Doncaster 1 Shrewsbury 2 - Report and pictures

The Frenchman netted his first league goal for Shrewsbury from the bench deep into added time to hand Paul Hurst’s unbeaten side an eighth league win from 10.

A much-changed visiting line-up gave as good as they got at an improving Doncaster, who took the lead only to be pegged back inside 60 first-half seconds.

Tommy Rowe’s opener was cancelled out by Joe Riley’s screamer in an entertaining first period - and it looked destined for 1-1 before super-sub Gnahoua fired in to make himself a hero and send his side four points clear.

Town had not enjoyed a 10-game unbeaten run in the third tier of football or higher since the 1980/81 season.

Graham Turner guided Shrewsbury to a 14th-placed finish in the old Division Two that season.

Hurst shuffled his pack in search of the 36-year record. He hinted at switches but few expected so many. An energy-sapping afternoon at Montgomery Waters Meadow against Blackburn meant that the boss rang the changes for the first time in the league this season.

Four changes to his XI in total, with Omar Beckles making a full league debut, coming in alongside Louis Dodds, Carlton Morris and Joe Riley.

Mat Sadler dropped to the bench, as did Ben Godfrey and Shaun Whalley. James Bolton, who returned from injury against Blackburn, made the trip but not the match day 18 as the hosts searched for a first home league win of the season.

Town switched their shape. The 4-1-4-1 utilised throughout most of the campaign was ditched for a 4-5-1, with Payne in a more unfamiliar left-wing role and Dodds playing just off Morris, with Ogogo and Nolan sitting deeper.

Doncaster had the new centre-half partnership of Beckles and Toto Nsiala turned in the early moments. The duo missed a couple of high balls and were forced to run towards their own goal.

The new attacking combination of Dodds, Morris and Payne were linking well without forging any real opportunities. Nsiala nodded a deep Dodds corner wide.

Aside from a lightning break initiated by Rodman the hosts enjoyed possession and chances. Midfielder Tommy Rowe was heavily-involved.

Riley misjudged a high ball allowing John Marquis to cut it back, only for Rowe to scuff a finish while unmarked.

Rowe then stung the palms of Henderson from distance before scuffing a glorious opening of his own from Marquis’ pass.

Henderson had Town hearts in their mouth with a rare slip while distributing but was able to recover.

As Town adjusted to the pace after finding themselves struggling in the opening 25 minutes, they felt their way into it with Payne testing Lawlor low at his near post.

But with 11 minutes to play in the first period the hosts edged ahead, and on the balance of chances created it was deserved.

It seemed Rowe would be involved and he found the bottom corner with an accurate strike into the bottom corner following good hold up play.

The lead lasted less than 60 seconds. A moment of brilliance from Riley as he jinked inside two before thundering an angled strike into the far corner from just inside the box.

The visitors clicked into gear. Nolan headed straight at Lawlor from a ferocious break before Payne’s stinging volley went for a corner via a deflection. The forward then flashed his header wide from Morris’ cross as the half-time whistle curtailed Shrews’ pressure.

Hurst’s side carried their initiative into the second period as Nolan whipped over the crossbar first time from Rodman’s cut-back.

The lively encounter flashed this way and that as Marquis was off-target from the narrowest of angles.

Henderson displayed his shot-stopping prowess with a fine one-handed save to deny Alfie May’s fierce swerving effort as the home side pressed.

Hurst rolled the dice after the hour mark, sending Whalley and Godfrey on for Rodman and Riley.

Both sides went off the boil and goalscoring chances were few and far between. Excitement in the away end cranked up a notch as Whalley’s corner caused havoc before the excellent Morris shot right across goal.

May and Marquis were both off target with headers for the hosts as Payne’s effort was blocked at the other end as the game entered a cagey final quarter.

A winner appeared elusive but up popped Town’s diminutive Frenchman, coming on in the 87th minute, whose effort was in-perfect for the bottom corner. Wonderland.

Doncaster (4-4-2 diamond):

Lawlor (Marosi, 90+1); Blair, Wright, Butler, Mason (Toffolo, 78); Houghton (Whiteman, 66), Kongolo, Rowe, Coppinger ©; Marquis, May

Subs not used: Alcock, Garratt, Williams, Mandeville.

Shrewsbury (4-5-1):

Henderson; Riley (Godfrey, 66), Beckles, Nsiala, Brown; Nolan, Ogogo ©, Dodds (Gnahoua, 88), Rodman (Whalley, 66); Payne, C Morris

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Sadler, John-Lewis, Adams.

Attendance: 7,194 (295 Shrewsbury fans)

Referee: John Brooks