Connor Goldson has seen it all at Shrewsbury

And Goldson believes his youth-team duties have given him a better understanding of the pressures players can be put under.

The former Thomas Telford School pupil speaks ahead of tomorrow's potentially decisive home clash with promotion-seeking Bournemouth.

He said: "I got to see what the crowd can be like with players as a ball boy when I was 15 and 16. It was part of my duties and the youth-team still do it on Saturday.

"Sometimes I got told by the players to slow the game down, but there was nothing like what happened at Swansea recently."

After maintaining a proud unbeaten record at the Greenhous Meadow during their League Two promotion campaign, Town's performances this term have often appeared racked by tension as their successes have been rarer.

Easter Monday's emphatic 3-0 margin over Crawley bucked the trend after just one win in eight and Goldson is convinced he and his team-mates can restore the Meadow's impregnable reputation.

He said: "We didn't start the season well at home and lost a few games, which set the fans and players on edge and that ended up in us not going out and playing with as much freedom.

"We've lost too many games at home (six) this season. Bournemouth will be a very hard game as they have won their last six.

"But we are at home in front of our own fans and we need to start making the place a fortress again."

The 20-year-old has seized the opportunity presented by a season-ending shoulder injury suffered by Darren Jones to remerge in the starting line-up in his favoured centre-half spot.

Defensive injuries have hit Shrewsbury hard since the turn of the year, although it has allowed new partnerships to flourish, including the current one between Goldson and loan pal Yado Mambo.

The Charlton youngster has cut an impressive figure in recent weeks with his powerhouse displays.

Goldson is convinced he is good enough to earn a new contract when he returns to the Valley at the end of the month.

He said: "Yads has been one of our best players and Charlton is not the biggest step up to take from Shrewsbury, so I think he's got a bright future there.

"I get on with Yads really well and I'm enjoying playing with him. Personally, my own target at the start of the season was to play 15-20 games.

"I have made 13 now, so there's still more to come."

After having their credentials tested by League One leading scorer Paddy Madden at Yeovil last weekend, Goldson and Mambo will have to be just as alert for the danger posed by in-form Brett Pitman.

The Cherries' attacker has picked off defences at will since returning to the Goldsands Stadium.

An impressive run of scoring in the last six outings has helped catapult his side into contention for an automatic promotion place.

Eddie Howe's men had stuttered after suffering five straight defeats, but appear to be back on course with Pitman's goals all helping to secure three-point hauls, the latest a 3-1 success over Notts County.

But Goldson added: "I enjoyed tackling Madden and I think defensively we did very well against him.

"We know Bournemouth have got two good strikers in Pitman and Matt Tubbs, although it looks like they can score from everywhere.

"But we have done well against the top eight teams and, although it's been a difficult season, I don't think we are where we deserve to be in the table."