Shrewsbury Town 2 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures

Town netted six minutes in and two minutes before the death to claim a deserved three points.

Paul Hurst’s men put paid to Jon Whitney’s Black Country outfit in style as they won for the first time in four at home in the league.

Town were stylish on the ball and committed in the tackle and had some standout performances by Carlton Morris, Jon Nolan and Morris to earn them the spoils.

The Walsall hoodoo is the latest to be broken by Hurst’s odds-defying team this season. Talk of just two wins from 22 going into the clash was firmly put to bed.

Analysis

Hurst brought Luke Hendrie, suspended for the Checkatrade Trophy, back into his line-up with the injured James Bolton still missing at right-back.

Ben Godfrey shuffled back into his recognised central midfield role as Bryn Morris was the only casualty from Tuesday night’s side.

Town went into the derby clash, where they had won just twice in 22 outings previously, having won none of their last four league games at the Meadow.

Walsall had the upper hand in games against Shrewsbury in Hurst’s tenure, too. The Town boss and overseen three clashes against the Saddlers, two league draws and a Checkatrade Trophy reversal.

Paul Parry’s solitary goal in 2012 was the only league win for Shrews over Walsall since 1993 before today.

The scorer in November’s home defeat against Jon Whitney’s Amadou Bakayoko, was recalled to the starting XI in the visitor’s’ only change from a midweek home defeat against bottom-of-the-pile Rochdale.

The ever-frosty relationship between Salop and Saddlers fans reared in the game’s build up. Plenty of talk included how many visiting fans would visit the Montgomery Waters Meadow

Wind-up chants filled the air ahead of kick-off as the game carried an exciting pre-derby atmosphere.

Town took the pre-match adrenaline and used it expertly - just as assistant Chris Doig had called for in the week.

Shrewsbury settled seamlessly and were firmer in the tackle than their visitors and more composed on the football.

Hendrie had already sent a delicious low right cross right across Walsall’s six-yard box before Jon Nolan the architect carved out an opener with stunning balance and poise.

The diminutive schemer danced between challenges on the right, reached the byline and sent in a low cross where Rodman evaded his markers to reach the ball and tuck it in across Liam Roberts.

Town had a lead they deserved and their tails were very much up.

Kieron Morris’ looped header called Dean Henderson into action but the hosts remained in charge.

Hurst’s were inches from a 2-0 lead shortly after. The early one-way traffic continued. Shaun Whalley’s fine cross after more Nolan build-up reached Carlton Morris and Town’s frontman stretched out a left leg but could only divert the ball on to the post with Roberts helpless.

Walsall’s supporters were so frustrated with the start that a ‘Whitney out’ flag was unfurled in the Pro Vision CCTV Stand.

To their credit the visitors rallied. Town were handing them the initiative with cheap free-kicks given around the Shrews’ box. Saddlers dangerman Erhun Oztumer curled some wicked deliveries into the box. One flew straight behind, while Jon Guthrie headed a tame effort at Henderson.

The away end were encouraged and right-back Nicky Devlin’s persistence almost paid off as he motored down the byline and smashed the near post with Henderson committed.

Walsall composed themselves and started knocking the ball about themselves. Town’s early intensity calmed. Whitney’s men and the travelling faithful screamed for a red card as Oztumer broke with purpose clear on Henderson’s goal with Hendrie and Toto Nsiala trying to make up the yards.

Hendrie caught up with the diminutive Oztumer but, accordingly to ref Stephen Martin, did so illegally.

He survived the red shouts with only a caution given and Oztumer curled wide.

After a frenetic half hour at both ends the first-half grew more cagey with both sides keen to not hand the impetus to their opponents.

Both the home side and the visitors had moments in attacking areas but very few led to goalscoring opportunities. Skipper Abu Ogogo was leading the physical charge from the front for Town, who had every challenge and sprint cheered by Hurst and Doig.

The Meadow crowd got right behind Hurst’s men in the second period.

Perhaps it was news filtering in from the north west. Where former Town and Wigan loanee Ivan Toney had put Scunthorpe into a 3-2 lead at the DW Stadium.

Shrews were giving their fans enough to cheer about. Without threatening Roberts in the Walsall goal, Hurst’s men were looking comfortable on the ball and enjoying territory in and around the Walsall box.

