Shrewsbury Town verdict: Defensive brilliance is most encouraging

A quite brilliant opening-day victory for Shrewsbury against a Portsmouth side – as they showed at Montgomery Waters Meadow – packed full of power and ability, no wonder Pompey are tipped for promotion.

But if these are early signs of what Sam Ricketts’ Salop are capable of this season then buckle yourselves in and get ready for the ride, because this Town team look to have a lot going for them.

It wasn’t Shrewsbury brilliance in terms of blowing their opposition away, but it was signs of grinding out an extremely welcome win when a 0-0 draw could have been categorised as a good result.

Ryan Giles, one of seven Town debutants, stole the show with the second-half winner. And what a winner. His stunning 30-yard thunderbolt surely one of the best Shrewsbury goals Oteley Road has seen in its 12 years.

For 19-year-old Shropshire lad Giles, the story was almost scripted. Hand it to a Hollywood director, he could probably make an award winner from it.

The Telford-born on-loan Wolves starlet could certainly find himself claiming goal of the season at Town’s end-of-season awards do in nine months. Cancel the competition immediately.

Giles, like many other new faces brought in by Ricketts, has really caught the eye and imagination of the Shrewsbury faithful and is one of the reasons why there is plenty of renewed optimism soaring through the fanbase.

Town were not perfect. Indeed they were second best for large parts (albeit understandably to a top League One side), but luck was on their side and they did enough.

For all of Giles’ brilliance on his Football League debut, three very exciting central defenders emerged with the most credit from matchday one.

Town’s new three amigos – the centre-half trio of Ro-Shaun Williams, Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Aaron Pierre – barely put a foot wrong between them.

The defence carried on from the friendlies in which they shone earlier this summer – particularly against Aston Villa. Portsmouth’s richly-assembled forward line found no way through.

Town defended well as a team but the three centre-backs were impregnable.

They repelled everything Kenny Jackett’s Pompey threw their way. Time after time again. It certainly looks like an organised, functioning, powerful and quick defence capable of going up against the best forwards this league has to offer.

Williams, the only one of the three with Town last term having joined from Manchester United in January, looks to have filled out over the summer and seems an even better player for his growing experience and maturity.

Alongside him Ebanks-Landell, at the heart of the back three, might be Town’s surprise package of the summer.

His last couple of loans have been unremarkable at the foot of the table but he was Shrews’ best player against Villa and may have won the nod here on the opening day.

That goalline clearance from John Marquis’ crisp effort was phenomenal and as good as Giles’ winner.

The ginormous figure of Pierre, prowling the left side of the three like a strict prison officer, looks every inch like becoming a fans’ favourite.

The Grenada skipper has obvious character and flair about him. He strides from defence with consummate ease but, more importantly, wins every header and tackle at the back.

It’s important not to get carried away after the first match and Town still have areas to strengthen. But with these figures staying fit and the assured presence of exciting young Max O’Leary in goal behind them, Shrews look like a really solid and organised outfit.

It was little wonder Ricketts was so pleased and labelled the outcome a ‘perfect start’. I’m sure, at half-time, he would have taken a 0-0 finish as something to build from.

Fears that Town’s midfield – which had been hit by injuries to Ollie Norburn and Josh Laurent – didn’t have enough back-up options were eased by a couple of timely and handy displays.

Romain Vincelot certainly showed Town fans he was up for the battle. The 33-year-old Frenchman, a recruit from Crawley in January, filled the Anthony Grant role – with Grant banished to the club’s academy and not set to feature again – and filled it well.

Norburn is expected to slip into the position when fit later this month but Vincelot looks a suitable stand-in and broke up play well against Pompey. He was well supported by skipper Dave Edwards’ energetic display. It was important the hometown boy got 90 minutes of competitive action under his belt.

Chelsea youngster Luke McCormick, despite coming off early in the second half, can be pleased with himself. He showed glimpses of his class and proved he could get stuck in.

Steve Morison continues to show encouraging signs. He looks an effective League One proposition. A couple of Pompey defenders will be looking nervously over their shoulders for him for a few days.

The introduction of Laurent and Shaun Whalley from the bench added to Town’s display. Both brought energy, directness, imagination and a spark that their side had been lacking previously.

Laurent’s injury return is a boost and he should get a shot at a consistent run in Ricketts’ team, while Whalley will be desperate to force his way into the first XI.

Salop could scarcely have imagined a difficult opener to go any smoother. Optimism multiplied ten-fold in the stands as players left to a standing ovation.

With a few more tweaks this season could promise much, and fans are starting to sense it. This curtain-raiser will live long in the memory.