Analysis: Steve Cotterill joins in the post-match celebrations after Shrewsbury Town’s win

Shrewsbury delivered their best performance of the season, which is some going given the exploits since Steve Cotterill’s appointment, to provide their absent boss with the perfect pick-me-up.

The updates on Town’s manager continue to concern. Clearly he has been struck badly by the virus and will not be back in the Montgomery Waters Meadow dugout any time soon. Everybody involved is right to be worried.

But what wasn’t worrying was the way Cotterill’s side – led so capably by Aaron Wilbraham and David Longwell, who are doing a terrific job in trying circumstances – swatted away one of League One’s high-flying, in-form teams for a deserved three points.

The aftermath of the superb victory against Posh, who began the day third and unbeaten in nine, provided one of the stories of recent years at Shrewsbury.

The Town boss, who has been too ill to speak to players in recent weeks, rallied his troops over telephone at full-time. Wilbraham put the call on speakerphone and the exchange was emotional and uplifting.

It wasn’t just a response to the victory. Cotterill, watching on from his hospital bed, is as involved as he can be. Studying pre-match clips, listening to training reports, selecting the side. He will then send tactical messages to Wilbraham and Co mid-match. Nurses and fellow patients on the boss’s ward will certainly know when it’s matchday.

The boss may be away for some time, but his fingerprints remain all over this side and their displays. Any concerns that his team will not rediscover and continue the outstanding form they showed before the Covid-19 breakout were banished on Saturday.

Town, without match action for three weeks, put in good displays at both Southampton and Sunderland, both tough fixtures, and were unfortunate to come away empty-handed from both.

Fans may have felt the jitters as the gap to the drop zone closed to just two points, but privately Shrews staff were unconcerned. They knew that those games were important to get crucial minutes back in the players’ legs.

Clearly, too, there has been work in the transfer window going on, and work will continue throughout deadline day today, with a busy few hew hours anticipated.

Staff were confident that, despite their leader’s absence, the form and momentum would return. And Shrewsbury were excellent in making it back-to-back home league wins – albeit they came more than a month apart. It is worth remembering, before that, an eight-game winless home run to start the season was the worst record in their history.

How far they have come since that 5-1 Halloween horrorshow towards the end of Sam Ricketts’ reign. It was apt they showed their best of the season after an afternoon that felt like a true low, just three months ago.

Town are a different team now and new blue and amber star Harry Chapman is deserved of the headlines after a match-winning display where he lit up his home debut with a brilliant brace.

When was the last time a new signing enjoyed such a marvellous Meadow bow? What an astute loan the 23-year-old appears.

But there were more unsung heroes throughout the side.

Nineteen-year-old Nathanael Ogbeta, signed from Manchester City just a few days earlier, was thrust into the limelight for a senior debut. He had only previously played in EFL Trophy ties for City’s under-21s.

And yet you wouldn’t know it. The teenager grew into the contest expertly. While his reputation is a more defensive left-sided defender, he did not look out of place bombing up and down the flank at left wing-back.

It is no wonder his Town team-mates were so keen to mark Ogbeta’s senior debut by signing his shirt in the changing room afterwards. Ogbeta, confident in his ability, sat there like it was just another day at the office.

Town are believed to still be interested in a move for a more natural left wing-back. A loan for Stoke’s highly-rated youngster Josh Tymon was understood to be wrapped up a few days ago. But no official confirmation has yet been given ahead of tonight’s 11pm deadline.

But supporters will not be as concerned after Ogbeta’s debut, the 18-month signing already looks a fine acquisition.

Josh Vela, in midfield, was another leading light. The former Bolton man gave arguably his finest display since joining the club a year ago.

Wilbraham agreed afterwards that Vela’s performances often go under the radar.

The tireless midfielder is an unselfish part of Cotterill’s side, his work without the ball often goes unnoticed, but his work with the ball is ever-improving of late and, on Saturday, was excellent. He needs to add goals to his game, but is quickly becoming the midfield player Ricketts promised.

How fitting that, after Vela’s low-point at Shrewsbury when he sent off in the London Road hammering three months earlier, he delivers such a response. Cotterill has improved a number of players and Vela leads the way.

His partner in midfield, skipper Ollie Norburn, was not far behind. Norburn was also influential with and without the ball. Not just happy to recycle possession, Norburn is now trying to get his side on the front foot with telling, progressive passes and moves.

Town’s back three have clicked back into gear since Cotterill’s appointment and reached highs of last season here with a fine clean sheet. Peterborough were poor, but Salop made them look that way. Ro-Shaun Williams recovered from an early slip to defend well and Aaron Pierre and Ethan Ebanks-Landell next to him were peerless.

And what a story it has been for Donald Love over the last fortnight. The full-back, like midfielder Sean Goss before him, was totally frozen out and free to leave under the previous management. Town lost influential pair Charlie Daniels and Matt Millar, and Love has since filled in admirably.

The perfect way to start a run of four in five games at home. If ever there was a win for the gaffer, this was it.