Gavin Cowan hails ‘big step’ as Shrewsbury Town edge closer to safety

A delighted Gavin Cowan hailed his Shrewsbury Town side for taking a big step towards securing their Football League status.

Salop claimed their seventh win in 14 games under Cowan with a narrow victory over League Two strugglers Tranmere Rovers.

Sam Stubbs ended Town’s goal drought, powering home a second-half header to send Cowan’s side 11 points clear of danger.

Asked about winning half of his games in charge, a buoyant Cowan said: “It speaks volumes of the players and the staff.

“The magnitude of the job when we came in was bigger than what I thought when I walked through the door.

“It's why I don't get emotional, because when you zoom out a little bit, we've won half the games since we've been here.

“We want to have a strong finish to the season because nothing's done yet. But it's a big step towards that.

“It's why when we were winning most weeks or every week, it was six out of seven at one point, I wasn't getting too high. Then on this run here, I wasn't getting too low.

“But it does mean that we need to, for next season, God willing, we get over the line, we can really focus on a team with a really steely mentality.

“So, my message to the players for the last five games now is to, first of all, secure our place in this league.

“Second of all, just to make sure that they bring a steely mentality and show me that they can go out and play like they did today in terms of their minimum requirements.”

Stubbs has now scored Shrewsbury’s last two goals, with his 55th-minute header at the Meadow their first since his dramatic winner at Chesterfield last month.

Shrewsbury now enter their final five matches of the season with an 11-point cushion over the relegation zone.

“On the day of ultimate sacrifice on Good Friday, you think about the sacrifices that have been made by the staff,” Cowan continued.

“Jamie and Dave coming in and the staff really buying into what it is that we do. We rarely come away from the training ground until late at night.

“Some understandably may think that that's a minimum requirement. But we stepped into something and I think we were brave enough to be shot at and stick our necks out.

“It could have gone horribly wrong - and we have still got some work to do, don't get me wrong.

“But, half the games to be won in our time here, especially with the way the momentum was, it's a credit to the staff and the players. I'm really proud of everyone.”