Shrewsbury Town 4 Bristol Rovers 0 - Report and pictures

Alex Rodman, Carlton Morris, Jon Nolan and Junior Brown all struck in a stunning first half, in front of 5,652 fans at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.

The home side were untroubled in a quieter second period and the results means their unbeaten league run now stands at 14 games.

Town made two changes to the side that started the 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday as Rodman and Morris replaced Arthur Gnahoua and top scorer Stefan Payne.

They were in a 4-5-1 formation while Rovers were without their star player Billy Bodin, who has scored nine goals this season but has a slight hamstring injury.

The visitors were not lacking in firepower though as front two Rory Gaffney and Ellis Harrison have 11 goals between them this term.

Paul Hurst's side came out in a sharp manner - having the lion's share of possession and playing a lot of short passes.

Darrell Clarke's charges were the first to threaten though as Liam Sercombe's ambitious half-volley flew narrowly over Dean Henderson's crossbar.

Rovers seemed quite happy to allow Town to have most of the ball - and then look to hurt them on the counter-attack.

But it was a move from one end to the other, in a matter of seconds, that saw the hosts go ahead.

Just 12 minutes in, Henderson gathered after a corner and launched the ball to Shaun Whalley, whose clever reverse pass found Rodman to slot in - under the legs of Sam Slocombe. A ruthless attack from Hurst's men.

Town were getting the ball forward at great speed. Rovers' midfield diamond were being overrun and Whalley almost made it two - twisting and turning before stinging the palms of Slocombe.

The home side were simply too hot to handle - always looking dangerous in the final third - and that dominance soon saw them double their advantage.

Rodman went from scorer to provider as his cross found Morris, who rose highest at the back post to head home - in the 25th minute. Slocombe may have been disappointed with how the ball crept under him.

The supreme confidence of Town was there for all to see while Rovers were crumbling. And it was 3-0 on the half-hour mark.

Morris held off his marker and fired the ball across the face of goal for the grateful Nolan to tap in from close range.

Town were so fluid - it appeared a case of when, not if, they would add another to their tally.

They did so before the break as Brown superbly headed back across goal and in - off the post - following Whalley's pinpoint free-kick.

Rovers midfielder Chris Lines was then cautioned for a late challenge - borne out of frustration - on Rodman.

Town legend Bernard McNally, who was sat in the press area, said it was 'like watching Manchester City' in that first half - and he was not wrong. They were phenomenal.

The visitors made a change for the second period, bringing on Stuart Sinclair on for Lines, and the question was whether Hurst's side could continue playing at such a high tempo.

Skipper Abu Ogogo displayed that the hosts were not keen to rest on their laurels - sprinting at Slocombe and just failing to win the ball off the goalkeeper.

Rovers shifted to a defensive five as Daniel Leadbitter came on for Gaffney, in a desperate attempt to keep it at 4-0.

Rodman could have doubled his tally after finding a good amount of space in the box though, just before the hour mark. He blazed his shot over.

Town were keeping the ball with ease - Clarke's men were getting nowhere near them.

Hurst made his first substitution after 65 minutes as Morris went off to a standing ovation, Payne coming on.

As the away side made their final change - Dominic Telford taking the place of Tom Nichols - the affair quietened down a bit.

The home side were in control without being able to break through Rovers, who were devoid of ideas at the top end.

They looked to freshen things up in attack for the closing stages as Gnahoua replaced Nolan.

Bryn Morris also entered the fray for Ogogo, who put in a fantastic shift and led by example.

Rovers managed a few shots on target, met by ironic cheers, before the final whistle.

Town are two points clear at the top, ahead of Wigan Athletic who drew 1-1 with Gillingham.

Teams

Shrewsbury (4-5-1): Henderson; Bolton, Sadler, Nsiala, J Brown; Whalley, Ogogo (c) (B Morris, 85), Godfrey, Nolan (Gnahoua, 81), Rodman; C Morris (Payne, 66)

Subs not used: Beckles, Dodds, John-Lewis, B Morris, MacGillivray (gk)

Bristol Rovers (4-1-2-1-2): Slocombe; Partington, Lockyer (c), Sweeney, Bola; Lines (Sinclair, 46); Clarke, Sercombe; Nichols (Telford, 72); Gaffney (Leadbitter, 57), Harrison

Subs not used: L Brown, Broadbent, Moore, Smith (gk)

Attendance: 5,652 (524 Rovers fans)