Paul Hurst hails 'ridiculous' Shrewsbury Town September

The Town chief was talking after his side's ninth win from 11 games this season, as unbeaten Shrewsbury extended their remarkable start to the season to main a four point lead after downing Scunthorpe 2-0.

The Montgomery Waters Meadow win was secured through goals by Stefan Payne and Carlton Morris.

But it was his squad's displays throughout the month of September, as Hurst targets games per month, that really got the boss crowing with pride.

Town faced former Premier League sides Wigan and Blackburn, as well as last season's play-off semi-final side Scunthorpe throughout September.

"I haven't looked at the table (today), honestly!" said Town's chief.

"I don't mind hearing the record, it is impressive. To be two months into the season and be unbeaten is quite remarkable.

"At the training ground I write the games up that we have per month. I wrote seven games up and said it would be extremely difficult with the teams we have to play.

"To take 19 out of 21 points is quite ridiculous.

"If anyone would've thought that would happen then they're quite an optimist, put it that way."

Shrewsbury marched on as Payne struck his sixth of the season midway through the first-half before sub Morris sealed the win with three minutes to play.

Town roared home in a relentless second period display, led by skipper Abu Ogogo who led by example throughout.

The boss thought there was nothing fluky about his side's victory - as they won by more than the odd goal for the first time this season - against a team that had conceded just three in 10 prior to kick-off.

He added: "I just felt we were the better team.

"In truth I don't think it was a lucky victory or anything like that but it was against a team that I'm sure will be up there at the end of the season."

Ogogo was under the weather on Friday during training, while goalscorer Morris also missed the session through illness, with winger Shaun Whalley - who started - missing training during the week.

"Watching him train yesterday we cut it back, we felt a lot of the lads were looking a bit tired, there were a lot of aches and pain moaning," Hurst said.

"You wouldn't have guessed he was ill with the way he trained. I said at the end of training that if you're not feeling 100 per cent then you've got to be mentally strong and to follow his lead.

"He was flying around yesterday, praising people for tackling and blocking - he carried that on to today really.

"As a team when we're on the front foot, he can often be the trigger. As a team on the front foot we look much much better.

"It'll take a team to play well against us if we're at that level. He put in three or four absolutely tremendous tackles that you wouldn't want to be on the other end of - but fair.

"The lads were giving Carlton a bit of stick about that but can be ill a bit more if that's his response, I thought he looked a real handful when he came on and took his goal superbly well."