Shrewsbury Town weren't weakened by the changes, insists Paul Hurst

Hurst rang the changes from the weekend's stalemate with Blackburn, even switching formation to a variation of 4-2-3-1 as Shrewsbury headed to The Keepmoat Stadium in search of 10th game unbeaten.

Defender Omar Beckles, signed from Accrington Stanley, was handed a full League One debut, while Louis Dodds started for the first time in more than a month.

Joe Riley came back in at right-back – and buried Town's instant response after the half hour mark to falling a goal behind – while Norwich loanee Carlton Morris was also recalled.

Out went Mat Sadler, Ben Godfrey, James Bolton and Shaun Whalley. Bolton was the only to not make the bench, despite travelling to south Yorkshire.

"I think the options are positive," said the boss, whose side celebrated a memorable Arthur Gnahoua 95th minute winner. "On paper (the squad) doesn't mean anything but when I wrote that team down I liked the look of it.

"I didn't think we'd have to be lucky to win or it was weakening us – that's the biggest compliment I can give the players that have gone in.

"I said to the players, if ever a moment emphasises what I'm trying to say to them – and I mean it – about it being a squad game, is Arthur going on and getting the winner."

Hurst explained the decision to use Bolton at the weekend and Riley last night was made ahead of Blackburn's visit last Saturday.

Club captain Sadler missed out for the first time this season, with Hurst explaining that he thought a mental break may work to the ex-Birmingham man's advantage.

While there was praise for Godfrey, who came on for Riley at right-back and was influential in helping Town over the line with three points.

"I'd made my mind up with Joe and Bolts that they'd have a game each – that was my thought going into Blackburn," added Hurst.

"I thought that was the right way round, Doncaster suited Joe better and maybe Saturday suited Bolts.

"The others, Omar we've brought in and he'd had that one game, we wanted to get him in there and have a look.

"That was the one change that, not so much physically but mentally as a centre-half it wasn't a bad things for Sads to have a little breather.

"He would ultimately say he was fine.

"Doddsy has had to be patient. He's been in a couple of times and won games when he's played.

"Ben Godfrey came on at right-back and did really well. When I brought him in I said he can play three positions and it was great to have that option.

"He can be very happy with his night's work. Coming on isn't easy, more so as a defender, you always feel there's more to lose.

"There's real competition around and that's what you always want as a manager."

Strikers Stefan Payne and Morris started together for the first time, with the former in a slightly more unfamiliar wide left role.

He added:"Stef played in a different position and with his fitness, at the end, you had him sprinting as if it's the first minute. It shows it's in the locker. He looked a threat out there and allowing Carlton to come back in.

"The changes worked."