Bernard McNally: Nothing to fear for Paul Hurst's in-form Shrewsbury side

The Blades are flying high but the Town players be thinking 'we've done well – let's go and enjoy the game'.

Sometimes as players, when you go thinking that you're not expected to win, that you're the underdogs, then there's no pressure on you.

You can sometimes play your best football like that. Let's hope for that mentality. Give it the best shot they can without the fear of trepidation that has been there before.

You never know, they might just be on a run of form where they can snatch a 1-0 win, which would be tremendous.

The result against Oxford was great for Paul Hurst. He's had a great start.

Paul's been playing a midfield diamond and it looks like a winning formula. The diamond is a great shape if a team can play right in it. I had two years of playing it and the possession you have in the centre of the park is fantastic.

I played the diamond under one of my best managers, Ossie Ardiles, at West Brom. We gained promotion, going to Wembley and beating Port Vale 3-0, that was great.

The formation was fantastic, you have four people in that midfield. It's a difficult formation to get hold of, but the key to it is passing the ball.

You must pass the ball quickly. The other key is getting the full-backs up alongside you to provide width and look offensive. The formula seems to be working. I think Micky Mellon played it once or twice but it can be just that slight change that alters everything.

Obviously it can depend on the side you come up against and what they're playing, but if he's found a little system then long may it continue. Football's all about changing the formula at the right time. If he can do that and go to Plan B or a Plan C by changing things without changing drastically, then that is the key.

I think sometimes managers try and change a back three to a four and try these big overhauls, sometimes it's too drastic. If you tell players 'we're going to keep a back four' then we can alter things in front of us for different games. I think that's better for players – they then know the basics.

It was nice to see Shaun Whalley getting back because he's been a big miss for the Town. It shows the class and calibre of what he can do as a player. I'm sure that Paul will be hoping that he can get fit and raring to go. It's pleasing for the crowd because they've needed something to shout about at home for the last 12 months or so. It's a major step in the right direction.

The crowd were chanting the new manager's name and it just shows that Shrewsbury supporters have been wanting to latch onto something and wanting to get hold of something.

It's nice that the players themselves have given the fans something to shout and cheer about. It has been doom and gloom there.

Now there is an air of optimism that things can get better.

It was a great performance and a great result for everybody concerned.