Dave Edwards: Shrewsbury improved but still lacking attacking quality

Storm Amy was passing through, the winds were up, there was a barrage of rain at different times in the game and that was always going to play a big part in it.

Whichever team handled the conditions best would come out on top and I felt both teams did reasonably well in the game. 

Shrewsbury dominated the first half when they had the wind with them. They looked comfortable, right up until the end of the game, but it was certainly an improved performance by Town.

They looked like they had their competitive edge back. They had fight, they had spirit, all the non-negotiables that you should have as a team in this sort of position who are fighting for their lives.

I don't think you can question the lads' efforts or the way they were going about their business, but what they did lack was some quality in the final third because it was a game where they had enough moments to work the goalkeeper and they didn't really do that. 

Luca Hoole had a good shot in the first half which hit the post. Anthony Scully had a long-range effort as well, which forced a save, but away from that they didn't really create anything of any note. That is a shame, considering they had the more dominant spells, particularly in the first half.

They've got to try and find a way to go and score goals and find that little bit of quality when it's needed, whether it's a pass, or it's a cross, or it's the actual finish.

Town also need players on the front foot that are expecting the ball to come to them. There were a few times where Town players were caught on their heels a little bit and I know conditions were difficult, but goalscorers expect the ball to come to them no matter what. There's probably not quite enough of those moments going Town's way. 

They edged the possession in the game but the xG was really poor at 0.52 compared to Barrow's 0.63 - which sums up the quality in the game.

Town did well to get a clean sheet, their first in five games, and it's certainly something to build on.

Will Brook had a really good game in goal. He looked very safe and secure and made a really big save at the end where he showed his bravery.

Sam Stubbs and Hoole had good games as well and that shows where Town are at, when their better players are defenders.

I'm sure if this Town team had a lot more confidence than it does at the moment, they would go to Barrow and they would pick up the three points easily, but it's backs against the walls at the moment and they've come out fighting. But just lacking that quality with two big home games coming up against Cambridge and Crawley.

Town have to take advantage of these opportunities coming their way and home form has been really poor this season.

The crowd is just starting to dwindle a little bit with not enough points and excitement there on a Saturday for fans, so the quicker they can turn that around as a team and start winning games at football, start scoring goals, start giving the fans something to cheer about, then that will really help them.

The home form will be important this season and it can be difficult when you're in a run like this, sometimes it's easier to go away from home when you can sit in, be hard to beat and play on the counter-attack.

But at home, you're expected to go and do a little bit more and with the fans on edge a little bit, it can become increasingly difficult. 

I'm sure the fans that do make the trip to the stadium for that Cambridge game will be there, full of optimism at the start of the game.

Then it's up to the players to drive that optimism with their performance on the pitch and keep them engaged through the whole match and not fall behind early like they did against MK Don's. 

They cannot go behind like they have in a lot of games this season and they must get on the front foot early and keep the fans in the game.