Verdict: Shrewsbury safety confirms Roland Wycherley played a blinder when it really mattered

In reality, Steve Cotterill’s men have been safe for a couple of weeks, but after a jittery few defeats there is nothing quite like completing the task with mathematical certainty.

And what a way to do it, in the sunshine at the seaside. A sun-drenched Bloomfield Road where it is usually a carnival atmosphere. All that was missing from Saturday’s fine 1-0 win was a packed away end in fancy dress. There would not have been an empty pub in sight in normal times long into Sunday morning.

The 1-0 success, a deserved victory courtesy of Matthew Pennington’s early second-half header, ended Blackpool’s six-month unbeaten home run, which consisted of 18 games. The Seasiders had been 16 games unbeaten in all competitions before losing at Rochdale in midweek.

Cotterill’s side were back to their best for a terrific three points. Having changed from 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3, they were full of resilience, determination and work ethic with enough quality to pinch a decisive goal. It was fitting safety was sealed with a 1-0 win on the road at a League One high-flyer – that outcome has become Cotterill’s Shrewsbury calling card since his appointment.

To secure safety in such trying circumstances has to go down as one of Town’s finest achievements of recent times.

It will not stick out in the history books like a promotion campaign, and was not dramatic enough to go down to the final game, but given how this strangest of tortuous seasons has played out, it can’t be overstated enough what a collective effort it has been.

No doubt, when we next speak to the manager who will hopefully soon be able to return to take in a game, Cotterill will reflect on one of his biggest efforts and achievements in 25 years of management to guide Town to safety from afar. It has taken all of his strength, will and might.

Not that the ambitious boss will want to relax and accept survival alone. The 56-year-old has high hopes, and so do Town. They hope that this time next year something far more exciting will be on the line. But, for now, near the end of an extremely difficult time for all involved. It is simply; job very, very well done.

The decision to call on the former Bristol City double-winner to replace Sam Ricketts in late November was an absolutely inspired one.

Shrewsbury could simply not afford to get this one wrong. After a dire start to the season they were heading one way – down. One win and just nine points from the opening 13 games had them second-bottom, just a point above crisis club Wigan. Things were bleak.

I wrote after Ricketts’ sacking, which felt a long time coming, that there was very real pressure on the club’s decision. Getting it even slightly wrong would send them back down to the fourth tier, undoing years of fine work.

But, just when he had to, chairman Roland Wycherley played a blinder.

His admiration, and at times pursuits, of Cotterill had been well-documented. The pair go back near two decades. Cotterill had spent two-and-a-half years away from management after leaving Birmingham. And, this time, the stars aligned and Shrewsbury, and Wycherley got their man.

The Town chairman must take real credit for his move. But Cotterill had a mammoth job on his hands. Safety was far from a given, despite the high-profile manager’s exciting CV. The achievement is an enormous one.

Especially when you factor in that, for four months of his five at the club, the Shrewsbury boss has been sadly missing from the sidelines.

Aaron Wilbraham, Cotterill’s inspired call as a rookie assistant, and David Longwell, who has been hugely influential as a bridge between old and new management, have been forced to lead Salop from the dugout for 23 games now.

Saturday marked almost four months since Cotterill’s last match in person – ironically and fittingly the 1-0 Montgomery Waters Meadow win against, you guessed it, Blackpool.

Town had been phenomenal in the first month under the new boss. The consecutive 1-0 wins away at three of the top four were scarcely believable – the bookies had it at 2,000-1. But then disaster struck, and nobody could’ve foreseen what was to come.

The response to Cotterill’s illness, from everybody involved, was truly inspired. I’ve written it on a number of occasions, but that kind of news could have unravelled Shrewsbury’s recovery.

Further on, players took another psychological beating when the boss was readmitted to hospital with pneumonia. But again they rallied and responded.

And Town kept winning. A vital 1-0 at Swindon springs to mind instantly, followed by news of the manager celebrating from his hospital bed in Bristol. A manager that, despite being hundreds of miles away, did not stop managing. He led his troops from a phone line, while at times being barely able to talk.

There have been huge underdog efforts, home wins over Peterborough and Sunderland, who sit second and third respectively, as well as six-pointers away at drop zone rivals Rochdale and Burton.

The staff and players deserve every credit for this achievement. They warrant real admiration for their efforts.

How fitting that defender Pennington, an inspired January loan just like Harry Chapman – whose corner made the goal – and Nathanael Ogbeta, who won the corner, carved out Saturday’s decisive moment. Cotterill and Keith Burt’s recruitment cannot be understated.

Pennington was clear man of the match. But there was also a captain’s performance from Ollie Norburn, back to his best with a tigerish display, and a supreme 90 minutes from Dave Edwards, starting his first game since before Christmas. The 35-year-old hometown hero, who might call time on his career this summer, went to the well and back several times for the cause.

Credit too for Harry Burgoyne in making two fine second-half saves to preserve the clean sheet. He was not overly troubled, though, as Shrewsbury kept their play-off-pushing hosts at arm’s length.

How refreshing to see 18-year-old exciting attacking talent Charlie Caton handed a full debut in a crunch game. A real nod to the future.

Town and Cotterill can now plan for that future with confidence. The manager will want four wins from the final four games. All involved will no doubt be emotionally and mentally drained. Their efforts really have been something else.