Shrewsbury 2 Sunderland 1 - Report

Magic man Harry Chapman thrashed in a stunning volley as Shrewsbury Town continued their remarkable form with a fantastic comeback victory over Sunderland.

Chapman’s stunner, a fourth goal in four games, added to Ethan Ebanks-Landell’s equaliser as in-form Salop ended Sunderland’s unbeaten away record in some style.

Aiden O’Brien struck early for the visitors, but Salop’s victory means Steve Cotterill’s record after 12 league games at Shrewsbury has brought the best points return in the club’s history.

Aaron WIlbraham and David Longwell continue to lead an outstanding run of form, with Town spearheaded by supremely talented loan star Chapman for a seventh win in 12 League One games to take them nine points clear of the drop and very clearly looking up the table, 10 points from the play-off places.

Unsurprisingly, Cotterill, Wilbraham and Longwell opted to name an unchanged side from Saturday’s crucial victory at Swindon, which opened up a six-point buffer to the drop zone places.

Skipper Ollie Norburn made his 100th appearance for the club against the side he almost joined a little over 12 months earlier.

Former Sunderland defender Donald Love who, like Sean Goss, was not part of the registered league squad in the first half of the season, continued in the side.

Town remained without defensive linchpin Aaron Pierre, who is likely to be missing for the remainder of the month with a calf injury. Loan defender Matthew Pennington (shoulder) is also absent, meaning the hosts stuck with the shuffled back four system.

Curtis Main looked to build on an extremely positive debut at Swindon with his second home Shrewsbury debut and first appearance at the Meadow since 2013.

Sunderland’s side featured three changes to that which narrowly saw off Shrewsbury at the Stadium of Light three Saturdays ago.

Boss Lee Johnson - like Cotterill a former Bristol City manager - changed his goalkeeper, with Remi Matthews between the sticks for Lee Burge.

Sunderland’s progressive had been checked somewhat since beating Salop, 2-2 draws against Gillingham and MK Dons having seen them slip out of the play-off places ahead of kick-off.

Charlie Wyke, who netted the fine headed winner against Town last month, has continued his recent hot streak in front of goal and is top scorer with 17 goals.

The Wearsiders brought their proud unbeaten away record to Shropshire, the only side in the Football League yet to taste defeat on the road this season.

But they could have hardly wished for a more difficult start. Barely two minutes had passed when an apparently innocuous collision between Shaun Whalley and visiting stopper Jordan Willis left the Sunderland man requiring lengthy treatment and an oxygen mask.

He was stretchered off following a five minute delay, similar to the interrupted start at Swindon on Saturday.

Shrews were the brighter side after the restart. They forced a couple of set-pieces but were unable to profit. Chapman looked sharp with the ball with Norburn, Josh Vela and Goss busy out of possession.

But Town were sloppy in conceding an early goal for a second home game running and a second time in recent history against the Black Cats.

Ebanks-Landell, who inadvertently flicked on for Crewe’s Owen Dale for the match-winner seven days earlier, was unable to direct a header into a midfield colleague and Shrewsbury were punished on 21 minutes.

Forward Wyke played a perfect through ball through the space vacated by Ebanks-Landell to O’Brien, who sprung the offside trap to take his time into the box and lift a cool finish over Matija Sarkic.

Shrewsbury attempted to hit back immediately through confident new boy Nathanael Ogbeta, who showed his quick feet to work some room but shot wide of the far post from distance.

From there on Salop struggled to find their rhythm. A number of long balls from deep from Ebanks-Landell could not find the intended target Main. The contest was scrappy, with Sunderland sharper moving forward.

A better long ball from Ebanks-Landell on half hour released Goss and set back for Love to cross for Main who headed at Matthews for a rare sighter on goal.

Away substitute Dion Sanderson poked wide from a set-piece before Main thrashed a sharp left-footed strike straight at Matthews from the edge of the box after he and Chapman had won it back well.

Chapman delivered some magic Shrewsbury are becoming accustomed to seeing shortly before a lengthy period of stoppages. He skinned his defender expertly and drove to the byline, but Main was crowded out when looking to convert the low cross.

Love had a decent chance to open his Shrewsbury account against his former side as space opened up on the edge of the box but the full-back sliced wide.

The hosts, no doubt buoyed from a Cotterill team talk at the interval, started the second half well and were level seven minutes into the restart with a goal owing much to Main’s presence.

Love whipped in a delivery from the right after a half-cleared free-kick and Main climbed ahead of Matthews to win a fine header, leaving the goalkeeper in no man’s land and Ebanks-Landell free to bundle in from close range.

It was just the defender’s second goal for the club in more than 60 games.

Town tails were up and minutes later Chapman drew a low stop from Matthews with a fine angled volley from Norburn’s cross.

Sunderland hit back in the enjoyable contest. The talented Aiden McGeady drew a fine save from Sarkic with a stunning strike from distance before crossing for Wyke who headed over.

Main was inches from a first Salop goal but Goss’ delicious corner was somehow cleared from the front post.

Then, at the midway point of the half, came the stunning breakthrough.

Whalley, from the left, delivered an inch-perfect deep cross to the far post and there was star man Chapman to thrash in a first-time volley, leaving Matthew helpless. It was an absolute rocket from the division’s star man.

Rampant Salop looked to have added a third moments later. Goss’ free-kick was poorly spilled by Matthews and crept over the line, but the goal was controversially ruled out for an apparent offside.

Chapman’s evening was done soon after as he limped off before the visitors missed a glorious chance through skipper Bailey Wright’s diving header.

Sunderland added some pressure inside the final 10 minutes but Shrewsbury were excellent as a defensive unit, limiting the visitors to efforts from distance, including Sarkic’s fine save from McGeady’s free-kick as Salop expertly stood firm to chalk up an outstanding victory.