Nolan was near his creative best while Morris gave a stunning example of how the lone centre-forward role should be played. His hold-up play was exemplary.

Whenever Walsall threatened to cross the halfway line former Saddler Mat Sadler

One particular second-half moment, while Walsall fans were getting anxious and Town fans soaking up their lofty league position, Shrewsbury showed the kind of football that wouldn’t look out of place in the top flight.

Ogogo, Hendrie and Whalley combined outstandingly on the right of the box. With one-twos and little flicks coming off. Whalley expertly cut back to the free and onrushing Nolan on the edge of the box but Town’s midfield star uncharastically miscued.

Despite Town’s comfort Walsall sent some late warning shots. One full-back Devlin fired wide before the other had blue and amber hearts in mouths. Town half-cleared a corner and the recycled effort was headed against the cross by Luke Leahy. Henderson looked beaten.

The narrow scoreline meant for an edgy finale to the derby. The tiny figure of Oztumer had a header cleared by Hendrie as Shrews held their visitors off.

There was still time for the hosts to make sure. And there was the skipper again.

Rodman turned provider this time. A super run to the right byline before an inch-perfect low cross to the long-busting skipper who made up the ground to gobble up from inside the six yard box.

He broke his duck against Gillingham a couple of weeks ago and, like London buses, along came another one.

Some way to put pay to the bogey rivals. Some afternoon. Some season for Town.

Key moments

4 - Lovely ball across the six-yard box from Luke Hendrie but no-one is there to profit.

6 - TOWN GOAL!! Lovely movement from Jon Nolan on the right. Low cross and Alex Rodman beats all defenders to the ball as he helps in across Liam Roberts.

7 - Kieron Morris loops a header goalwards and Dean Henderson tips over.

8 - Carlton Morris hits the post! Whalley’s cross and Morris meets it with his left foot, his effort beats Roberts but not the right-hand post.

11 - Whalley free-kick half-cleared and Nolan smashes a well-struck half-volley narrowly over the angle.

13 - Lovely Erhun Oztumer ball from the right flies right across Henderson’s goal and behind after evading all bodies.

22 - Toto Nsiala had been unmarked at the back post a couple of times but can’t turn goalwards from a deep Whalley freek-kick.

24 - Jon Guthrie heads Oztumer’s right-sided cross straight at Henderson.

25 - Nicky Devlin crashes one against the near post after beating Town defenders to the byline and outfoxing Henderson at his near post.

28 - Oztumer and Walsall break from a Town corner. Luke Hendrie brings his down outside the box but is only cautions. Oztumer curls free-kick narrowly wide.

62 - Whalley’s right-sided corner met by unmarked Nsiala again. His looped header is right on Roberts’ goal line. Ball ends up in net. Referee Stephen Martin decided the set-piece had resulted in a foul on the visiting goalkeeper.

66 - A stunning move. Luke Hendrie, Abu Ogogo and Whalley involved as the latter cuts back for the unmarked Nolan to scuff from the edge of the box.

75 - Devlin sent a warning note for Walsall as he shot wide from outside the box left footed after being found by George Dobson.

81 - Nolan unable to take advantage of poor Kory Roberts defending. Loses it in the box and goes down but nothing doing.

83 - Left-back Luke Leahy hits the bar from a recycled corner! Massive let off for the hosts who have looked comfortable in the second period.

88 - TOWN GOAL!!! Ogogo seals it. Finishing well from Rodman’s fine wing play on the right.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (4-1-4-1):

Henderson; Hendrie, Nsiala, Sadler, Beckles; Godfrey; Whalley (Thomas, 80), Ogogo ©, Nolan (John-Lewis, 90), Rodman; C Morris (Payne, 76).

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Lowe, B Morris, Gnahoua.

Walsall (4-1-4-1):

Roberts; Devlin, Guthrie, K Roberts, Leahy; Chambers ©; Morris (Cuvelier, 71), Dobson, Oztumer, Ngoy (Shaibu, 88); Bakayoko.

Subs not used: Gillespie (gk), Kinsella, Flanagan, Fitzwater, Kouhyar.

Referee: Stephen Martin

Attendance: 7,633 (970 Walsall fans)

Position in the table - 2nd, 71 points from 35 games.

Star man - Carlton Morris. Held up everything. Great shift.