Analysis: Shrewsbury away-day show deserves the Royal seal of approval

Defeats against Wigan and Cambridge had hit Shrewsbury hard and while points against Derby and Barnsley were valuable, they did not do enough to stop Salop from falling perilously close to the relegation zone.

Cheltenham played on Friday night – and drew 1-1 with Wigan, which meant Town were just two points off 21st place before play at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

But they responded in the best way possible, by doing their talking on the pitch and beating an in-form Reading side, who had not lost at home since the start of December, 3-2 on a mild day in Berkshire.

Town won just two games away from home during Matt Taylor’s time at the club, but since Hurst has arrived they have taken seven points from a possible nine available.

All three goals were a thing of beauty, that in their own right would stand a chance for the goal of the month. Jordan Shipley does not seem to score anything but really good goals, he gave Town the lead in the second minute.

Tom Bayliss also scored a fine goal and Tom Bloxham’s was arguably the best of the lot.

One of the most disappointing things about the game was the fact Shrewsbury did squander a two-goal lead. They have not kept a clean sheet now since that 2-0 victory at Northampton.

Town got off to a remarkable start. Firstly, they took the lead through Shipley.

A smartly worked corner routine was hit directly to Shipley on the edge of the penalty area – he hit it the ball first time on the volley, and via a deflection and a David Button hand, it flew into the top corner.

Goals have been at a premium all season for Town, but they found themselves two to the good inside five minutes.

Tom Bayliss, who had not scored since Salop last played Reading in November, turned Tyler Bindon inside out, before slotting it into the corner.

It was an immensely important game for Hurst’s men so it would have been disappointing to concede just a few minutes after doubling their lead.

Sam Smith was played through on the inside of Aaron Pierre, and he toe-poked the ball past Marko Marosi.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan levelled the scores. He cut inside on his right foot and shot, his effort was deflected over Maorsi and into the bottom corner.

It was an enthralling half of football, which looked like it was going to be level at half-time, until a moment of magic from Bloxham in the fourth minute of stoppage-time.

Shipley played him in, and the winger bent a shot into the far corner away from the sprawling David Button. It was his first goal since being recalled from his loan at Morecambe midway through January.

After the break, Clinton Mola and Ehibhatiomhan saw efforts go wide for the hosts as they looked for a way back into the clash.

The second half was much quieter with Salop quite happy to sit off the Royals and let the home side dominate possession – which was a tactic that Hurst discussed post-match– he did not want his team chasing the game.

Reading did go close with just over 10 minutes to go when Femi Azeez sat down Mal Benning and shot, but Marosi was equal to the task with a wonderful reflex save to deny the winger.

With Reading’s issues off the field of play, the stadium grew frustrated as they failed to break down Hurst’s resilient Shrewsbury, and they clung on for a superb win.

One blot on the copybook was the injury to Pierre as he limped off in the first half with a groin problem which does appear to be quite serious.

Town are lucky they have a lot of cover in defensive positions, and Jason Sraha came on to take his place.

Sraha, who made a name for himself in this fixture earlier in the campaign when he scored a 96th-minute winner, has not featured that regularly under Hurst.

But on his return to the team, he did give a good account of himself, so much so that it prompted Hurst to say post-match that should Pierre have been fit for Tuesday night’s game against Lincoln he would have had a tough decision to make.

Dan Udoh was ill so Ryan Bowman led the line and he put himself about and did a good job for the team.

The result leaves Shrewsbury on 38 points along with four other sides it is that tight, they need to back that up now tomorrow night.