Paul Hurst expected Shrewsbury Town to be fighting at the top of League Two

Shrewsbury Town made it nine matches unbeaten in the league this season and were six minutes from victory against Blackburn after Toto Nsiala’s second-half strike.

Hurst was appointed as Micky Mellon’s successor 11 months ago yesterday, he has since taken his side from the bottom of League One to the summit. On Saturday his side played in front of boisterous and appreciative 8,202 crowd – a two year high.

When asked about what he envisaged a year down the line when appointed, he said: “I’ll be honest I didn’t think that far ahead. I probably expected to be putting a squad together or be talking about hopefully being at the top of League Two.

“That’s the honest answer, as much as I wanted to try and keep the club up.

“We managed to do that, the difference this season is we’re having a lot more of the game against the better teams.

“I think last season to Bolton here (2-0 defeat). I don’t think there was much in it but I don’t think we carried anywhere near as much threat as we are now as a team with our pace.

“We looked tired, rightly so, and then the next minute we’re breaking and I’ve got four or five springing towards goal.

“It’s amazing what that little carrot can make you do and get that little extra out of your body.”

Town remain alongside just Manchester United and Manchester City in the top four divisions without defeat, after sharing the spoils with many bookmakers’ favourites for promotion in Blackburn.

Bradley Dack, who cost Rovers £750,000 this summer, squirmed in a late leveller.

Shrews are three points clear at the top ahead of tomorrow's trip to Doncaster.

Town gave everything against Tony Mowbray’s Rovers, who boast an expensively-assembled squad, with players struggling with cramp as they went looking for a winner.

“Maybe people will look at it and think ‘are they fit enough?’” Hurst added.

“That is something we will constantly look at and monitor to put things in place so they don’t get cramp.

“At the same time, it doesn’t matter how fit you are, if you run really hard for 95 minutes, I expect you to be tired and on the verge of collapsing and cramping up.

“It was a little bit emotionally draining with the crowd. No-one can doubt the players are giving everything and I’m sure that they’re proud of the team.”