Analysis: Five-star Shrewsbury's superb response

The rare feeling of a setback was put to bed in deadly fashion as Town’s magnificent campaign got back up and running.

The League One defeat at Peterborough – a result that ended Shrewsbury’s unblemished 15-game run – was quickly forgotten as Paul Hurst’s men put beleaguered Aldershot, of the National League, to the sword.

Forget the standard of opposition, it was a statement made that Shrewsbury have the minerals to respond to a defeat.

Town players felt the London Road loss. There was a disappointment that the run could not continue. But they have not dwelt on it.

Hurst was keen for his group to show that the 1-0 league defeat was not the beginning of a nosedive from the summit. While the FA Cup began a strange run of fixtures, including tomorrow’s Checkatrade clash with Walsall before a free weekend due to the Charlton postponement, Shrewsbury certainly put paid to any questions that the defeat had wounded them.

Instead, an indifferent opening 15 minutes aside, rampant Shrewsbury were a delight to watch going forward.

The attacking prowess in Hurst’s ranks came to the party. It was a fine example of the amount of fire-power in Town’s armoury.

With five different scorers on the board, the result went up with the 4-0 demolishing of Bristol Rovers as emphasising one of Hurst’s key principles – a squad game.

Alex Rodman, Shaun Whalley, Stefan Payne, Arthur Gnahoua and Carlton Morris all netted. Wingers Rodman and Whalley made it four goals for the season, more than they both managed in the entirety of the previous campaign.

While top scorer Payne lifted his tally to eight with Carlton Morris hot on his heels with six.

Town’s blood-thirsty attack looked menacing as soon as they began to ask questions of the visiting defence.

The Shots troops struggled to get to grips with Town’s speed of play or thought.

Perhaps the slightly edgy opening 15 minutes, where Gary Waddock’s side came out of the blocks well, were Town feeling their way in off the back of a tough loss.

But from the moment Rodman gleefully headed down into the net 19 minutes in there was barely any stopping Town.

The hosts wrapped things up emphatically with three second-half goals inside six minutes.

Not a League One fixture, but Hurst’s side have answered yet more doubters away from Montgomery Waters Meadow. Town’s players remained focused throughout the week at Sundorne Castle.

Even links concerning Hurst and the vacant managerial role at Sunderland did nothing to derail them.

It could have been easy for eyes to drift from the ball in the wake of nationwide Hurst speculation, but thoroughly professional Town more than did the job.

There is a will to be successful about this group of players. They know they are a part of something special this season and are grasping it with both hands.

A visit of a potentially dangerous National League outfit, immediately after a first league defeat of the campaign – it had the potential to be very tricky.

While Aldershot’s brave – and naive – high defensive line helped out. The onus was on Town as hosts and overwhelming favourites to produce. They did that. They handled the expectancy.