Former Shrewsbury Town favourite Mat Sadler has backed his old club to deliver on their promotion promise after a first hand assessment.

The popular left-back, who played every minute of Town’s 2010-11 campaign during a season-long loan spell from Watford, was part of the Walsall team which knocked Graham Turner’s side out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy 2-1 at the Banks’s Stadium last night.

But the Shrewsbury display caught the eye of Sadler who is now convinced Town can finally end their long wait for promotion from League Two after a host of near misses.

“We scored two very good goals but I thought Shrewsbury played really well and looked a real threat throughout,” said Sadler, who revealed the lure of higher League football convinced him to sign for Walsall in the summer.

“We were fortunate to go through on the night but a win’s a win.

“I came and watched Shrewsbury against Swansea last week and you couldn’t fail to be impressed with that.

“Lionel (Ainsworth) is coming to the fore this season and maybe that was something that was missing last season.

“If Shrewsbury can keep him playing well, with the firepower they have got, I can see no reason why they can’t get promoted this season.

“I think the time has come where they need to do it and I think they will.”

Town boss Graham Turner – who shuffled his pack with five changes last night – took comfort from his side’s display in defeat.

“I thought we passed the ball extremely well, had a lot of possession and got in some good positions with it,” said the Town boss.

“We showed a lot of character and I could see us going on and winning the game.

“It didn’t happen for us in front of goal, but it speaks highly of the players when you think we were 2-0 down and we played as we have done.

“We were a bit shaky early on in the game, but after that all the players contributed.”

Turner confirmed he is anticipating no transfer business ahead of tonight’s 11pm deadline for permanent deals.

By JAMES GARRISON