town’s trip to Rotherham, which was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, has been re-arranged for Tuesday, March 29.]

By Alex James