Sam Ricketts: Shrewsbury were the only side trying to win

Neither goalkeeper was worked as Salop and Fleetwood struggled to drum up any excitement on New Year's Day, where the boss joked both sets of players had enjoyed their celebrations too much.

Town improved after the break, mostly through the substitution of Alex Gilliead, but could not break down Fleetwood despite several promising situations.

But the boss was pleased his side kept hold of their clean sheet, keeping them unbeaten at Montgomery Waters Meadow for nine games in all competitions.

"I thought it was two sides who had celebrated New Years a little bit!" Ricketts said.

"They never really got going fully. You saw the efforts of two sides playing too many games recently.

"What I was delighted about from our point of view, in far from a classic performance, was the clean sheet. I was delighted with the desire from the players to push on."

The boss felt his side were the team trying to win the game, particularly after the break. But neither Steve Arnold or Alex Cairns were stretched.

"We spoke about it at half-time, can we pick it up a little bit? And we did that in the second half," the boss added.

"If you were watching there was only one side trying to win the game in the second half and that was us.

"Did we really create? We had a few half chances go outside the post, Fey had half a chance, if he'd have shot earlier it doesn't get blocked.

"I'm not saying we were brilliant but I thought we were the only team stepping on trying to win the game and gave everything we could physically.

"The players are shattered after the game, from that point of view I can't ask any more."

Both sides looked weary after the busy schedule but Town have faced trips to Accrington Stanley and Sunderland inside the previous week.

Ricketts said: "Their players looked more tired than ours. Our players lifted it second half and tried to go for the win second half but their's didn't at all.

"This period is hard for anyone, unless you've got an unbelievable squad to rotate. It takes its toll.

"The players stood up to a run of games that haven't been easy. I don't understand the fixtures, I don't understand how Sunderland can be home Boxing Day and the 29th, we're travelling to Accrington, travelling to Sunderland, which takes an awful lot out.

"I don't understand how that's fair."