Dave Edwards: Shrewsbury Town produced exactly the right reaction in win over Port Vale

They were not at their stellar best, but they faced a lot of adversity going into the game with injuries going against them.

I spoke last week about how they need to get back to defending like they did at the start of the season as they have been shipping in too many goals in recent weeks.

They really got back to that, all the players from defence right through to attack looked like a team that was really sticking together and defending for the cause with their bodies on the line. You could visibly see the encouragement for each other and they really looked like a team that was together.

They had to defend a lot in the second half as Port Vale piled on the pressure, but I thought they looked back to their defensive best, and I felt they looked reasonably comfortable late on in the game.

You match that with two wonderful goals. It was great for Max Mata to get his first goal for the club. He has had a few chances but has not quite managed to hit the ground running, even though you can see his potential.

Dan Udoh’s was an absolutely sensational goal. He has no right to score from where he picks the ball up, but the pace and the power he runs with, and also the composure he shows on the edge of the box.

I have always said to Dan I have always felt he is a better finisher off his left foot even though he is a right-footed player – he proved that on Saturday.

When it is on your weaker foot you concentrate a little bit more – all you are concentrating on is getting a good connection and striking it well. Sometimes when you are on your better foot you might try and hit the corners more or do something clever. Dan’s goal was a prime example of getting it on his left foot, hitting it hard and well and it was a superb finish.

I feel like it is only right after talking about the away form last week and how much of a challenge it has been for Town on the road that we match that with the terrific home form. They are fifth in the home table, which shows the Croud Meadow is becoming a bit of a fortress if you look at the other teams who make up the top six in the league.

It is Bolton, Pompey, Blackpool, Peterborough and Derby, who are all big football clubs in this league and have big support.

To be up and around that area is really impressive it clearly shows just how much the lads must enjoy playing at home and the impact the crowd has on the team.

When you add their league wins to the victory in the FA Cup and the two EFL Trophy wins it has been a happy place to play football this season so hopefully that can continue.

It is such a big win, especially with the nine players they have out injured.

They are all first-team players as well and all players who you could see in the starting line-up and ones that Taylor could expect to play a big part in their season. It is hugely disappointing and it makes things a lot more difficult for the manager heading into a busy week.