Aaron Wilbraham reveals Steve Cotterill nerves during Shrewsbury Town win

Cotterill was communicating with assistant manager Aaron Wilbraham on the phone from hospital in nearby Bristol regularly during the match as he continues to recover from coronavirus.

Cotterill's hospital bed sheets may not have been clean but Town's clean sheet, a second in three games, was a crucial one as Salop saw out the win over their rivals.

And the manager again spoke with his players before, during and after the deserved victory against the Robins, secured through a first-half Harry Chapman screamer.

The hosts improved after the break following a poor first half but Shrewsbury defended manfully and deservedly saw out the three points that means they are now six clear of the League One drop zone.

Wilbraham said: "He's proud of all the players and staff, he says he really misses us and can't wait to be back.

"He said he spilled his ice cream and cup of tea and everything in the second half, I told you how many screens he'll have watching it (on iFollow) wanting to be up to time.

"I made sure I rang him when the final whistle went, because I knew he'd be a little bit behind, to let him know the three points were safe.

"It was a good win but it's back on to Tuesday and Saturday now, we have to concentrate on the next game."

Chapman's winner made it two wins from four league matches without the manager. Shrews remain 17th but widened the gap to the danger zone and have at least two games in hand on most of their rivals.

Wilbraham added on the boss: "I think they (the nurses) probably get told to give him a couple of hours alone while he watches the game!

"The hospital staff are looking after him really well and he's really thankful to them, that must be said.

"As frustrated as he is, not being around, at least he can watch the game as much as possible."

Shrewsbury saw out an excellent clean sheet in Swindon having changed formation due to the unfortunate loss of the influential Aaron Pierre to injury.

Pierre picked up a calf injury against Crewe and has had a scan. The club are reluctant to give a timeframe though the defender could be missing for at least a couple of weeks.

Wilbraham said the team's desire to defend, with the new back four system and throughout the team including excellent debut frontman Curtis Main, was behind the victory.

"It was summed up in that word 'desire', it was pure desire. The centre-halves had a clash of heads after 30 seconds but stood up as warriors for 90 minutes, won every header, it was unbelievable.

"Nathanael's not only played his third game in a week, but he's changed formation as well, he's had all that to take on board.

"I think that was his most important game yet and he stood up again. I said to him before the game don't get bored of being the best player, because he was in the last two games, and he stood up like a man today. He was heading balls, putting his body on line.

"The pair were excellent, the whole back four and whole team."

He added: "We just had to change the shape a little bit which may have surprised Swindon.

"We thought with the personnel we had it would work well and it did work well and we deserved the victory.

"The gaffer gave us a lot of guidance again on what to work on and we nailed a lot of detail in training on Thursday and Friday.

"It was a bit of training ground work after a hard midweek game but we knew we had to do it for the formation and it was well worth the detail and everyone mucked in."

Assistant boss Wilbraham said of match-winner Chapman, who smashed in a stunning half-volley, his third goal in three games: "It was great hold-up play by Curtis Main and Chappy running in was one we'd worked on in training.

"It came off nicely, it was a great strike and to see it come off the post and nestle in was a great feeling. Chappy is a match-winner, and not only that he's working really hard for the team."

On striker Main, who put in an eye-catching debut display after a deadline day move, he added: "I thought he was unbelievable, his centre-half play, putting his body on the line for the team, it's exactly what we needed in a No.9.

"Dan Udoh has been doing that in all of the other 1-0 victories don't forget. Dan even said to me at half-time 'what a handful he is' and how he can learn from him. That just shows what a great lad Dan is.

"There is no saying they won't play together at some point as well. It was a great centre-forward performance, a great shift on his first game."