Doncaster 0 Town 1 - Report and pictures

Shaun Whalley's precious winner in the 63rd-minute came direct from a corner for his sixth goal in 12 as Town clinched their fourth clean sheet in five and made it one defeat in 11 on their travels.

Micky Mellon's side were second best in the first half as fading Rovers, who are now nine league games without a win, made the running and Jayson Leutwiler tipped over Luke McCullough's piledriver.

But Shrewsbury were much improved after the break as an attacking force and they earned the win through an impressive rearguard in which captain Nathaniel Knight-Percival and midfielder Abu Ogogo were outstanding.

It still required a superb flying save from Leutwiler to tip away a free kick from sub Cameron Stewart near the end.

But they held firm and were determined not to surrender their advantage once they got their noses in front.

The one downside was the early exit of centre back Zak Whitbread to a hamstring injury after just 27 minutes.

Boss Mellon named an unchanged side from the team that beat Rochdale 2-0 on Tuesday night.

The return of on-loan Crystal Palace winger Sullay Kaikai was the only change to the bench, replacing Elliot Grandin, who had been an unused substitute for the previous four game since signing.

Rovers were without Richard Chaplow, who was serving a one-match ban for being sent off in their 2-0 defeat against Swindon in midweek.

Doncaster were much the better side in the first half but Town - and in particular captain Nathaniel Knight-Percival defended well to keep the scores level.

Rovers bossed possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances.

The first half chance came in the ninth minute when Conor Grant's corner was met by the unmarked Mitchell Lund for a looping header that flew well over.

Two minutes later Luke McCullough's 30-yard shot was blocked by Abu Ogogo.

Rovers remained in the ascendancy and Knight-Percival was booked in the 19th minute for a reckless tackle on Grant, who was sent up in the air in the D.

Town, who had already briefly lost Ian Black and Ogogo to treatment, lost Zak Whitbread for the rest of this game after just 27 minutes.

The experienced centre back, who turned 32 this week, was replaced by Dom Smith after dropping to the ground as Jayson Leutwiler prepared to take a goal kick.

A minute later Rovers went close as McCullough's piledriver was tipped over by Leutwiler.

With Shrewsbury struggling to get into the game, Mellon switched from 4-3-3 to 4-3-1-2 with Shaun Whalley behind Kyle Vassell and Andy Mangan, who looked isolated on the left wing.

Rovers continued to look for a brerakthrough and after Town failed to clear their sixth corner, a cross was headed back to Lynden Gooch, whose deflected turn and shot trickled to Leutwiler.

The Town keeper was in action again on 36 when Gooch was the beneficiary of some smart build-up play before letting fly with a volley smothered by Leutwiler.

Salop had their first shot at goal in the 38th minute when Jordan Clark's first-time rising half volley sailed a few yards wide after Vassell helped it across to Whalley to lay off.

This signalled a better spell for Town, who forced Thorsten Stuckmann's first save from Andy Mangan's twisting header from Jack Grimme's centre.

There was a similar move at the other end as former Walsall captain Andy Butler's header from Conor Grant's seventh corner is straight at Leutwiler on the line.

Town should have done better on 43 when Whalley's corner kick seemed perfect for Smith to head on the edge of the six-yard box but he couldn't connect and Rovers cleared their lines.

Play quickly switched to the other end from where Rovers ended the half on a high.

Gooch let fly with a chest-high shot that was punched away by Leutwiler, rather than caught.

Then debutant on-loan Villa winger Riccardo Calder bursts through in an impressive slaloming run only to fall as he shot, Ogogo getting away with a tug on him in the box.

In time added on Grant saw two efforts deflected away from goal, firstly a free kick then a curling shot.

Grant then swung in the corner from which captain Nathan Tyson couldn't connect properly with a falling overhead kick from four yards out.

Town were the more relieved of the sides to hear the half-time whistle.

But it was a different story after the break as Town were improved and the game became more open.

Smith couldn't keep his header down at the far post from Whalley's corner as they started the second period on the offensive.

But it was Rovers who went closest so far to breaking the deadlock on 55 as Andy Butler's header from Grant's corner looked a goal all the way until Ian Black coolly hacked it off the line.

Two minutes later Junior Brown was booked for cynically taking out Gooch just over halfway as Rovers broke.

Doncaster introduced 10-goal top scorer Andy Williams for Liam Mandeville on 61.

But it was Town who suddenly threatened with what turned out to be the game-changer two minutes after, when Vassell won Town a corner on the left off Aaron Sinclair.

Whalley scored direct from it as his inswinger found the opposite corner of the net for his sixth goal in 12 games.

Town made change on 75 when ex-Rovers man Richie Wellens replaced Black.

Williams had a half chance on 78 but couldn't keep his header down as his effort bounces over at the far post.

There was an anxious moment for Town on 80 as play was allowed to continue with Brown down on the far side, Calder eventually firing straight at Leutwiler.

Town weren't safe yet and on 83, they had a let-off as Butler completely missed his header at the far post from a cross.

But Salop returned fire and on 86, Knight-Percival's header drifted just wide from Whalley's outswinging corner.

There was still time for Stewart to really test Leutwiler with a curling free kick which the Swiss flung himself to his right for to tip away.

But apart from that, Town had little trouble holding firm for another precious win.

Rovers (4-4-1-1): Stuckmann; Lund, Alcock, Butler, Sinclair (Evina 76); Gooch, McCullough, Grant, Calder (Stewart 84); Mandeville (Williams 61); Tyson.

Subs not used: MacKenzie, Keegan, Middleton, Jones (gk).

Town (4-3-3): Leutwiler; Grimmer, Whitbread (Smith 34), Knight-Percival, Brown; Ogogo, Black (Wellens 70), Clark; Whalley, Vassell, Mangan (Kaikai 63).

Subs not used: Cole, Vernon, Akpa Akpro, Halstead (gk).

Referee: Phil Gibbs (Birmingham).

Attendance: 5,878 (339 Town fans).